Manny continues fight for people
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Apr 2020
Sen. Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinkee teach their two daughters how to wash clothes, Pinoy-style, at home during lockdown.
Super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao described the other day the coronavirus crisis as the biggest fight of his life because it impacts on the poorest of the poor and vowed to continue efforts to alleviate the plight of those in need during the pandemic.
Pacquiao said he closely monitors the situation through his nationwide network and tracks where to channel relief that he is able to muster. He recently bought 4,000 sacks of rice to distribute to the less privileged. Previously, he donated five buses to ferry health workers and 700,000 protective masks for the PNP, AFP, DOH, MMDA, DSWD and RITM. Additionally, Pacquiao's staff distributed 57,600 COVID-19 test kits which were sent over by his friend Jack Ma.
Before undergoing self-quarantine at home, Pacquiao participated in a Senate special session to provide for an emergency P275 billion fund for President Duterte to use for social amelioration. Pacquiao said the fund, coupled with the $1.6 billion assistance from the Asian Development Bank, will go a long way in aiding the marginalized sector of society.
Pacquiao said he’s never faced a fight that’s more difficult than the battle against coronavirus and it doesn’t compare to any of his previous bouts. “This is about fighting a war to protect people all over the world,” he said. “Maybe, the closest it compares to is the struggle I had growing up as a boy in General Santos City. Ang isip ko ay nasa ating kababayan. I don’t want this crisis to leave our people hungry and desperate.”
Pacquiao said he checks out the situation every day to pinpoint where he can direct relief to the most needy. In General Santos City, he said his mother Mommy Dionisia is safe and staying at home. His brothers, Sarangani lone district Rep. Rogel and OFW Family Club party list Rep. Bobby, are also safe in the province, looking after their constituents.
Pacquiao said leadership is important in keeping the people’s fighting spirit up. “Nakikita ng taong-bayan na gumagalaw ang gobyerno,” he said. “In any fight, morale must be high. In combat, the general must inspire his soldiers and show fighting spirit.”
Pacquiao said he has tested negative twice for the coronavirus, once with the Korean rapid-test kit and another with the DOH-accredited test kit. In self-quarantine at home, Pacquiao said he’s bonding with his wife Jinkee and their five children. In his spare time, Pacquiao waters plants in the garden, cooks in the kitchen and teaches his daughters how to hand-wash clothes, squatting Pinoy-style. Two hours every day, he goes to the backyard and bangs away at the heavy bag, shadow boxes, skips rope and does footwork drills with aide Choy Garcia keeping time.
“I miss the action in the ring but right now, I’m focused on getting us back to normal,” he said. “When the crisis is over, I’ll probably do one fight before the year ends but that depends on how quickly we can stabilize. Before the crisis, we were negotiating for a fight in Saudi Arabia in July. Mikey Garcia is an option as an opponent but now, whom I’ll fight next depends on Floyd (Mayweather). I understand he’s back in the gym, training his son and nephew and starting to get in shape. Baka wala lang magawa. Let’s see how things turn out. Next year, I could do one or two fights.”
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