HONOLULU?THAT?S the bold banner headline of the latest issue of Midweek, Hawaii?s most popular and circulated newsmagazine. It refers to the March 21 concert in Waikiki Shell of Manny Pacquiao, world champion and pride of Filipinos everywhere and rated as ?pound for pound the best boxer of the world.? He just proved that once again in his recent convincing victory over challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana in the world-class Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, before a crowd of more than 50,000, including thousands of screaming Filipinos in a state of national euphoria.

I was never fond of boxing, but when I watched the bout in a Filipino-dominated district in Kalihi, I thought we were experiencing another earthquake. Pacquiao?s win was followed by a series of fireworks, and probably arrests by the Honolulu police because fireworks are banned except in certain days like New Year.

As a national phenomenon, Pacquiao energizes and revitalizes the Filipino spirit. No wonder many are saying that he should be president of the Philippines. But more about politics later.

Still more remarkable is the fact that Pacman also sings and plays the guitar. He has his own MP Band which will accompany him in the Waikiki extravaganza. Portrait of the boxer as artist! The concert will be a sell-out with scalpers no doubt having a heyday. Promoting it are three prominent companies in Hawaii: Island Fire Productions, Big Ben Entertainment and Cox Radio.

Other performers from the Philippines include Madonna Decena, a Filipina artist who made the semifinals in a popular talent show in the United Kingdom, as well as Melissa Reyes, finalist in the ?Pussycat Dolls Search.?

Local Hawaii entertainers include ?American Idol? semifinalist Jordan Segundo, Jesus Salud, Al Waterson, Yasmin Dar, Angeli Callo and a host of others.

?There will be tons of entertainment,? exclaims Island Fire president Ryan Chang. ?I wanted to bring Manny to Hawaii because he is such a positive role model to everyone..... I wanted the people of Hawaii to get a chance to meet a living legend.?

At 32, Pacman is the first boxer in the history of the sport to hold seven titles in seven different weight divisions. That is simply incredible!

Pacquiao, who is visiting Hawaii for the first time, says he wants to stay longer and enjoy Hawaii, but ?I have to return to the Philippines to campaign.? And who?s the lucky candidate Pacquiao is supporting? Nacionalista Party?s standard-bearer Manny Villar.

This is not Pacquiao?s first foray into the dangerous minefields of Philippine politics. In 2007 he ran for Congress in his South Cotabato district but lost to incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

This is just thinking out aloud, but is politics, Philippine-style, for Pacquiao? This is unsolicited advice, but he probably should stay put where he is. Most Filipinos regard politics not only addicting but corrupting, and Pacquiao?s talents and energies could best be channeled elsewhere for the good of Philippine society?in the arts and entertainment arena, in education especially as a role model and trainer for the youth of the land, in community development, in sports, in advocacy initiatives for the poor and underprivileged, and so on. There are a host of other things waiting for his talents and resources. Being directly involved in politics could inhibit and compromise him in the things he could otherwise do to benefit people in general.

The surreal world of politics and its bizarre elements, including wine, women and song, gangsterism, violence, and all kinds of seedy wheeling-and-dealing, can diminish his mystique and tarnish his legendary life and incomparable achievements. Politics has ruined many lives and relationships.

Being someone who has studied and taught politics and society for a living, it seems uncharacteristic of me to give such discouraging advice. When you are popular, charismatic and have lots of money, people gravitate to you like flies. But when the glory and power are gone, you can end up in the gutter, abandoned by the very people who were once your friends and supporters.

I strongly believe that Pacquiao?s gifts of character and achievement and money could best be invested in imaginative and creative efforts to help the country solve its major social and economic issues and continuing structural problems that have held us back for centuries now.

Recently retired as professor of Political Science and Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she was also the longtime director of the Center for Philippine Studies, Dr. Belinda A. Aquino is currently the national president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America.