AFTER the Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao’s controversial statement comparing people in gay and lesbian relationship to animals, the big question during this political cycle looms: would such remarks that have been criticized worldwide affect the fighting congressman’s chances of winning a seat in the Senate in the May election?
The results of the latest Pulse Asia survey may be good news for those who are not fans of the Pacman as a politician.
According to Pulse Asia, Pacquiao’s rating dropped 12 percentage points in February, putting him in the 11th to 14th range. He was in the 8th to 10th range in January before his controversial remarks during a television interview went viral.
But those running against him in the senatorial race will have to work harder to defeat Pacquiao’s celebrity status.
Pulse Asia revealed that despite the drop in his ratings, the Sarangani congressman is still considered among probable winners in the senatorial race.
His popularity goes beyond his celebrity status, which definitely helps in name recall. In a very personality-oriented electorate that is the Filipino voters, Pacquiao’s followers display a level of loyalty sealed by his status as a boxing icon who has brought so much pride to the Filipinos.
Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches story has also been an inspiration among many kababayans, who look up to him as their real life hero that they love to emulate.
And there are those kababayans who have been helped by the Pambansang Kamao’s generosity and sense of charity. They believe such criticism against Pacquiao is nothing compared to the help he has bestowed upon those in need. They rationalize that if Pacquiao wins as senator, he will be in the position to help more Filipinos all over the nation.
Will this love for Manny Pacquiao last until the election and help catapult him to be senator? We will find out in May.
* * *
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
