He is world champion Manny Pacquiao. At the same time, he is also Congressman Manny Pacquiao, recording artist Manny Pacquiao, game show host Manny Pacquiao and all-around celebrity spokesman Manny Pacquiao.
Now he is also?.
Lieutenant Colonel Manny Pacquiao?
Photo Credit : Chris Farina ? Top Rank
Yes, Pacquiao just recently was promoted to that rank in the reserves of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which represented a jump of five ranks from his previous rank of a Master Sargeant (which he has been since 2007). He will be formally appointed after he returns from his November 12 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.
What if he loses? Well, I guess it would be too late to bump him back to major, although I think we?d all agree that it would be a major disappointment.
I?ve heard of battlefield promotions, but this is, well, this is not one of them.
The ranks Pacquiao is bypassing are: chief master sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain and major.
To most people, this is seen as something rather benign; another way to honor someone who has brought a lot of pride and excitement to his native land.
But not all Filipinos are on board with the Pacquiao Express, and some of them have been quick to criticize the certification from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The charge? That among those designations we listed above is not ?college graduate Manny Pacquiao,? and such a thing is required to ascend to that rank.
Okay, they may have him dead to rights on that one.
But can?t he get any credits for attending the School of Hard Knocks?
Maybe not; however, he does happen to have an honorary doctorate from South Western University (I think I applied to law school there), and that apparently is what helped him make the cut, along with the fact that he is, after all, an elected representative of the people.
According to at least one government spokesperson, Pacquiao?s overall contributions to the country are taken into account as well.
Besides, there are a lot of different kinds of people in the civilian, non-military sector who are accorded a lieutenant colonel?s rank, and this list includes justices in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, heads of governmental departments and constitutional commissions, mayors (such as Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista), senators and governors.
Don?t they do that kind of thing in Kentucky?
As for the champ?s acceptance of such an honor, he took great pains to point out that he didn?t ask for the promotion, implying, I suppose, that it is just one of the perks associated with being the most famous athlete; indeed, the most famous person, in the country, and as such a national treasure of sorts.
But an additional controversy has arisen over it, as Col. Quirino Calanzano, who was instrumental in the promotion and now barely outranks him, confirmed that Pacquiao did indeed apply for it.
And there?s always got to be a hater, right? Dr, Clarita Carlos, a former president of the National Defense College (who has also lectured at the National Defense University here in the U.S.), is not buying the whole story about the honorary degree. She says it ?does not confer skills, knowledge and competencies,? as reported to ABC-CBN news. She also asks, ?Would you allow yourself to undergo surgery from someone who only had an honorary degree??
While there is no argument that in actual battle, one might feel more comfortable serving under someone with deeper military qualifications, Zosimo Jesus Paredes, who speaks for the Department of National Defense, insists that the commission is more ceremonial than anything else (again, I invoke Kentucky). And although theoretically he could lead a battalion of the army (which can be up to 500 soldiers), it carries ?minimum privileges? such as enough status to have lower-ranked officers salute him.
I?d hate to think what kind of penalty Manny would assess for insubordination.
Pacquiao?s response to all the controversy? ?Hindi naman natin maiiwasan yung mga magkwe-kwestyon, pero s?yempre approved naman ng ating Presidente iyan, approved ng mga nakatataas, so sila ang nakaka-alam.?
I couldn?t have said it any better.
