over the weekend

Manny Pacquiao. world famous boxer. congressional candidate.


he’ll win. definitely.


God help us.


he wants to help his impoverished fellowmen. that’s good. but hasn’t it occurred to him that he can help without entering politics? perhaps nobody suggested that. there are so many ways to help. especially for someone as famous and rich as many pacqiuao.


why can’t he be a philanthropist? it’s a trend nowadays of some of the world’s richest persons and corporations. they build schools, health centers, shelters for the handicapped, the aged and the abused, group homes for runaways, livelihood centers, feeding centers. they advocate for better health, useful research, education, ecological conservation, art and even sports.


why did he choose politics? of all his possible options. why this? with all the mudslinging, character assassination and all the bad stuff. I know that he’s a fighter and he never gives up on any fight. that’s how he won his belts. by fighting and fighting real hard. but the best fighters know and have the humility to retreat when they know that the fight is not for them.


when he becomes congressman, he’ll be dedicating himself to a life of paperwork, bills, debates, endless discussions, and speeches. a life way too far from where he came from. has he no idea how turtle-like our lawmaking system is? that it takes it so long just to pass one single bill? he’ll be disappointed in a lot of ways if he does not know what to expect from that office. if he’s the type who likes it fast, like a killer knock-out punch, he’ll have to be insistent on the microphone laying down the cards before the entire house of scrutinizing lawmakers and the dissecting eye of the press. it would be too bad if he becomes a member of the silent committee in congress. you know, that group of lawmakers who just attend and listen and make the seats warm and not react at all. playing safe. or playing dumb. yeah, they get paid, by people’s taxes at that, just sitting there pretending to understand the whole thing.


manny pacquiao would make a good philanthropist. not a congressman.