| People�s Champ Pacquiao
By Antonio C. Abaya Manila Standard Today, May 07 issue Although I personally do not like boxing as a sport and could not gather enough enthusiasm to watch the Pacquiao-Hatton fight � or any other boxing event, for that matter, since the heavyweight title match between Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore in Chicago in 1957 (?) � I join the national euphoria over Pacquiao�s victory and do congratulate him for a job well done. We are justly very proud of him. At last, some good news, for a change. There�s more. In its May 11 issue, TIME Magazine includes Manny Pacquiao among The TIME 100: The World�s Most Influential People. And not a word about you-know-who who fancied herself a global stateswoman at the United Nations, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and at the Obama White House, but nobody paid any attention to her.. She must be so green with envy now. In the TIME accolade, Pacquiao � Mr.Pacquiao, if you please � was one of only a few whose write-up and photo, combined, occupied one whole page or more. The others: Sen. Edward Kennedy, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, London Mayor Boris Johnson, President Barack Obama, the inventors of Twitter, Actor Brad Pitt, Swindler Bernard Madoff, Radio Host Rush Limbaugh, Musician MIA (never heard of her), Actress Kate Winslet, Comedian Jay Leno, US First Lady Michelle Obama, Preacher Rick Warren, Economist Nouriel Roubini, Economist Paul Krugman, and Danish marketing expert Martin Lindstrom. The 87 other honorees had to be content with a mere quarter, third or half a page. What a singular honor for Mr. Pacquiao to be given one whole page.. In his appreciation of Mr. Pacquiao, former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis wrote: �Pound for pound, Manny Pacquiao is the best boxer in the world. But even more important than holding that distinction, Manny has connected with the people of his home country, the Philippines, to the point where he�s almost like a god. The people have rallied behind him and feel like they�re part of him, because they can see his talent, his dedication, his grace and his class. The grip he holds over the Philippines is similar to Nelson Mandela�s influence in South Africa. I can surely see Manny becoming the Philippine President one day��.� Whoa! Is Lewis getting ahead of himself? Well, maybe and maybe not. In its May 5 issue, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that: �In a move that may well catapult him to Congress next year, Manny Pacquiao is parlaying his enormous popularity as a boxing champion � boosted by his electrifying knockout of British hitman Ricky Hatton last weekend � into a political movement�.� He is said to have founded the People�s Champ Movement (PCM) in September last year in his hometown of Gen. Santos City. He petitioned the Comelec last December to recognize the PCM as a �local political party,� which would allow PCM to field candidates for local positions in the 2010 elections: mayor, governor, congressman. In the 2007 elections, Mr. Pacquiao ran for congressman against the incumbent, last-termer Arlene Antonino-Custodio, a tiny wisp of a girl but a member of the local political dynasty. He was soundly defeated, 139,061 votes to 75,908. Some attributed his loss to his running under the Atienza wing of the Liberal Party, an ally of President Arroyo. If that is so, then this must be the reason he formed his own party, the PCM. Last year, the Kampi trapos were loudly bragging that Mr.Pacquiao was about to join their party. They were apparently planning to field him as the Poster Boy for their ChaCha Fraud that is meant to keep Gloria Arroyo in power beyond 2010. That team-up has fortunately not happened. He has not joined the party of political prostitutes. He apparently believes that being associated with President Arroyo would not be to his advantage, but would in fact be a kiss of death. Bully for Mr. Pacquiao. In his now elevated status as a genuine national hero, Mr. Pacquiao is needed more than ever by Gloria and her coterie of political prostitutes, to advance their self-serving goals. Mr. Pacquiao does not need them and he should not allow them to use him.. The news that he has formed his People�s Champ Movement in preparation for a re-entry into electoral politics has generated a lot of negative feedback from those already in politics, some because they are genuinely concerned about his future as a champion boxer; others because they fear his popularity could threaten their hold on power. I take the opposite tack. I say, Go for it, Manny�.Mr. Pacquiao. Those who fear the prospect of a President Manny Pacquiao are afraid of their own shadows. The minimum age for a presidential candidate is, if memory serves, 45. He is only 30, so the earliest he can be a candidate for the presidency is in 2024. By that time, Manny � Mr. Pacquiao � would no longer be boxing champion, he would no longer enjoy his present status as a national idol, and he would presumably have grown in knowledge and wisdom to become a more serious presidential candidate, if he still wants to run for that office. In the meantime, there is no reason why he should not run for mayor, governor or congressman, if he wants to. He is genuinely popular and would handily win any local elections that he chooses to join. He would not be any less qualified than many of the incumbents. More importantly, he can build on his well-earned reputation as the People�s Champ to champion the causes of good governance, clean and fair elections, and moral renewal in this spiritually bankrupt and god-forsaken country, as typified by its leaders.. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can lead a national campaign against the predatory trapos and political dynasts who have ruined this country almost beyond repair. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can lead a national campaign against the ChaCha Fraud of Kampi and Lakas that is meant to keep Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in power beyond 2010. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can lead a national campaign for moral renewal much more effectively than either Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno or Pampanga Governor Fr. Among Ed Panlilio or Evangelist Ed Villanueva.. