“Somebody asked me about the current choice we’re being given in the presidential election. I said, Well, it’s like two of the scariest movies I can imagine.” –Dean Koontz
Don’t be scared.
In 2004, the masses failed to elect action star Fernando ‘Da King’ Poe, Jr. as president (partly due to the “Hello Garci” scandal). In 2022, will they succeed if they run boxing champion, Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao?
Like Poe, Pacquiao identifies with “the masa” – the “mamang sorbetero,” “isang kahig, isang tuka,” and “bakya” crowd. When the action star died in a film, some fans literally ran amok. Similarly, when the boxer loses a fight, fans cry out “we wuz robbed” and vow to lynch sports writers (like myself) who explain the defeat.
Candidates like Pacquiao, Mocha Uson, Dolphy, Poe, and Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada easily hit paydirt in the Philippines.
The Philippine Constitution states no person may be elected president unless they are a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 years.
After December 17, 2018, the champion boxer turns 40 and will be qualified to run for president.
Predicting a President Pacquiao
President Rodrigo Duterte and promoter Bob Arum have both predicted Pacquiao would occupy Malacañan Palace in the near future.
I personally heard Arum make the prediction in 2008, ahead of the newly-crowned WBA titleholder’s win over Oscar De La Hoya.
“Because of his popularity and the tremendous pride and glory that he gave the Philippines, Manny will definitely be the next president of the Philippines,” the boxing promotor said during a pre-fight press conference.
During Pacquiao’s birthday in 2016, Duterte asked the celebrant to retire after his then-upcoming fight against Lucas Mathysse, saying before a gathered crowd, “Alam ko na magiging presidente ka rin, ipagpatuloy mo ang ginagawa mo (I know that you will also someday become the president, just continue what you are doing).”
It is that kind of popularity that earned Poe; Estrada; Duterte; and former Senators Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla, Sr., Bong Revilla an overwhelming number of votes. That kind of approval has only since snowballed after winning his latest belt.
Political wherewithal
With Pacquiao announcing he has no plans of retiring; promoting under his own company, no longer needing permission from Arum; and without a curfew set by former trainer Freddie Roach, he can now look to solidify his political wherewithal.
Fans have almost forgotten (and even forgiven) him for the lackluster performance against Jeff Horn, along with hiding a shoulder injury in his unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., which costs millions for those who bet on Pacquiao.
The way his latest title has been received by fans is the kind of message that is leaving those presidential aspirants with degrees from elite schools shaking in their boots./WDJ