Besides advisers close to Manny Pacquiao, at least one Filipino thinks the boxing superstar should not run for office in the elections next year.
Charrisse Domingo, a photographer based in San Jose, California, has pleaded with “PacMan” to turn a deaf ear to the call of Philippine politics, saying it has “corrupted the best-intentioned people.”
“I would hate for Manny’s fighting spirit to be claimed in the name of more McDonalds, Starbucks and golf courses in the Philippines,” Domingo wrote in a commentary on the New American Media website that came out on August 1.
“So as a nation holds its breath waiting for Manny to answer its political invitation, I hold mine too, hoping to God he says no,” she added in an article titled “Manny Pacquiao Is a Boxing Icon—Should He Be More?”
Domingo is a staff member of the Silicon Valley De-Bug, while New American Media is the United States’ first and largest national collaboration of ethnic news organizations.
Her article came out a few days ahead of reports that said Pacquiao is seriously being considered as a vice mayoral running mate to Arnold “Ali” Atienza, who is being groomed to succeed his father Lito as mayor of Manila.
Pacquiao has admitted he requested the Commission on Elections to transfer his voter’s registration from his hometown of General Santos City to Manila. He owns a condominium unit in the Paco district, given to him by President Arroyo and Mayor Lito Atienza of Manila as an incentive for winning his previous fights.
As a resident of Manila for at least a year, the boxer would be eligible to run in next year’s elections as the partner of Ali Atienza, the city’s sport council chief and a former Asian tae kwon do champion.
However, Pacquiao has remained coy about his political ambitions, while some news reports, quoting his business partners, said his plan to run was a “negative.”
“As a boxer, Manny Pacquiao single-handedly achieved what no Philippine government has ever done for the country: He cut the crime rate to zero, at least during a match,” Domingo said in her commentary.
She said that win or lose, Pacquiao is what Philippine sports analyst Hermie Rivera calls “a knight in shining armor; the only credible reason why we’re happy now.”
“You don’t have to be a sports fan to love Manny Pacquiao. You just have to know the feeling of being fallen and fighting your way up,” Domingo added.