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can lead a national campaign to bring to the fore that �new breed of leaders� that the Catholic bishops have only talked about and that Ang Kapatiran Party is naively trying to recruit by inviting nominations from the public. (With all due respect, Nandy, isn�t AKP on the �wrong side of history� in advocating the banning of boxing? I do not like boxing any more than you do. But banning it? How many votes do you think will your candidates win on this issue, given the na6ional euphoria over Pacquiao�s victory?). With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressmen � can lead a national campaign to bring to the consciousness of the masa, who adore him, the need to elect morally motivated leaders like ZTE whistle blower Jun Lozada and Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga who would otherwise be languishing on the sidelines of our electoral process because they are powerless against the corrosive influence of Big Money in our politics. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can implement an economic stimulus package to lift large segments of the masa population from poverty more effectively than any graft-ridden initiative from the most corrupt government in Asia. With the right set of advisers, the People�s Champ � whether as mayor, governor or congressman � can start a peaceful and non-violent revolution to save this country from its corrupt politicians. Go for it, Manny!. Mr. Pacquiao, sir! ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in acabaya.blogspot.com. Tony on YouTube in www.tapatt.org. To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. . OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �People�s Champ Pacquiao� More Reactions to �My Space: No Common Sense� More Reactions to �Swine Flu Re-examined� Investing in Financial Markets Hi Mr. Abaya; I just read your article about the People's Champ Movement. Like you I was not into boxing that much too until I watched Manny's fights. Before I go on, may I ask if you are the Tony Abaya, Mayor of Santiago City I met early in the 1980's? If that is so, I am Leonardo Cruz, the Engineer who supervised the first Santiago Water District Improvement Project. Anyway, I am currently here in Washington DC. I got my Engineering and Industrial Relations Degrees in UP Diliman and almost a Doctoral in Public Administration also from UP Diliman. I am telling you all these because I left the Philippine Public Service in 2005 with a heavy heart. When I read your article about this new political party, it suddenly came to my mind that this could be my way back to the service of the Filipino people in the future. Maybe you will find this email odd but I really do not know how my thoughts could get connected to this new political movement. Anyway, if you see anything that will be of help to the Philippine Public Service with this simple resume and dream, I trust that you could do something about it. If not, simply delete it. Thank you! Leonardo C. Cruz, (by email), Washington DC, May 07, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony Abaya, The following excerpts were copied from a major Philippine internet news website: MANILA, Philippines � There�s no stopping �people�s champ� Manny Pacquiao from returning to the country today � not bad weather or pleas from officials worried about his being a potential carrier of the deadly A(H1N1) influenza virus. The boxing legend also shrugged off the prospect of being quarantined if he shows symptoms of the disease, which has claimed lives in Mexico and the United States. In interviews with local television and radio networks, Pacquiao said he and others in his entourage who were in Los Angeles, do not have any flu symptoms that could justify their quarantine.�If you are healthy, why should you be quarantined?� he told dzBB radio" Pacquiao's may not get the H1N1 virus but it seems that he could have gotten the imperious arrogance and sense of entitlement of the shameless trapos who went to Las Vegas just to watch the boxing bout. I don't know, who advised Manny Pacquiao to form his own political party. Hopefully, this is not suggestive of possible megalomania brought by the godlike adulation by the country, the political opportunists and moneymen surrounding him. It will be a long way to 2024 but the intimation of a usual tragic story line is in the making since Manny Pacquiao decided to run for Congress and lost. While Manny Pacquiao is taking lessons in politics and academics, his teachers should make it mandatory for him to read and remember the lessons on the old boxing movie, "The Harder They Fall". For his own sake, somebody should also mention the old Latin saying.... "Memento Mori". Regards, Mark Enriquez, (by email), Pomona, CA, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I must apologize to throw caution to the wind knowing the Filipinos are currently drunk with the success of Manny Pacquiao's recent victory. Rightly so. However there is a need for a reality check. When people are euphoric and drunk , logic and reasons are a mile high, far off somewhere else. No one in his right mind is thinking of consequences of actions much less the result meant for another day. Must I remind everyone Pacquaio is simply a world champion boxer.? That is all he is at this point. Please, please, let us not get embolden away, to the extent of even gloating what he can do for the country because he is a world champion and enormously popular. We cannot afford to revert to the old idiotic same mo, same mo of electing movie-sports celebrities as in the case of the embarrassingly and ill equipped to be president Joseph Estrada, simply because these individuals were popular. And when he was impeached the Philippines ended with the Napoleonic ego of Gloria Arroyo probably worse than Estrada. If Manny is to seriously pursue his political ambition, you are absolutely right -he needs grooming and be surrounded with morally good men. He can run for congress or governor and get his feet wet. He surely needs the on the job training to be come a future leader of the country. I am confident