Pacquiao's Next Big Fight

The condom debate in the country has not yet reached the “Therefore” premise and there’s no reason to believe that the story flickers to extinction.

When I was in school, I cannot forget one of my instructors’ irony saying “The more you know, the more you don’t know and the more you don’t know, the more you know.”

Both Houses of Congress are populated with people with  better if not the best minds. They are diploma, "laude"or "honoris causa" holders of distinguished universities at home and abroad. Despite such distinction, it is a mystery that our legislators cannot enact laws that would make the Philippines at par or better with our Asian neighbors.

Enter Rep. Manny Pacquiao of Saranggani Province.

Honestly, I absolutely don’t read anything about Mr. Pacquiao when it’s about boxing but my eyes were stuck to an item of one of the dailies saying that he will oppose the RH bill.

The story does not end there.

We know Rep. Pacquiao's academic and intellectual yardstick but I was surprised with his excellent reasoning when he said:

“[G]overnment officials should stop blaming the growing population for the country’s economic woes and strive to change the situation by serving with honesty and sincerity . . . [w]e have an annual budget and a certain amount is set aside for various projects. The problem is corruption . . . [The] money intended for certain projects is being pocketed by corrupt government officials . . . I don't believe that we are poor because there are more people. The problem is corruption.”

Somebody could have explained him and dissected the real problem and persuaded him to issue  a press release. Rep. Pacquiao could have not pronounced the statement before the press if he does not believe in what he says.

I agree with Rep. Pacquiao that corruption causes poverty in this country.  Sadly, some of our officials intentionally fail to address it for their own personal aggrandizement. Otherwise, if our leaders really have the political will, after the fall of the fascist dictatorship, the country should have started its pace toward national prosperity but to no avail. We still believe candidate Noynoy Aquino’s mantra that "Kung Walang Kurap, Walang Mahirap" (No poverty in a corrupt-free society) but his shifted attention to artificial contraception (to reduce population) as the ringing remedy to solve our economic woes seem to suggest that it is now false or foolish to believe the slogan that pushed him to win the presidency by an unprecedented landslide.

If Filipinos are truly die-hard fans of the legendary Pacman, they must not only support him inside the boxing ring. They must especially give him the necessary support inside the ring of Congress when at this time; Manny is fighting for a noble and bigger cause --- the fight to respect life and the sanctity of marriage. Manny may not be seen kneeling for a short prayer before a fight (to oppose RH bill) or seen doing the sign of the cross with his Rosary but the unconquerable heart he has inside the ring fearing no bigger or taller opponent, Rep. Pacquiao, a man of faith, is even more fearless and determined to fight what he believes in knowing that the author of his unbelievable success is also the author of  life.

May your tribe increase, Manny, if I can still call you that way.  “Even to the death fight for truth, and the Lord your God will battle for you.” (Sirach 4:28) 

The measure is not academic achievement or knowing too much or too little. What counts sometimes is modesty and simplicity by being not too much opinionated (with foolishness).

Manny, hindi ka nag-iisa.  Kung walang kikilos, sino ang kikilos?  Kung di ngayon, kailan pa? (Manny, you are not alone; if no one fights, who will fight?  If not now, when?) -30-

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Photo Credit:

http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?congress=15&id=pacquiao