Advice to Manny Pacquiao : Don't go into the Pigsty

You Can Serve Better As “Citizen Manny”


Manny Pacquiao drew over 50,000 fight fans into Jerry Jones Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, making it the 3rd biggest draw to a fight venue. The actual fight against Joshua Clottey itself was a big bore. Very clearly the Ghanian was fearful, nay terrified, of the feared Pacquiao right cross hence he did not put his height and reach advantage to use by unleashing left jabs. Instead he seemed to have been using a “rope a dope” strategy but without the rope. He stood in the center of the ring, raised both of his arms to cover up his face and torso. I didn’t have to wait for the final verdict. The HBO analysts scored the fight 12 rounds to zero in favor of Pacquiao. So did the million or so pay-per-view patrons.

Much as I love sports writing, this is not a sports story. What I’d like to do is make a robust effort to persuade, if not convince, Manny Pacquiao to not sully his very fine reputation by going into politics. He does not need to be a congressman, senator or governor to serve his country and help his people. Whatever millions he now has he earned literally by the sweat of his brow; by the effective use of his talents; by handing out beatings, yes, but also taking some of the best punches there are in the weight classes he has fought in. He actually has suffered cuts and wounds and bled to gain his riches and the high esteem with which he is beheld not only by Filipinos but millions around the world as well. Which politician among the crop currently populating Congress, Malacanang, Governor’s mansions and City Hall offices can ever make that claim?

Going into politics in the Philippines is akin to bathing in a pig sty. All those politicians who are now eager to cling to Manny’s coattails are luring him into the political arena for one major purpose: to deodorize the chambers and corridors of power that they so wantonly sprayed and defiled with their stench.

Manny can look to other athletes who, even at the height of their careers, have undertaken projects and causes that help uplift those who are less fortunate and in the process contribute substantially and effectively to the betterment of the nation and society. There are many examples of athletes who have given back to their communities and their country. The late Arthur Ashe and seven time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong come to mind. But the example that should perhaps be considered by Pacquiao is the Andre Agassi foundation which funded and created the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy.

In 2001, flush with victory and the resurgence of his tennis career, Agassi invested his money in creating a school in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Las Vegas. It offers classes from first grade to fourth year high school. Last year the thirty four students who started eight years earlier graduated from high school and all of them had been accepted into colleges around the nation, earning along the way some $250,000.00 worth of scholarships provided by the colleges that accepted them and by other endowments.

Agassi was the commencement speaker at the school’s first graduation ceremonies. Here’s part of what he said:

““My hope for them (the graduates) ultimately is that they … come back home, come back here ideally, but to this community, to this neighborhood, to this city, and make a difference for future generations .I think that’s ultimately how we are going to define success.”

And that is precisely the goal that Pacquiao can set for himself, the infusion of both material and leadership capital into projects that will create a dramatic, and hopefully a continuing, paradigm shift in the lives of millions of children so that they can fashion a Philippine future much different from the one we see today, where poverty is endemic and millions of its children, waifs really, are destined to a lifelong bondage of self perpetuating hopelessness.

And the Manny Pacquiao story should perhaps be at the centerpiece of this endeavor. Here is a man whose life started out as a poor, nearly homeless youth raised by a parent who struggled to keep them alive from day to day. Yet thru industry and perseverance, the use of his talent and a dedication to a goal, he transcended both his origins and surroundings. Blessed with an unusual combination of speed and strength he rose to prominence as one of the world’s most highly regarded boxers, and one that history will most likely rank with Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Marciano as among the best of all time.

His role as a worthy example extends beyond his pugilistic accomplishments. Though recently rich with millions in prize monies he did not rest on his laurels nor idled away his time in pursuit of worldly pleasures that often led to the downfall and demise of some of his predecessors. He instead enrolled himself in school to get an education which eluded him in those long ago days in poverty. And there is palpable evidence of his progress. I saw him interviewed by Larry Merchant several years ago and he had to use an interpreter to help him thru the process. In the past couple of years he no longer uses an interpreter and answers questions in English that sometimes is much more coherent and relevant in comparison to some of our politicians including a former president.

What Manny Pacquiao could perhaps consider is teaming up with another well known, young Filipino pioneer, the CNN hero of the year, Efren Penaflorida who invested time and resources to aid children, who are living off the trash in the barrios of Tondo, learn to read and write, using an innovative, inexpensive carreton library. The synergies they might generate could possibly be, as they say, totally awesome.

I am certain that there are many worthy causes that Manny Pacquiao can render his talent and resources to after his boxing career ends. There are many endeavors that can cement a legacy of greatness for him in other worthwhile pursuits and that will benefit his nation and country in the process. Becoming a politician is perhaps the worst option there is for him. Rather than allow himself to be a deodorant for today’s class of politicians, he should use his wealth and renown to plow an aromatic and fruit filled garden of ideas that can cultivate and nurture a radically different and beneficial future for the needy children of his homeland.