given his discipline and work ethics he can achieve anything. But in Politics he needs grooming time, leadership experience and know how. He is enormously loved in America for being down to earth, for keeping his friends and appearing unaffected by fame. As his coach Roach commented before the De la Renta fight, " Manny is so kind hearted and gives his money away. I am just afraid he may not end up with any someday" Congratulations to Manny. The Philippines is so wanting of a hero. He is the brown man in a shinning armor making all of us proud. Oscar Apostol, (by email), Rocklin, CA, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Please allow me to join you heartily in your endorsement of World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao: GO FOR IT MANNY! You are, pound for pound, the greatest boxer of the world, comparable to Henry Armstrong! You have brought a signal honor to your country and your people. Time magazine is right to devote a full page to you, giving but less space to other world celebrities. That is a good measure of how famous you are now. You are one of the most famous persons on planet Earth now. Somehow, the Filipino people now proudly bash in the shadow of your worldwide fame and glory. If you are really serious about running for office under the banner of your political party, People's Champion, please consider running for governor of your province. I have a feeling that the great majority of the voters of Cotabato will only be too eager to elevate you to the No. 1 political office of your beloved province. They must know that you will be a good, honest, dedicated and forward-looking Governor whose overarching concern will be the interests of all the people of Cotabato. They know that there is no need for you to engage in corruption because after the last fight against Ricky Hatton, you must be one of the wealthiest men in the whole Philippines. As a governor, with good advisers around you, you will be setting a model on good, inspired, dedicated and results-oriented governance. You have the golden opportunity, Manny Pacquiao, of showing the President, the Vice President, the Senators, the Representatives, the Department Secretaries, the Bureau Directors, the Governors, the City and Municipal Mayors, and the Justices and Judges the true meaning of GOOD GOVERNANCE AND HONEST, DEDICATED AND CORRUPTION-FREE PUBLIC SERVICE. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers, NY, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Powerful article. Congrats!. Noel Tandog, (by email), .May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Great article. I did not expect him at all, with the looming valid prejudices including my own of the boxer-hero's ability outside of the boxing arena, to throw a positive punch at governance. You have optimism, generosity of spirit and vision to consider the boxer's potential rise from sportsman to statesman intelligently equipped for nation building. His asset is established - people believe in him with wild adulation - and if he succeeds in genuine love of country and his fellow Pinoys especially the disadvantaged, if he can study and learn, if he shuns power-hungry, if he will not succumb to corruption and thievery, the legacy of political predecessors -- then Mabuhay, Mr, Pacquiao, Sir for the future. Divine providence, karma/fate render unexpected surprises if your wish-list can be translated into reality, not just letters on the editorial page of Standard Today. I suggest you send this Thursday copy to the Pacquio family pronto - so at least he can read, be aware of what you wrote about him and perhaps, be inspired. ACA - Bravo, metaphorically you can really mold or mentor leaders out of men of common clay or golden heroes... admire your self crusade, passion and persistent belief in the Filipino rising like the phoenix, while many others like me are on the edge - almost giving up and just sigh. No kidding. Marla Y. Chorengel, (by email), Rodeo, CA, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Come on, Tony! I hope this will be the first that you will be wrong in your prediction. It is scary! We have lots of people who may carry the torch. I cannot, for one, believe that. I may be on the other side of the equation, but I still have my own opinion, of which I am entitled, too! The first thing he has to do probably is to go back to school because, if not, his so-called sets s of advisers will rule the country. Go back to high school and l(earn) the course to college, then take the entrance again. I have talked to professionals here in Los Angeles and I found one in one a doubting Thomas. How is his status as a college freshman? We heard he enrolled before taking up the last two fights before Hatton. In boxing, yes, he is our idol, but, Tony, please! Renato Santos, (by email), Los Angeles, CA, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, You are so right and I totally agree with you. Mayor/Governor/Congressman Pacquiao? Why not, if that is what the people want. We could do worse and we did. Manny Pacquiao is not only fighting his boxing opponents, he is now also fighting against the record books. He has tied the record of most division titles at six, with the last four titles won in four consecutive matches. Winning in four different weight classes in four consecutive bouts has never been done before. To have done so and improved with every fight is even more remarkable. And he says he can still improve! Best of all, his understated personality is a joy to behold in this age of self-promotion and hyperbole, specially in a sport such as boxing. His comment on his fight with Hatton: �I was just doing my job.