Manny Pacquiao, the world welterweight boxing champion, is now seeking to take his place among the Philippine congressmen.
Pacquiao’s life as laborer and baker is now only a memory as he is currently one of the wealthiest men in his country. Now, he is trying to apply his nationwide appeal into votes during the country’s election on May 10.
“I don’t want to be just your boxing idol… I also want to be your idol in public service,” said Pacquiao while standing on a makeshift stage, during one of his campaigns.
If ever Manny Pacquiao does win in the elections, he will be joining other Filipino former athletes and celebrities who have also won seats in the country’s Congress. This would be a reflection of how Congress is a far cry from its history of having legislative officers coming from old clans and powerful dynasties.
Pacquiao currently faces a battle against a huge political family with an impressive history. These days, voters take time to check the record of service of each politician or aspiring politician, rather than basing their votes on popularity alone, said Ramon Casiple, a political analyst.
According to Pacquiao, “I could just sit back and relax and not have anything to do with politics. I could just travel around and enjoy my life with my family… But I came from a very poor family, and I cannot turn my back on the poor.”