Simba ko, yelled
my good friend Danny A., the young Editor-in-Chief
of this paper inside the mediaboard in
Sunstar office Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City right after I yelled the title of
this article in jubilation last Sunday afternoon anticipating that Michael
Buffer’s announcement of winner is merely a vindication of the earlier
overwhelming prediction for Pacman’s one sided victory. Molayas na lang ko sa
Pilipinas ug siya modagan, he further emphasized.
Of course, I
uttered those words in jest delighted over Pacman’s 11th major big fight victory in a row after moving in as
many heavier weight classes he feels he could manage to get in the ring adding
more feather in his cap. So what? I’m almost constrained and tempted to rebut, dagan ra bitaw na. And so what if
chances of winning is not that remote given the multi-party system we have
allowing elected president getting minority votes. So what if he wins. If he
has shown his genius inside the ring laying down his life for possible damage
what’s the guarantee he could not
translate that feat in Malacanang making him an effective president. Why not when he has better credentials than
those nuisance candidates? And why not when we have opened presidential (and
vice presidential) derby to floodgates of repeaters the likes of preacher Eddie Villanueva, actor Erap Estrada
and other pretenders down the line. What’s wrong with Manny running highest
position of the land when he has popularity and money to boot to put up his
biggest fight ever in his career anyway.
Didn’t the US elected an actor as President the like of late Ronald Reagan and the Philippines the like of Erap? Why really not one of the world’s greatest boxer
leading the country? Who knows he might
staged ala-Clottey in politics as presidential hopeful in the country’s next
election knowing that he has nothing to lose but his pride and ambition to run
after all he had that enigma of defeat and probably stills nursing his first setback ironically against the lightweight Darlene Custodio who
clobbered him last election.
But I agree with Danny A.and Antony Taberna of
ABS-CBN, he should rather enjoy his
greatness on the ring savoring the sweetness of victory all the way ad
infinitum leaving any political ambition
there is to others behind. Hindi lang sya tatapakan sa political arena
maipapako pa ang kanyang mga paa, Taberna adviced Manny. That he succeeded
carving a niche in the world of boxing as the world’s pound for pound best is
more that what could bargain for. Local tabloid even pictured him as Rizal’s
possible replacement hundred years from now where he is diametrically complete opposite of Rizal, poor yet conquered
the world with his pugilistic fist.
Second, he might even win in his
continued attempt in testing the water of politics as Congressman in Sarangani
District but no way he would survive in the
grueling political upheavals in Congress unless he too joins the silent
majority. That will leave Manny getting topnotch professionals to handle his papers
and concern like Lito Lapid, elder Plaza and many others held hostage until their terms due. Reading this, I think Manny in all sincerity
knows that fighting in the other level is far beyond the use of brawn and more
of brains. Why don’t he continue with his studies proving himself that he too
could get a diploma. The better for him to support and back up talented candidates he did for Manny Villar. As spiritually nourished showing how deep he is spiritually grounded, Manny
should do great service crossing party lines and help support and indorsed what
numbers of Catholic Bishops rallied for.
He might have the mind of his own but enlightenment is not that far when
you pray and ask guidance from the Lord specially that voting in itself is a
sacred exercise for the people striving for the good of the majority and the country.
Hence,
I’m sorry Manny will never get a vote from this writer even if he runs Punong
Barangay. Why demeaning his status after all those conquest in the ring when he
could better serve the people in his capacity as ordinary citizen. He has
done more than what many other Filipinos combined did. He should do it that way
and that’s more than what he aspires for in politics
. .
. . . . . . . .
