Manny talks politics the day after
LOS ANGELES – Retired boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao talked politics the morning after his convincing 12-round decision over American Timothy Bradley last Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao welcomed members of the Philippine media to his elegant suite on the 60th floor of Mandalay Bay Delano and faced questions regarding politics, including the coming elections and his absenteeism in Congress.
The two-term congressman from Saranggani is running for senator in the May 9 elections, and with his fight done and over with, he talked freely of his plans and his desire to bring honor to the country.
Pacquiao returns home on Thursday on board a Philippine Airlines jumbo jet. A hero’s welcome is being prepared for the 37-year-old who has announced his retirement from the sport.
He said he will first savor the victory with his countrymen then go on with his campaign.
“Pagdating siguro sa Pilipinas (When I return to the Philipines),” he said of his campaign, which was restricted as he trained and fought in the United States. “I-enjoy muna natin yung tagumpay
kasama ang mga Pilipino (Let’s enjoy the victory first with our countrymen,” said the eight-division champion, who is doing well in the surveys.
Pacquiao was asked if he was ready to face another brush with the Commission on Elections regarding the airing of his fight against Bradley because the Comelec believed then that it would give him undue advantage.
Senatorial candidates are only given 120 minutes of airtime to campaign. His fight with Bradley lasted the whole 12 rounds of three minutes each, not counting the one-minute break in between rounds.
Pacquiao said politics was out of the picture when he fought Bradley, knocked the American down twice, and won a unanimous decision that was cheered by over 14,000 fans at the MGM Grand. “Wala naman pulitika yan. Karangalan
ng bansa natin yan (There’s no politics. It was for the honor of our country),” he said of the fight that was beamed around the world. “Sinuman yung tao na nag-reklamo dahil ipalabas yung fight para sa karangalan ng bansa natin ay yan ay ang puso niyan
hindi tunay na Pilipino (Whoever was against the airing of the fight which was for the honor of our country is not a Filipino by heart),” said Pacquiao.
He even quoted Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero.
“Kung si Rizal nga nagsabi na ‘Mas mabaho pa sa malansang isda pag hindi ka marunong magmahal sa sariling wika (He who does not love his own language is worse than a smelly fish),” Pacquiao said.
For the past decade, Pacquiao has brought so much pride and honor for the country, and for some time he was the face of boxing, the pound-for-pound king. He took a shot at his critics. “Kaya pag karangalan na ng bansa ang pinagusapan at against ka eh hindi ko alam
kung ano ang nasa isipan mo (If it’s for the honor of our country and you are against it then I don’t know what’s on your mind),” he said.
Pacquiao, as a congressman, is being criticized for his absenteeism in the House. He defended himself from such criticism.