Before entering the ring in his recent fight with Shane Mosley, the representative from Saranggani province mentioned that the fight of his life is to end poverty in this country.
That sounds good. Majority of Filipinos must be very happy to hear their favorite boxing champ launching a fight outside the ring. Hopefully, Rep. Pacquiao wins.
The $35,000 question is “paano” --- how?
Since Pacman was elected into office, thanks to his constituents, I am sorry but I haven’t heard anything from him that directly aims to fight poverty. When he goes back to Congress, hopefully, he presents one. Most that are heard is his persona as a boxer where all praises are heard and read mostly in the streets, coffee and barber shops.
How can a billionaire congressman execute his plan in knock outing poverty is a mystery to me unless like one of the great saints, he distributes his wealth to the poor and the needy. Most of us in the 21st century where gold and money seem to have salvific importance if not insurance; to live as poor by choice is easier said than done.
Or else, he runs for the presidency. Even if he gives his wealth and embraces a life of simplicity, his billions really helps but cannot end poverty. “The poor,” the Scriptures say, “are always in our midst.”
Some political observers believe that Rep. Pacquiao is building his formidable machinery for the next presidential elections. If he is secretly planning for that, it is high time for him to help the current government in its fight against graft and corruption. The first Pacman can do is to disassociate himself from perceived corrupt officials. “Tell me who your friends are and I tell you who you are.” Manny Pacquiao did not steal any centavo from the government but his being with perceived crook and corrupt officials drops the jaw of the cynics. We are all human that can easily fall from grace and embrace sin.
This sounds somewhat nonsense but the Chinese say that a thousand miles journey starts with a single step.
Since I am not from Saranggani, I have no way of saying if Rep. Pacquiao sponsors feeding programs for the indigents or has projects that shoulder complete medical bills for the needy or other outlets that greatly help the fishermen, farmers, the outcast and victims of social injustice.
We don’t know if Rep. Pacquiao is helping a lot behind the scene and we hope so. If the congressman from Saranggani is successful in ending the grinding poverty of this country, he will be remembered in history as someone who has done what any other president of the Philippines was not able to accomplish or for any other third world country leader failed to do.
“To see is to believe.”
In the meantime, we wish congressman Pacquiao good luck and may his noble and even Christian plan bear much fruit.
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