� All he needs now to seal the deal is a photo-op with President Obama, and you-know-who will surely die with envy! Enrico D. Hidalgo, (by email), South Korea, May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Most politicians would twit the champ's desire to enter politics.Some say he would be "knocked out" in the political ring. Lurking inside them, is an analysis that Manny can only be a great boxer and never a politician or a man capable of governance. Politicians want him only as a rallying point for Filipino pride and another popular item for them to ride on . Others simply see him as a gambler's winning streak. Some even say that his brains are not for anything that is higher than sports and his business usefulness is purely for product endorsements . He is, in their bottomline, brawn with brains fitted only for a brawl . I disagree. History is full of surprises and some of the greatest leaders came from more humble beginnings . They were potentials from extremely unexpected places and lineages. We may be underestimating Manny's versatility - that he may in fact be so durable and flexible physically and intellectually that he can enter into another kind of world the same way he rose from 106 lbs straight through 5 different titles to gain the world's accolade with adjectives that say he IS the "best boxer in the world...." he is , as far as i know, a professional boxer who fights for his country's pride with the humility of a true Christian who prays to and depends on God and shows his gratitude for having been given the stewardship of his profession. In him might lie the binding force for an alternative candidacy - a team that would hurl non-tradpols into positions of advantage to drive out the loudest speechin' crooks in robes and barongs and suits. He may not have the legal wisdom as justices and officials would be credible to speak about moral force or like those in some advocacy groups. But this may not necessarily mean he is empty of the same principles. and one thing is certain as of now : that he may not speak as well to express in eloquent ways his advocacy for his country but he is showing his true courage, true grit, and his willingness to actualize what he believes in. Many people in powerful positions go around to talk of what ills the country and what is needed to be done, yet stop because they fear the discomfort that doing what they say must be done. Home, family, children, grandchildren, are far more important than taking risks for the love of country. I pray though that the patriotism in the Filipino will rise. Pacquiao made a difference in sports and humbled the proudest among the proud. Arum said that the Champ keeps on learning, and learning fast to adapt, change, and win. yes, Manny could win by a landslide and take position without having to create a dubious bank account , drink and gamble with shady characters, or try to railroad an overpriced contract and the like. Unless Manny's goodness of heart changes, then the bad guys are in for a knockout. Victor Ma�alac, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Mang Tony, Yes, he deserves to be called a "Sir", because in England, he might have been awarded a Knighthood by the queen for his accomplishments... When Manny Pacquaio turned down the first fight negotiations between him and Hatton, almost everybody was calling him �mukhang pera�, �masyado na gahaman sa pera�, I also was leaning to thinking like that until I read Mr. Recah Trinidad�s column. His demand was not about money, it�s all about respect. He is the P4P best boxer and he deserves all due respect which can only be reflected on the lions share of a fight contract, even in a 55-45 sharing. Most thought of that being �mukhang pera� because in my opinion, Filipinos tend to look down on themselves when in front of the westerners, we think we are inferior to them so Filipinos may just be contended with what they offered to Manny when they thought it�s already fair. I admired Pacquiao for that. We Filipinos lose face to outsiders for so many reasons. But I also admire and envy Pacquaio because the World is looking up to him, he dominated Ricky Hatton and he was admired by British and Americans, boxing experts, athletes, Hollywood actors, etc. Before the fight, I told my colleagues that Pacquaio will win not because of his exemplary skills in boxing but because of his discipline, I also admire him for that. While Pacquiao concentrated on his training and follow instructions of his trainer, Hatton continued with his bar-hopping. If people see the sincere intentions of Pacquaio in serving them, why bar him from running for congress or any government office? With his money, he has the means to serve the people and the only other important requirement is the honest will to serve which no one, as I know of, with our incumbent congressmen and senators have. When I witnessed how people around the globe admire Pacquaio during pre and post-fight exposures, I suddenly realized that it is what we need to progress as a country. We need more Filipinos to make us proud and be respected as a people. We need every Filipino, myself included of course, to make us proud. Poverty or being a Third World country will not prevent us from progressing as long as we conduct ourselves decently and respectably to the point that foreigners will respect us with what we positively do and with what we accomplish, and they will not humiliate or discriminate against us. Tourists and investment will come here if we do. Our government officials (save for a few) are doing exactly the opposite more prominently and incessantly thereby overwhelming the little and huge accomplishment of ordinary Filipinos, even that of Pacquaio. Our country, the Philippines, is not asking too much from us, we just need to make her proud in every littleor big things we do. Manny Pacquaio showed everyone that poverty, even limited education, (he may not be as articulate as Mrs. Arroyo,) is not a restriction as long as we excel in what we do, (excellence in lying not included) and people will respect and admire us, even love us, like the fans of Manny Pacquaio. So to Gloria Arroyo, make our country proud by relinquishing your post because the people are tired of you, I might as well look up to you if you do. Regards and keep on writing, Edel Anit, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Sir, I just wanted to share with you something about Manny Pacquiao. It reminded me of my late father. When he was just starting out about a decade or so ago, my father one day said he saw a guy that could knock the lights out of anybody daring to have a go with Manny in the ring. He said here is a young man to watch out for in boxing. Though I am no boxing enthusiast, I used to watch boxing bouts with my dad and the family of course on