This time, Pac is knocking in some sense

Senator Manny Pacquiao has filed a bill creating the Philippine Boxing Commission. About time it’s passed. In the first place, the move is absolutely geared towards the uplift of our boxers.

In the second place, logic says Pacquiao walks the talk.

Should the bill get the nod of Pacquiao’s fellow lawmakers, gone would be the day when a boxer is left to fend for himself after having brought honor to flag and country.

Rolando Navarette is but one pathetic case.

A hero in his time (I had written about his ring exploits in Panorama, the Manila Bulletin’s Sunday magazine), he has virtually become rat-poor.

Well, Navarette is also to blame for his fall from grace. But in my book—OK, Navarette was a convicted rapist—he was, in the end, a sorry victim of government neglect. Here was a nation’s toast—a world boxing champion, mind you—that is now treated virtually as dirt.

Seemingly, only Pacquiao has the heart for people like Navarette. The eight-time world division champion makes it a point—whenever he could—to make Navarette well 365 days a year.

Surely, Pacquiao’s bill will mandate government to always look after the welfare of boxers, both active and retired.

As his country’s most prominent boxer in the post-Elorde era, Pacquiao has the moral ascendancy to bat for the lot of boxers, both the successful and the not-solucky bunch.

For so long, our pugilists have not had ample government protection. A shame since boxing has put the country in the world map time and time again.

How many have even died fighting overseas due to promoters’ scarce safety measures? Some have come home in a coffin, their purses barely enough to spend for their burial.

With the passing of Pacquiao’s bill, such a loophole would be plugged pronto.

But why is one senator—was it my Compadre Frank (Drilon?)— saying the bill will merely duplicate the duties of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB)? Not at all, your honor. For the longest time, the GAB has done nothing to substantially improve our boxers’ lot. Ask Pacquiao. The GAB was not even a factor in Pacquiao’s climb to the top to begin with.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.

The difference is this review and update of the rules and procedures related to professional boxing and combat sports are not in the GAB. And also establish linkages with international boxing organizations and institutions and agencies of foreign government in order to facilitate and ensure the participation of Filipino professional boxers MANNY PACQUIAO