Pacquiao believes God will strengthen him (Second of a series)
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 May 2012
RECENTLY, Manny Pacquiao preached before another huge gathering that braved the oven-hot conditions in the Hope church in San Pedro, Laguna where, according to Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN, Pacquiao was the guest preacher.
Castillejo noted that the crowd was made up largely of poor and middle-class worshippers. ?There were many young people who all listened intently to Manny.?
To him, the people were anxious to listen, even though the church?s air-conditioning unit was out. ?I was amazed at the reaction of the people. Despite it being so hot, they listened to me preach for an hour and many received Jesus Christ. I enjoy spreading the word of God, because without God in our lives, we are considered dead.?
Pacquiao?s faithful adviser Michael Koncz said that there have been some articles claiming that Pacquiao?s religiosity ?is a ploy for political reasons.?
?But that is absolutely not true. He?s found inner peace and inner happiness with the Bible and he?s serious about it. I should know because I drive around with him all the time and now he is my pastor,? said Koncz. ?He and his wife Jinkee are very happy, the kids are involved in the Bible study which is a good thing too and a tremendous amount of good things that came out of it. He is definitely 200 percent sincere and its not a gimmick and not a ploy. He?s found inner peace and happiness and that?s tremendous.?
Koncz admitted that they did a lot of things that there?s no need to talk about but that?s all done and over with.
?And I think that?s another reason why his conditioning and speed are there now, not only because we are not staying up late and drinking once in a while, but because he?s got peace inside. When you have stress, it?s more tiring than doing an 8 to 5 labor job. He is dead serious, he?s committed to it. He?s happy and I?m happy that they are happy,? said Koncz.
The adviser didn?t wish to get into a discussion of Pacquiao?s decision to take his oath of office around midnight on April 16 as a member of the PDP-Laban political party under vice president Jojo Binay, but pointed out that ?people underestimate Manny?s intelligence.?
?The average person doesn?t see the reasoning behind his decisions, but most of the time, he has a reason for it and I am sure he had a reason for doing what he did this time,? said Koncz, who added, ?he joined a party, where it?s all about action, responding and trying to do what the people need and want.?
Pacquiao took his oath before PDP president, Sen Koko Pimentel at the Makati Shangrila Hotel.
?The blessings Pacquiao has received, he shares with others. He is happier when he is giving rather than receiving because he knows he came from among the poor and he knows the heart of those who often go hungry and need help,? said Fernandez.
?I am very sure about my decision, because I like men of action. Besides, I have no party and Binay is a friend and they really welcomed me into the PDP,? said Pacquiao.
(To be concluded)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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