IT used to be that boxing and politics mixed for Manny Pacquiao.
Seemingly, not anymore.
Whereas before when Pacquiao was lovey-dovey with Ate Glow, today, he isn?t looking eye-to-eye with P-Noy.
The harsh realities in life?they always stare you squarely in the eye.
Ate Glow, when she was President, always welcomed Pacquiao as a Palace guest at every opportunity. Pacquiao was Ate Glow?s glistening trophy?to the Filipino people, to the world.
Each time he won big time abroad, Pacquiao would come home to a hero?s welcome and, through Lito Atienza mostly, he would always be bestowed with nearly state honors whenever he stepped into Malacanang for an audience with Ate Glow.
Even as Pacquiao wasn?t a hardcore political follower of Ate Glow?s, the only eight-time division champion of the world was always considered a chief ally of the Lady President.
He won great fights under Ate Glow?s watch. And, although unfortunately Pacquiao lost in the 2007 congressional elections, he remained under the good graces of the ?Cong Dadong?s cute little girl from Lubao, Pampanga.?
Times change. People change. Fortunes change.
When election 2010 came, Pacquiao ran again. This time in Sarangani, the birthplace of Jinkee his wife. And finally, he won.
And Pacquiao won after indirectly disengaging from P-Noy, shacking up with Manny Villar. Thus, began his gradual withdrawal from P-Noy.
In the 2013 election, Pacquiao joined Jojo Binay?s Una, the party that is much-ballyhooed to challenge P-Noy?s camp in the 2016 presidential polls.
If Pacquiao decides to run for senator or vice president under Binay in 2016, only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is embroiled in a tax case amounting to P2.2 billion that tax chief Kim Henares has said the PacMan owes the government from the boxer?s earnings in 2008-2009.
Pacquiao has denied the accusation, saying?and this was corroborated by his American promoter Bob Arum?that he has paid taxes in the US covering those years.
P-Noy has backed up Kim?but, of course. And that?s definitely a mean, if not deadly, shot from the Palace?s chief occupant.
All the best, PacMan.
