Overrated

25Nov06

No one begrudges Manny Pacquiao the cheers and a nice welcome party. He makes every Filipino proud by showing that talent and hard work make a formidable combination. His recent win was phenomenal. The problem is that he is being made out to be more than what he is, and he seems to allow it, nay, relish it. Pacquiao is a boxing champion—not a champion of the people, and certainly not a “champion for life.”

Engineers of this propaganda campaign are aware of Filipinos’ propensity to revere achievers or celebrities and confuse them with superheroes. Much too aware, actually, because they exploit this hero worship to the hilt if only to achieve their own ends.

It is thus sickening to hear of plans for a Pacquiao statue along Roxas Boulevard, or establishments renamed after the boxer. At the very least, these plans are premature: The man is still very much alive.

Political overtures are even more appalling. In the last elections, Pacquiao had been dim enough to endorse candidates as though he knew what it would take (apart from votes) to be a worthy elected official. Now he is actually being wooed to seek public office. He has not categorically said he would refuse any offers. Good grief.

Truth be told, the man has focused too much on his pursuit of excellence in his field that some vital areas in his person have been left untended. Take the talk that he gambles compulsively and spends his money as if there were no tomorrow. This, despite the fact that most of his fans live in squalor. He can be lured into signing contracts without fully comprehending their terms. He is also known to be overly fond of women. It would also be logical to assume he does not know anything about governance. Why wade into politics at all?

He has the power to bring the nation to a standstill—for the length of a bout. Remember how empty the streets were last Sunday afternoon? Unfortunately, there are many shameless entities eager to use his crowd-drawing power. Pacquiao would be equally shameless if he allowed himself to be used.

He always says he wants to do his country good. We advise him to keep his house in order, like any good citizen, and then do what he does best—boxing.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=editorial_nov25_2006

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