television. How true were his words as we witness Manny mature into a great boxer today. Unfortunately, my dad had passed on before seeing Manny demolish de la Hoya and Hatton. But then, he might have been watching in heaven with other boxing enthusiasts too. Regards, Grace Santos, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Our dear Tony, Congratulations for an anti-depressant article on Pacquiao. We need him to keep our sanity, especially at a time when we do not expect any good news from our leaders.. Unless Manny gives up his gambling and, some say, womanizing, he is no different from the others. He will not be capable of leading a moral force movement. But if he entrusts his life to God and gets direction from Him, I will fully support him. You do not have to be a genius to effectively run the Philippines. All one needs are respect and full trust and confidence of the people; integrity and transparency; fairness and justice for all; and a life of simplicity and sacrifice for others. If he were to become our President one day, all he would need would be trusted advisers who could fill his shortcomings, and citizens who would follow him because of their belief in him. Col. (Ret.) Hector Tarzan Tarrazona, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony: I agree that Manny should pursue politics. He can't be a boxer much longer: age catches up with boxers quickly, given the punishment they have to endure. So Manny will need to take on another occupation for the rest of his post-boxing life. If he chooses to be a politician, he can perform better than most of those already occupying Congressional seats. That's not too difficult, considering the low level of performance shown by congressmen, who can't even ensure a quorum when there's a Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas. Let's keep a closer look on what Manny does next. It may be that the Malacanang flip-flops on the arrival schedule of Pacquiao has some deeper significance than GMA's people being incompetent to the point that they can't even coordinate a parade schedule and health advisories. Indeed, the inclusion of Pacquiao in Time's 100 could be more divisive to the Pacquiao-Arroyo friendship than anyone realizes. Go for Congress, Manny! And ask all your fellow congressmen to forego their pork barrel so they won't get swine flu. Tito Osias, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, I would agree with you in saying "GO FOR IT MANNY!" only. IF Manny can go to school further, educate himself in government and learn to speak the global language well, specially needed if he runs for national office, AND keeps his mother, realistic and level-headed Dionesia, always by his side in place of the crooks. Cita Dinglasan, (by email), May 08, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony, This is one article that I io not agree with you. Manny is a great fighter but it is very doubtful that Many can display the same aptitude in politics. For example, his most recent fiasco in trying to switch networks despite having a live contract with another is a clear example of his impulsiveness and lack of good decision-making skill on areas that are outside of his comfort zone. Also you mention that he will do well IF he is surrounded by the right people. That is a big IF! This is not to ridicule Manny because he has made us proud on the international stage. But as we all know, all people have limitations. If Manny wins, he will most likely be like any actors or known personality who bomb out as a politician. Take for example Sonny Jaworski. I'm a big fan and he is a great player/coach. He is also a college degree holder and businessman, but his record as senator/politician is spotty. Regards, Marvin Valido, (by email) May 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Well said. The concerns of people for Manny's welfare are well-founded. His prestigious position in Philippine society must not be wasted by greedy and corrupt politicians. On his own he accomplished what even the present group of leaders could not--the dignity of The Filipino nation. To be ranked among those world personalities mentioned in Time magazine, is in itself already an honor. Let's pray our Man, Manny, would be the stimulus, the guiding light for 'change'! Let's not waste his popularity, his signal honor, to the ugliness politics. He deserves an honored seat in history, in the Philippines, and on the world stage as well. Jose I Regino, (by email), Zamboanga City, May 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, I doubt if you-know-who is green with envy with the plaudits and attention Pacquiao is getting because she knows she can manipulate the champ through Chavit Singson who has been seen most of the time with Pacquiao. Who do you think made Pacquiao run for congressman in South Cotabato? Who instigated his failed attempt to renege on his contract with ABS which was becoming an Arroyo critic? In a recent column of Ernesto Maceda, he described Pacquiao and Singson as being fond of 18 (or was it 16) year old girls. Of course, the public were fed by the media with gossips and rumors of Pacquiao's involvement with movie personalities. Of course, considering that many if not most of the Congressmen are womanizers, then he will be with the right company when he takes a seat at the Batasang Pambansa. Narciso Ner, (by email), Davao City, May 09, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Paquiao a national hero? OK, if RP has nothing else to bring up than a boxer. Maybe he should also be named Champ of Las Vegas, because he wins in Las Vegas, nowhere else. There is, among other reasons, the big money and that is all he really wants, and of course his managers, too. Professional boxing, like others, has long time not much to do anymore with real sport. Where is such big money, there is cheating, fixing etc., no matter that still "all are friends". Big money always kills friendship. With the near crazy-like Pinoys in the USA who pay hundreds of their often not easy earned dollars for a seat to join the crowd, there is always a full house secured which then secures the big money. The promoters know it well that there is no other country where a boxer can become a hero above the