Manny Pacquiao's Political Defeat is Boxing's Gain
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 May 2007
Manny Pacquiao sounded deeply hurt when I talked to him on the phone a few days ago, a little over a week after his defeat in the political arena.
"They deserted me at the last minute," he said referring to his campaigners many of whom I believe got involved in the effort to convince the boxing icon to join the political fray not because they believed Manny could make a difference in Congress but because they wanted to milk him of his hard earned money.
What happened to Manny was a classic case of a replay of the story of the Trojan Horse. Ecstatic over glowing reports of how he will be able to pummel his political opponent, Manny welcomed everybody who wanted to join his campaign group.
The trusting political neophyte did not even realize, or at the very least suspect, that many of those who joined him were actually deep penetration operators. Just as the elections neared, these DPOs stabbed Manny in the back and ran off with his campaign funds leaving the campaign apparatus crumbling.
Sad but true. Boxing may sometimes be described as a dirty sport but nothing is dirtier than politics where competitors employ every trick under the sun to make sure that they attain their poltiical agenda.
In boxing, you are not allowed to hit your opponent when he is down. That's not true in poltiics. All is fair in this game: hit your opponent when he is down, trample on him, stab him in the back, hit him wherever and whenever you could, especially when he is not looking.
There is no written rule. Only one law is honored: the law of survival.
Manny may be bitter with this defeat but I presume that, wise as he is, he would have learned a lot of lessons from his unsuccessful foray into politics.
I could actually give him some pointers. First, not all people who sing hallelujah to you really love you or admire you. Most of them are like barnacles who cling to you for survival. There is a lot of them around Manny right now, including that Canadian con man who is even willing to kiss Manny's butt if ordered to do so.
Second, take a closer look at people who surround you now and ask yourself: How many of these people will remain with me when I will no longer be a boxing champion? You'll be surprised at the answer to this simple exercise because most probably only a handful of them would pass the test and they would probably include your father and mother, your brothers and sisters, your wife and children and those whose contributions to your career early on are not even recognized. Remember: Victory has many fathers; Defeat is an orphan.
And third, in the jungle of life, unlike inside the boxing ring where the referee imposes the rules, there is only one law that is observed: the Law of Survival.
But while Manny may be feeling bad about his defeat in politics, many boxing fans are actually relieved that at least for now, the boxing icon can really concentrate on where he is best -- boxing.
With a few years remaining before he turns 30, Manny must now pick quality fights, save his money and prepare for retirement. The squandering of money on gambling must stop.
Or else, he will walk towards the sunset wondering what happened to him during the days of glory and asking himself "What ifs?".
Writer's note: I am glad to be back writing again for Philboxing.com. With my election as vice governor of my province, I would have more time now for boxing, goat raising, gamefowl breeding and farming. Next column, I will write about Manny Pacquiao's strained relations with the network giant ABS-CBN.
Emmanuel "Manny" Pi?ol, 3-time North Cotabato Governor and now serving as North Cotabato Vice-Governor.
Editor's note: After serving as Governor of North Cotabato for nine years, Manny Pi?ol, has to bow down to the law that provides that local elected officials cannot stay in their elected position for more than 9 years. In the last election, he endorsed his Vice Governor, Jesus Sacdalan to run for Governor while Manny decided to slide down to the position of Vice Governor. Sacdalan won as Governor, Manny won as Vice Governor while Manny's three brothers also won the local elections: Jun Pi?ol is the new Congressman of the 2nd District, Efren was reelected Mayor of Magpet town while younger brother, Lito, was elected Mayor of the Pi?ol hometown of M'lang.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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