PACQUIAO PROMISES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN GOVERNMENT THAN IN THE RING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Jun 2010
Pound-for-pound king and ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao, a hero to millions of his countrymen and an idol to millions more around the world, has vowed to be even more effective in government than he has been as one of the greatest fighters of all-time in the ring.
Pacquiao was sworn in as congressman of the lone district of Sarangani province by Chief Justice Renato Corona before a crowd of around 3,000 people at the sprawling Capitol building. His charming wife Jinkee, who was a major plus in his campaign, looked radiant in a typically Filipino gown as she savored the moment her husband had been dreaming of ten years ago when he told his late business manager and father-figure Rod Nazario and this reporter "I want to enter public service because I want to serve and help the poor people of my province.
In an eloquent piece respected, boxing writer Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports said "Even for a man who has accomplished more in his 31 years than the average person does in a lifetime, this is extraordinary, awe-inspiring. This means more than winning world championships in seven weight divisions or being named Fighter of the Year three times. It dwarfs being chosen as the Fighter of the Decade and exceeds being selected as one of the world?s 100 most influential people by Time magazine.
Significantly, the re-elected governor of Sarangani province ?Migs? Dominguez and the board members of the province and city mayors also took their oath, effectively signifying the unity in the province that Pacquiao himself had sought so hard to bring to an often badly fragmented country every time he entered the ring to bring honor and glory to the Philippines.
Pacquiao who demonstrated his desire to succeed as a congressman by joining his team members in graduating from a ten-day course in Development Legislation and Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines told the gathering ?I will be more effective in politics than in boxing? in a ceremony that was fed via satellite by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN to major international TV outfits and internet sites in an unprecedented coverage arranged by Top Rank Promotions.
Pacquiao reiterated the basic platform he advocated during his campaign which is to build a hospital in his province which has none, ensure the poorest of the poor have access to proper medical care and services and to provide livelihood projects through seven ?Pacman Centers? throughout Sarangani.
ABS ? CBN reported that before his oath taking Pacquiao had indicated he would switch to the Liberal Party of president-elect Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III after meeting with Aquino some weeks ago in his Times Street residence to offer his pledge of unity that would help guarantee the flow of much-needed development funds to Sarangani.
Since his unprecedented election victory last May 10, Pacquiao has been deeply engrossed in his future calling with boxing taking a temporary backseat although he is lined up to fight on November 13 against either Floyd Mayweather Jr, Antonio Margarito or possibly a rematch with Miguel Cotto from whom Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title last November. Cotto subsequently went on to win the light middleweight crown from an injured Yuri Foreman and promoter Bob Arum told us a rematch with Cotto for the 154 pound title is a possibility because a win would give Pacquiao an unprecedented eighth world title in eight different weight divisions.
Arum himself has indicated that the public will know sometime this week whether a megabuck showdown between Pacquiao and the undefeated Mayweather will take place as quiet negotiations are apparently continuing.
Pacquiao is so engrossed in his role as a congressman and his plans for Sarangani that he has decided to skip a planned trip to Puerto Rico to be at special ringside for the ?Pinoy Power? fight card on July 10 headlined by the WBO featherweight battle between Bernabe Concepcion and Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez. Also on the card to be telecast by ABS-CBN will be WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire who clashes with Mexican KO artist Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez and Eden Sonsona who clashes with Jonathan Oquendo in a WBO super bantamweight eliminator.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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