real national heroes that fought and died for their country. And there is a desperate administration that also needs such hero for to have a lot of good news, covering the not so good news about more important national matters. But a congressman or even senator Paquiao? His inability would beat all other candidates and incumbent who are also not very able for their position. A lot of good advisers? If he needs that, then it shows already that he himself is not fit for such position. The more adviser, the more different advise he will get. In an administration where the majority are highly educated and usually lawyers, what he could do? Being chosen member of a commission, how he could discuss and decide matters he could not understand since even well educated members seemingly often do not really understand the problems. There, he cannot say "I knock it out" and there is no crash course to teach in weeks what usually takes years of studying. So, let him be a hero and maybe start administrative experience as a Barangay Captain. The more, as for sure he would not stop boxing as long as there are millions to get and therefore would be always weeks and months absent of his job. Besides, with his long stays in USA and buying a 100 million Peso house in LA, he probably holds already a green card, even secretly, which disqualifies him from running. In the meantime, he could show another heroic manner by declaring and paying correct income taxes in RP, he should long time already show up among the biggest taxpayers, being already one of the richest Filipinos. His only favor over most other candidates is, that he can finance his campaign out of own money, no need for dubious financing. [email protected], Germany, May 10, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Sir Tony! I like this article of yours regarding the Pacman's obvious opportunities to generate change WITH THE RIGHT SET OF ADVISERS. Unfortunately, right now, who has been riding Mr. Paquiao's coat tails? People who are open gamblers and smugglers, people who do not do their jobs, people who prefer going to the US to watch his games, using taxpayer's money and who does he call "ninong or ninang"? If he can cut ties and not be identified with these people, then maybe I would believe he has a chance to generate change even as a Congressman or a Governor. But it�s hard to believe that Mr. Paquiao will not lend an ear to these user-friendly people who use his popularity for their own personal agenda. It is the culture of Filipinos to "abide and listen" to their "elders" but once you don't listen to them - you get the brunt of their ire and get a mouthful of invectives from them, turn tables on you and destroy your (political) career - thats how trapos are. And by golly - majority of those people who hover around Manny are trapos. Even if we give Mr. Paquiao the benefit of the doubt and think he is "his own man" and never relies on the so-called advise he gets from user-friendly people - right now being identified with certain personalities like crooks and thieves and gamblers and non-performing politicians - will only damage his reputation. "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are" - is a saying that rings true in most cases, hopefully - just hopefully - it does not rub off on him. Regards and God bless! Jenifer A. Xavier, (by email), May 11, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Pacquiao may be charismatic, even humble before and after fights, and unite our nation during his soirees, but please for the love of god(s) why become a politician? If only the seat of the presidency becomes a ceremonial post (although not through GMA's chacha) then by all means he can sit there until his death which by that time every hospital, high school, municipal boardroom will be named after him, and probably an Emmanuel Pacquaio International Airport Terminal Five with a People's Champ Lounge for first class travelers will be built one day. Remember the time when we elected an ignoramus who is also charismatic, known by every masa in the street and who proudly claimed that he is too rich to be corrupt? [email protected], May 11, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Mr. Abaya, I agree that Manny enter politics. As a Filipino citizen it is his right. However, my I respectfully suggest that he enter as a to... ehem... congressman? A mayor or a governor is more of a hands on leader, IMHO. Time needed to train may be eaten by a mayor's time in office. Congress (upper and lower) seems to have this luxury of not being present everyday in the session halls and nobody gives a hoot. And I believe nobody (well almost) will fault Mr. Pacquiao for absenting himself in congress when he is in training. Pacquaio for president? Why not? Robbie Tan, (by email), May 12, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww What about if Manny gets the wrong kind of advisers? Does Mr. Abaya have a set of airtight requirements for the right kind of advisers for Mr. Pacquiao? Will his mother Aling Dionisia qualify? How about her DI? How about Tony Roach? How about his separated father? How about Bobby Pacquiaoo, the brother? Will Sec. Atienza qualify? Felix Zamar, (by email), May 12, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Whether Manny Pacquiao should run or not run for a political office in the 2010 election is a non-issue. It is within his constitutional rights to do so and no one can prevent him from becoming a politician. In fact, anyone legally qualified can. This is the basic premise of Alexis de Tocqueville monumental work on Democracy in America (1835). He hypothesized that the advance of equality, that is, the free mobility of individuals is the very foundation of American democracy. As a consequence, the political franchise has now been extended from the few to the many or to Manny (pun intended). And yet, there is a price that we have to pay. And what is that price? Tocqueville noted that mediocrity is the price we pay for it. If our Philippine democratic import caters to popularity and demagoguery rather than civility and refined manners, it is self-inflicted. If our wounds have not healed and we are still bleeding, we are all to be blamed. And so it goes: the