Manny, transformed man; his true calling?

“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your purpose.” –Aristotle

Former senator Rene A.V. Saguisag is becoming a friend through e-mail exchanges since his appreciation of my piece on Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (“Smarter, stronger, Pacman showed heart,” Opinion, 12/18/13).  Now it’s my turn to agree with what he said in the same section (“House should consider suspending Pacquiao till term’s end,” 12/20/14):  “The House (of Representatives) should consider suspending (Congressman) Pacquiao up to the end of his term as he treats House work as a hobby or sideline.” Perfect.

Contradiction comes easy to the confused.  And boxing, as in politics, is full of it. “I do have one specific goal and that is to give the boxing fans the fight (Mayweather versus Pacquiao) they have always asked for,” Pacquiao assured us recently. Yet beneath such flattering declaration, he surrenders himself subservient to the very biggies who are among the biggest obstacles to the fight.

Pacquiao declaims a rhetoric: “It is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table,” yet the table where he is seated is owned by promoter Bob Arum and adviser Michael Koncz. The Filipino boxing star says he believes “good faith negotiations” could produce the megabout, yet his handlers seem to have only their own pockets to think of.

The sport is deeply into paradox. Floyd Mayweather says he’s the best, yet he fears his fellow best. He presents himself to the public like he breathes and wakes up for money, yet he dodges the fight that would bring him the biggest money, not realizing  that the same fight would paint him the biggest coward if he continues running away from it.

Further, Pacquiao explains in the same speech:  “As I have said before, boxing is my passion and public service is my calling,” yet he sidetracks himself from his passion by being into a “calling” he is not called to do. What Pacquiao has in politics is ambition, not calling.  And it can be judged by his performance and attitude in the House, and by being consistently its top absentee as a representative of his native Sarangani, from the time he was first elected in 2010 and reelected in 2013.

A true friend is one who lets you see what is ahead of blind curves in a zigzag road. Politics is indeed public service wherein “politicians” have no place.  I mean those whose focus on it are eternally occupied and preoccupied in just wanting to get elected and reelected even right after just getting elected.

By the way, the sport’s icon is now a transformed man, and this I know for sure.  The Lord Jesus Christ changed his life dramatically. Thus Pacquiao carries and preaches the Holy Bible without shame and with effectiveness anywhere he goes.  And this also I know for sure to be a clear calling for him to do and continue being passionate about till Rapture—or till the end time. Be on track.

 —RENI M. VALENZUELA,
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