ELECTED Congressman of Saranggani. Boxer in training for his next fight. PBA Coach. Entertainer. Husband and father. And now—Manny Pacquiao will be training professional boxers in China. Yes. The same country that the Philippines has a territorial dispute with in the West Philippine Sea, and has been deemed to be “bullying” the Philippines and other claimant countries in the region.
In an exclusive interview with Balitang America as he arrived at the San Francisco International Airport last August 27, the Philippines’ Pambansang Kamao confirmed that he will help the Chinese government in developing its professional boxers.
As Balitang America reported, the eight division world champion said he plans to share his knowledge on boxing through a training academy in China, which will be named the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute.
When Balitang America asked why he chose to train Chinese boxers over his country’s own athletes, Pacquiao reasoned that the Philippines has no problems developing its own boxers and that he is already training some boxers there.
The boxer/congressman also claimed that this new partnership with China will actually ease tensions between China and the Philippines. Both countries continue to fight over some territories in the West Philippine Sea.
“Maganda yung to build relationship sa bansang China,” Pacquiao told Balitang America. “Maganda rito because of course our partnership is from the government. Maganda itong partnership namin.”
Almost all of the viewers of Balitang America—97 percent who voted on the daily poll “Isyu Ngayon”—do not think that Pacquiao should train Chinese professional boxers. They contend that he should help Filipinos first, and not the people of the country that “bully” the Philippines.
Atty. Rodel Rodis, President of US Pinoys for Good Governance—the group that has openly condemned China for its aggressive tactic in its claim of islands in the disputed areas—does not buy Pacman’s claim as well.
He, however, speculated why Pacquiao had to agree to this partnership with China.
“This deal with China will result in millions for him that he can use, hopefully, to pay his taxes to the Philippines, which will help develop the country,” Rodis said.
However, Rodis said that it would be naive for Pacquiao to believe his work with China would ease tensions between the two countries.
“If China were to say it was no longer going to invade the Philippines, that it would remove its military base from Mabini Reef, that will thaw relations. Not getting Manny Pacquiao to set up boxing academies all over China,” Rodis said.
Rodis further said that this shows Pacquiao’s elementary understanding of the dispute. He added that the group US Pinoys for Good Governance plans to send Pacquiao materials on the territorial dispute so that the Pambansang Kamao may reconsider his partnership with China.
Pacquiao’s critics and even many of his own fans also pointed out that Pacman may be biting more thanhe can chew.
But Pacquiao told Balitang America Correspondent Rommel Conclara that he has it all under control.
“Time management,” Pacquiao pointed out. “Time management…we can do all things.”
In his report, Conclara asked if this new partnership with China will cause Pacquiao to incur more absences in Congress?
Quoting the House of Representatives attendance records for the 15th Congress, Conclara reported that Pacquiao was present in only 98 out of 168 sessions. He was absent without notice for 37 sessions, excused for work for 23 sessions, and deemed present for 10 sessions.
Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach, however, is confident Pacquiao can handle his even busier schedule. Roach explains that the boxing academy in China will be mostly run by Manny’s assistants like Buboy Fernandez.
“Pretty much it’s not really Manny Pacquiao running the gym so much,” Roach told Balitang America. “It’s his people running the gym and making sure it’s being ran professionally and correctly. So Manny has to actually hire people that are really good at it and good trainers and so far so a lot of his assistants like Buboy and those guys will get jobs working in these gyms.”
The viewers of Balitang America, however, do not share the same confidence. An overwhelming majority (88 percent) of the viewers who voted say Pacquiao won’t be able to fulfill his other responsibilities effectively, especially his role as an elected official of the Philippines, if he pushes through with this partnership with China.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
I salute Congressman Manny Pacquaio for he is a man of many hats. A synonymous term of “Jack of all trades, master of none,Often times better than a master of one”.He should not meddle with Philippines foreign policy as subordinated effort from the Office of the President and the Foreign Affairs is now in progress.Installation of MP Sports Institute in China will not shun their government’s greed from taking over RPs natural resources.This act of Pacman is a blatant and malicious betrayal of one’s nationalism…..Ramon ” Monching” Bunag- Chairman of the Voice of the new Generation ( VNG Leaders,USA )