Prudence and Madness

Dear Mr. Pacquiao,

I have heard on the news (on TV Patrol actually) that you’re considering getting into politics again, as a congressman on 2010.  Inquirer says that, according to you, after 3 more fights, you’ll be joining politics.  Goodness, I wished that I didn’t hear that.  Not coming from you.  But you’ve mouthed the words and the whole nation have heard what you’ve got to say.  So, here I write this letter so that you may know that, at least, for me, I think you’re making a grave mistake.

I’m not exactly a fan of yours, but I think my mom and dad are.  My mom would cook early and make my dad eat lunch early whenever you’ve got a televised game, which usually airs at around 1 p.m.  She wouldn’t mind even if relatives abroad would send her SMS messages that you’ve won the match.  Even with the knowledge you’ve won, she’d still wait for your game and watch, with her hands covering her face if you get punched at thoroughly by your opponent and would only uncover her face when she hears the crowd cheering for you.  My dad may seem less affected, but, I think, he’s equally a fan, too, like my mom.  And I guess, they’re no different from the hundreds and thousands of people who drop everything that they’re doing to watch you (and count the increasing number of sponsor patches on your boxing shorts), to cheer for you, and sneer at your opponent (even Erik Morales), whoever he may be.  And when you win, almost every Filipino felt that he’s a boxing champion too and not surprisingly, the number of mauling incidents and victims received by the hospital where I work increase after a Manny Pacquiao boxing match.

You’re considered the People’s Champ and that, perhaps, shows how many Filipinos have considered your success as their own success too.  Damn, it makes a lot of people good and perhaps, in a way, it’s a good thing for an impoverished nation.  At least, it was a break from the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.  And I believe you wanted to do something else than just giving Filipinos a break from that situation.  You actually wanted to help.

But damn, please don’t let the politicos demonize you.  I know some may be your friends, but I think the Filipinos would appreciate it more if you stayed out of the political arena.  Don’t taint your image with political mud because you don’t have to, if you want to serve Filipinos.

There are lots of ways by which you can help your people without being a politician:

• You’ve said yourself you wanted to help our athletes.  Then go, raise funds for our national athletes and see to it that they’ll be trained well.  This is your forte; people will more than respect whatever you’ve got to contribute to uplift the sad state of Philippine Sports.
• You can set up livelihood programs for those people you want to help in the provinces, so that the poor will learn not to simply rely on dole-outs.
• Give scholarship grants to deserving individuals.
• Be an entrepreneur and set up a business so that you may be able to make jobs available to a lot of your fellowmen.

Do these things and you’ve done more than enough.

No, I’m not telling you that you don’t have the right to run for government office, if you want to.  What I’m saying is that, I’m sure, not too many are so keen about you doing such and for very good reasons, not because we do not believe you can, but because many believe that you can do better.

So, please, stay away from those politicos.  If you can’t, then be wary.

Sincerely,

Prudence