The grit Pacquiao may well bring to the presidency – plus, he is no thief

Amid all the clamor for the retirement of the 42-year-old champ from his career in the ring, Sen. Manny Pacquiao is said to be on the cusp of throwing his hat into a more controversial ring—a contest for the country’s presidency in 2022. The editorial “It’s time, Manny” (8/27/21) correctly brought that clamor to the fore, and then segued to zoom in on his aspirations for the highest office in the land: “There are no guarantees, yes—who can tell what possibilities may open if Pacquiao gives his political career the undivided focus he has poured into his sport … if … he can give public office and the people’s trust the same protean grit and diligence and heart he has dedicated to his life in the ring”?

Speaking of guarantees, questions have been raised if President Duterte has been a good leader by his fulfillment of the flagship promises he made while on the hustings in 2016, foremost of which was to eradicate within six months the age-old scourge of graft and corruption. But after almost six years, the President himself has admitted that he could no longer do anything about the venalities that have long plagued our country’s bureaucracy. That has led many to wonder why he wants more of such aggravations in his tired, old age by running for vice president next year: “Self-sacrifice” for another chance to do what he himself said he could not do?

What did former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada bring to the table after he got elected in 1998? He ran on practically nothing but his popularity as a celluloid actor adored by his fans across the archipelago. He knew nothing about governance on a national scale. The late Ferdinand Marcos was a brilliant lawyer whom people believed had a vision that would bring prosperity to the nation. Alas, greed proved to be both these presidents’ undoing, as shown by Estrada’s conviction for plunder and Marcos’ world-class thievery.

There is no doubt that Pacquiao only has his popularity going for him at this time. In the boxing arena, 99 percent of Filipinos have his back. But this man couldn’t have become such an exceptional legend if he had nothing between his ears. He is indisputably smart and totally dedicated to his craft, or whatever he has set his mind on. Is that any guarantee that he can do better as this country’s president? Or, put another way, is that any valid prediction that he would only screw up things more? No one can say, really.

The electorate took chances — never mind guarantees — with all previous presidential candidates, none of whom brought us sustainable prosperity once they got elected. Pacquiao’s single-minded determination to rise above the squalor he was born into and to then soar to stratospheric heights no ordinary Filipino has ever attained speaks volumes of the uniquely strong character the man is made of. His triumph over extreme poverty by his own sweat and blood is of epic proportions. Does that not indicate the kind of grit he can bring to the presidency? Take it from the editorial: “When Manny Pacquiao sets his heart on something, success almost always follows.” Can the same thing, or anything close to that, be said of any other presidential aspirant?

But the really unassailable bottom line is, on top of all that, Pacquiao is no thief. Anyone can take that to the bank!

STEPHEN L. MONSANTO
lexsquare.firm@gmail.com