trivialization of Philippine politics even from outsiders like Bob Arum and Lennox Lewis is the price we pay for our democratic subculture. Thank you for the opportunity to respond and participate in your blog. Very truly yours, Efren Padilla, (by email), Hayward, CA, May 18, 2009 Professor of Sociology and Urban Planning California State University at East Bay wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �My Space: No Common Sense� (April 29, 2009) Dear Tony: The only reason DPWH did not give a damn about your proposal is because it was simple and inexpensive. Inexpensive projects mean low kickbacks and commissions. DPWH should be abolished and reorganized because the bad guys and crooks there are too many and too entrenched. The evil guys in DPWH cannot be punished criminally and administratively anymore because they are already filthy super rich. With their dirty money they can always go scot free either by corrupting officials and judges or by killing witnesses. As long as we have a President , Palace Officials and some Congressmen , Senators, Governors, and Mayors who because they are also evil and thieves, protect and coddle the thieves , crooks and bad guys in government, our country will not progress and will not be an attractive place to visit and to live. The scenario becomes worse when our justice system is inefficient and corrupt. Somebody once said that traffic can be solved by strictly applying the three E's which are: Engineering( More routes & equipments), Enforcement(More trained and honest enforcers), Education( Violators are fined and required to attend schooling and seminar . I agree and suggest that you will please elaborate more on these three E's. Please continue denouncing bad officials and fighting for the interests of the silent majority of Filipinos. Very truly yours, Reggie Gazmen, (by email), May 11, 2009 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Swine Flu Re-examined� (May 04, 2009) Dear Tony, I pass to you an e-mail I received. There being no author's name, I could not vouch for the veracity of the information: Alan C. Atkins, (by email) Paranaque City, May 12, 2009. British resident of Metro Manila "Bird Flu" Do you know that 'bird flu' was discovered in Vietnam 9 years ago? Do you know that barely 100 people have died in the whole world in all that time? Do you know that it was the Americans who alerted us to the efficacy of the human antiviral TAMIFLU as a preventative. Do you know that TAMIFLU barely alleviates some symptoms of the common flu? Do you know that its efficacy against the common flu is questioned by a great part of the scientific community? Do you know that against a SUPPOSED mutant virus such as H5N1, TAMIFLU barely alleviates the illness? Do you know that to date Avian Flu affects birds only? Do you know who markets TAMIFLU? ROCHE LABORATORIES. Do you know who bought the patent for TAMIFLU from ROCHE LABORATORIES in 1996? GILEAD SCIENCES INC. Do you know who was the then president of GILEAD SCIENCES INC. and remains a major shareholder? DONALD RUMSFELD, the present Secretary of Defence of the USA. Do you know that the base of TAMIFLU is crushed aniseed? Do you know who controls 90% of the world's production of this tree? ROCHE. Do you know that sales of TAMIFLU were over $254 million in 2004 and more than $1000 million in 2005? Do you know how many more millions ROCHE can earn in the coming months if the business of fear continues? So the summary of the story is as follows: Bush's friends decide that the medicine TAMIFLU is the solution for a pandemic that has not yet occurred and that has caused a hundred deaths worldwide in 9 years. This medicine doesn't so much as cure the common flu. In normal conditions the virus does not affect humans. Rumsfeld sells the patent for TAMIFLU to ROCHE for which they pay him a fortune. Roche acquires 90% of the global production of crushed aniseed, the base for the antivirus. The governments of the entire world threaten a pandemic and then buy industrial quantities of the product from Roche. So we end up paying for medicine while Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush do the business. ARE WE CRAZY!!? OR ARE WE IDIOTS!!? AT LEAST PASS THIS ON SO THAT IT CAN BE KNOWN!!!!!!! wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Rene Valdes) Swine Flu May Be Human Error; WHO Probes Scientist�s Claim By Jason Gale and Simeon Bennett Bloomberg May 12, 2009 May 13 (Bloomberg) -- The World Health Organization is investigating a claim by an Australian researcher that the swine flu virus circling the globe may have been created as a result of human error. Adrian Gibbs, 75, who collaborated on research that led to the development of Roche Holding AG�s Tamiflu drug, said in an interview that he intends to publish a report suggesting the new strain may have accidentally evolved in eggs scientists use to grow viruses and drugmakers use to make vaccines. Gibbs said he came to his conclusion as part of an effort to trace the virus�s origins by analyzing its genetic blueprint. The World Health Organization received the study last weekend and is reviewing it,Keiji Fukuda, the agency�s assistant director-general of health security and environment, said in an interview May 11. Gibbs, who has studied germ evolution for four decades, is one of the first scientists to analyze the genetic makeup of the virus that was identified three weeks ago in Mexico and threatens to touch off the first flu pandemic since 1968. A virus that resulted from lab experimentation or vaccine production may indicate a greater need for security, Fukuda said. By pinpointing the source of the virus, scientists also may better understand the microbe�s potential for spreading and causing illness, Gibbs said. Possible Mistake "The sooner we get to grips with where it�s come from, the safer things might become,� Gibbs said by phone from Canberra yesterday. �It could be a mistake� that occurred at a vaccine production facility or the virus could have jumped from a pig to another mammal or a bird before reaching humans, he said. Gibbs and two colleagues analyzed the publicly available sequences of hundreds of amino acids coded by each of the flu virus�s eight genes. He said he aims to submit his three-page paper today for publication in a medical journal. �You really want a very sober assessment� of the science behind the claim, Fukuda said May 11 at the WHO�s Geneva headquarters. