Himself speaking, world boxing superhero Manny Pacquiao claims he’s too busy campaigning he can’t find time for boxing at the moment.
Of course, Pacquiao has quickly explained he should be back on the road in June, after the elections, to prepare for a possible fight in September.
Too busy campaigning, but not only for his lovely wife Jinkee, who’s seeking a vice gubernatorial post in Sarangani.
Pacquiao is seeking re-election as congressman of Sarangani unopposed.
Too busy campaigning, but Pacquiao, always ready with a helping hand, is campaigning not only for his wife.
“He has offered to help and support me,” said sportsman Manny Piñol, who’s running for his former post as governor of North Cotabato against what he called a “moneyed opponent.”
Piñol said surveys continued to favor him and his only worry was that the campaign trail could again be flooded with cold cash, like the last time he tried to re-capture the governorship.
* * *
Too busy campaigning, but Pacquiao still found time to humble himself and admit his shortcomings.
Reported Piñol: “Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, in one candid moment during dinner with friends Tuesday night, admitted that he cried after losing by knockout to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. ‘I tried to control my emotions right after the fight but when I was alone in my room, I decided to view some of the TV footages of the reaction of my fans to my loss,’” Pinol quoted Pacquiao as saying. “‘When I saw that people were sad and crying, I felt so sorry that I had failed them and I cried, quietly.’”
Piñol said Pacquiao made the confession over dinner in the boxing hero’s Dadiangas Heights Mansion out in Gen. Santos City.
* * *
Maybe it was plain coincidence that Pacquiao bothered to humble himself in this somber season.
Lent or not Lent, his contrition was truly touching.
“I felt sad that I lost but it was not until that moment when I saw how sad the Filipino people were when I broke down and cried,” Piñol continued to quote Pacquiao. “If only I could embrace them one by one and tell them that I was sorry that I had let them down.”
Was it a lucky punch that got him?
“I lost, period. There are no reasons to justify it,” Piñol said Pacquiao answered when somebody suggested it did appear as though Marquez had stepped on his right foot, which caused him to lose balance and lower his guard, thus leaving his chin open.
He lost, period. But it’s not that simple.
The humble admission could pay off dividends.
But only if trainer Freddie Roach finally makes the proper adjustments and necessary corrections in order to end the ordeal Pacquiao undergoes whenever he clashes with Marquez.
Pacquiao at his humblest best, admitting his flaws, could be to key to his resurrection.
* * *
(BRIGHT NOTES: Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, says coach Elmer Pamisa also deserves high praises for ably assisting Romeo Brin in handling the teenage Philippine team that captured a total of four gold medals in the recent Asian Boxing Confederation championships in Subic, Zambales. We wholly and humbly agree… Michael Escobia came back from an early knockdown to win by unanimous decision over Mark Joseph Costa and capture the Luzproba junior bantamweight title at Makati Square Arena last Friday. Promoter Yolly Infante said proceeds from the promotion billed as Kamao sa Kamao will go to the Buhay Kamao Foundation that aims to put up a boxing academy for young talents and provide support for retired fighters.)