October 16, 2007 – Who would have thought that the tacit little bread peddler from General Santos City would become the greatest living Filipino today? Who could have imagined that this boy’s simple dream to be of help to his mother’s struggles for the basic necessities of life would bring him to the pedestal of fame, fortune and honor that he has gained?
Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is the epitome of a man with a destiny. Yes, for it is destiny that gave him the sheer determination to overcome all the obstacles that could have prevented him from getting to where he is today.
Dire poverty is not an easy aspect to set aside from one’s mission to succeed, or much less survive. This is the very reason why he had to vend the bread of some baker in exchange for a small fraction of the proceeds. Surely enough, his day’s earnings would barely suffice for the family’s basic needs, but as a mother, who wouldn’t be happy to have a son like that?
Financial deprivation is the biggest factor why education is so elusive to the Filipinos. Had it not been for poverty, Manny would have been some place else away from boxing, he might have become a school teacher or a marine engineer.
Although lacking in educational advancement, Manny knew his strengths and potentials. He was smart to have identified at an early stage, the field that he knew he would excel in, but then, nobody knew that it would make him as great as he is today.
Manny’s saga was not an easy task, a man with a lesser degree of stoic determination and will could have easily surrendered. Who else could put together the job of a construction worker and a boxer as one? It is a given fact that building construction is an eight-hour back-breaking job. It is also quite baffling how Manny was able to practice and eventually win fights against well-rested and well fed opponents. It truly takes more than a man to perform this feat.
I have followed Manny’s silent footsteps from his “blow by blow” days up to this very time because I was so impressed by his innate abilities and his humble attitude. I had no idea then how humble his beginnings were although I know for one that most if not all boxers come from poor families.
Manny Pacquiao had reaped big honors from big victories, yet he remained honorable just by being himself despite the adulations not only from the Filipinos but also by the international communities. He has raised the Filipino boxers’ status to a higher level in Philippine society. I admire Manny for dedicating his honors to the Filipino people. I commend him for promoting harmony and unity among us. I acclaim him for his best portrayal of the true Filipino for the world to know and see.
Beyond boxing, Manny Pacquiao has a great future ahead.
Manny is still at a young age of 28. He can still earn more victories in boxing. If he can make himself different from all the other boxers who refuse to compromise their glory with age, then can I say that he is really the smartest of them.
Manny is going back to school we know. This is the very moment of youth that he wants to recapture, enjoying school and getting education. This is an indication of Manny’s vision that I can see vaguely from afar. After about four more years, Manny should retire from boxing, after all, he already has more than what he can ask for in his career: money, fame, an acting and singing career, connections in high places, etc. I would even doubt if these ever occurred to him in his wildest dreams years back.
In about six to eight years from now, Manny should already have a college diploma in either Business Management, Economics or Public Administration. Manny will then be fluently conversational in government and business affairs aspects. We know that he has a lot businesses. We also know that he is surrounded by smart people who treat him as their equal. There is no reason why Manny won’t be able to think and to act like them. I just hope Manny won’t copy their attitudes. It’s a shame but I think Manny has a more polished attitude than any of these “well-bred” university graduates surrounding him. Being down to earth is Manny’s greatest asset. This makes him the darling of all Filipinos.
Manny’s entry to the political arena in 2007 was a mistake, a pre-mature miscalculated move that gave him nothing more than an expensive lesson learned; his people are not yet ready to surrender him, their hero, to the political arena where everyone is smeared with the slime of corruption no matter how true one is with his intentions.
Manny needs to give his people one or two more breaks as the Filipinos’ boxing pride before he retires. He also needs to equip himself well with education before he crosses over to the dog-eat-dog world of politics should he decide to re-join, which I think he would.
Should Manny join politics after achieving sufficient education, I would dare say that his political future lies not in his hometown because he does not belong to the local scale. His popularity crosses from North to South of the Philippine territory. He should look at this as an opportunity for a higher post. He should give up his local ambition in the favor and support for his local town folk.
Manny Pacquiao is a good man from humble beginnings and sincere intentions. He has the basic qualities sought for by the Filipino people in a man vying for an elected public office. Manny has popularity and the right connections in the government and private sectors. He is young and courageous. The masses have seen Manny as one of them.
Having these, give Manny the right educational qualification and in less than fifteen years from now, he will become Vice-President of the country he said he loved so well.
Remember how Vice-President de Castro raised his hand in Mandalabay, Las Vegas? That could well be an omen…