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has received the report and has decided there is no evidence to support Gibbs�s conclusion, saidNancy Cox, director of the agency�s influenza division. She said since researchers don�t have samples of swine flu viruses from South America and Africa, where the new strain may have evolved, those regions can�t be ruled out as natural sources for the new flu. No Evidence �We are interested in the origins of this new influenza virus,� Cox said. �But contrary to what the author has found, when we do the comparisons that are most relevant, there is no evidence that this virus was derived by passage in eggs.� The WHO�s collaborative influenza research centers, which includes the CDC, and sites in Memphis, Melbourne, London and Tokyo, were asked by the international health agency to review the study over the weekend, Fukuda said. The request was extended to scientists at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, theWorld Organization for Animal Health in Paris, as well as the WHO�s influenza network, he said. �My guess is that the picture should be a lot clearer over the next few days,� Fukuda said. �We have asked a lot of people to look at this.� Lab Escape Gibbs wrote or co-authored more than 250 scientific publications on viruses during his 39-year career at the Australian National University in Canberra, according tobiographical information on the university�s Web site. Swine flu has infected 5,251 people in 30 countries so far, killing 61, according to the WHO. Scientists are trying to determine whether the virus will mutate and become more deadly if it spreads to the Southern Hemisphere and back. Flupandemics occur when a strain of the disease to which few people have immunity evolves and spreads. Gibbs said his analysis supports research by scientists including Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children�s Research Hospital in Memphis, who found the new strain is the product of two distinct lineages of influenza that have circulated among swine in North America and Europe for more than a decade. In addition, his research found the rate of genetic mutation in the new virus outpaced that of the most closely related viruses found in pigs, suggesting it evolved outside of swine, Gibbs said. Some scientists have speculated that the 1977 Russian flu, the most recent global outbreak, began when a virus escaped from a laboratory. Other Theories? Identifying the source of new flu viruses is difficult without finding the exact strain in an animal or bird �reservoir,� said Jennifer McKimm-Breschkin, a virologist at the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organization in Melbourne. �If you can�t find an exact match, the best you can do is compare sequences,� she said. �Similarities may give an indication of a possible source, but this remains theoretical.� The World Organization for Animal Health, which represents chief veterinary officers from 174 countries, received the Gibbs paper and is working with the WHO on an assessment, said Maria Zampaglione, a spokeswoman. The WHO wants to know whether any evidence that the virus may have been developed in a laboratory can be corroborated and whether there are other explanations for its particular genetic patterns, according to Fukuda. �Wild Idea� �These things have to be dealt with straight on,� he said. �If someone makes a hypothesis, then you test it and you let scientific process take its course.� Gibbs said he has no evidence that the swine-derived virus was a deliberate, man-made product. �I don�t think it could be a malignant thing,� he said. �It�s much more likely that some random thing has put these two viruses together.� Gibbs, who spent most of his academic career studying plant viruses, said his major contribution to the study of influenza occurred in 1975, while collaborating with scientists Graeme Laver and Robert Webster in research that led to the development of the anti-flu medicines Tamiflu and Relenza, made by GlaxoSmithKline Plc. �We were out on one of the Barrier Reef islands, off Australia, catching birds for the flu in them, and I happened to be the guy who caught the best,� Gibbs said. The bird he got �yielded the poo from which was isolated the influenza isolate strain from which all the work on Tamiflu and Relenza started.� Gibbs, who says he studies the evolution of flu viruses as a �retirement hobby,� expects his research to be challenged by other scientists. �This is how science progresses,� he said. �Somebody comes up with a wild idea, and then they all pounce on it and kick you to death, and then you start off on another silly idea.� To contact the reporters on this story: Jason Gale in Geneva [email protected]; Simeon Bennett in Singapore [email protected]. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Investing in Financial Markets Hi Tony, I started a blog site last week. It's really a stab at investment literacy among Filipinos. As you know, roughly about one percent of all Filipinos are involved in any form or shape in the stock market. As a comparison, in the U.S., 65% of the population are involved in the equity markets. In Hongkong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, over 70% get involved in the stock market. That is why their markets run deep. Hopefully, the ideas in my blog help people get into perspective when doing their investments. People should realize that there are legitimate ways in investing in financial markets. Ponzi schemes like Legacy, Multitel, Franc Swiss, could have been avoided if there were more investment awareness among our people. This is the url: http://guscosio.wordpress.com Have a look at the series. Hope you like it. I'll try to update it daily. Thanks, Gus Cosio, (by email), May 12, 2009 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to [email protected] To subscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Subscribe. To unsubscribe, send a blank email with the subject heading Unsubscribe. |
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