Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao punches way into Senate

Asia One ^ | 05/10/2016

[SeekAndFind]

MANILA - Boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is virtually assured of a seat in the upper house Senate, according to election results Tuesday which take him a step closer to his dream of the Philippines presidency.

Pacquiao, 37, whose rise from desperate street kid to boxing superstar has made him one of the nation's biggest heroes, retired from boxing last month to become a full-time politician.

With over 91 per cent of voting centres accounted for from Monday's polls, the winner of an unprecedented eight world championships had garnered 14.94 million votes, more than enough to enter the Senate.

Pacquiao placed eighth out of a field of 50 candidates in a national race where the top 12 win a seat in the upper house, a powerful legislative body that has often served as a springboard to higher office.

Regarded as an icon in the impoverished nation, Pacquiao's boxing matches have regularly brought the country to a standstill.

The high school dropout has parlayed his sporting successes into a fortune from commercial endorsements, eventually moving into a political career, serving two terms as a congressman.

His foray into government was part of a long-term strategy to become president, a not unrealistic ambition given his wild popularity.

But his critics have charged that he performed poorly in Congress, barely attending sessions, and instead preferring to train for matches, bask in the celebrity limelight, and dabble in professional basketball.

Nevertheless, he campaigned actively for the Senate, touring the nation and delivering impassioned speeches recalling his tough upbringing.

"If a leader has not experienced being poor, he cannot truly feel for the poor," he said at one campaign rally.

[SeekAndFind]

[Fai Mao]

I’m not so sure that the skills required to be a successful boxer are transferable to politics

But I wish the guy well

[ASA Vet]

PI_ng

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Ever see videos of the Philippine government in a floor debate? Boxing skills do help.

[Fai Mao]

The pastor of of my church is a Filipino he seems to like the guy

[Tax-chick]

Interesting results all around in the Philippines election.

[Ken H]

‘Let’s get ready to legislate!’

[DUMBGRUNT]

In May 2012, Pacquiao was mistakenly quoted on making a public remark regarding gays, it was first reported that Manny made a remark regarding a bible verse saying "gay men should be put to death."[233] However Pacquiao later said that he did not say those exact words.[234] It was confirmed by Granville Ampong, the writer who wrote the article containing the said bible verse, that it was him and not Pacquiao who quoted the verse in his article.[235] Pacquiao is openly against LGBT activism and same-sex civil marriage quoted as saying "God only expects man and women to be together and to be legally married."[236] “ If we approve male on male, female on female (marriage), then man is worse than animal. ” — Part of Manny Pacquiao's stand on same-sex marriage in a video statement by TV5 posted on February 15, 2016.[237] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Pacquiao#Controversy

[PATRIOT1876]

Manny is a cool guy.
I hope it works out for him!

[Red Badger]

LOL!..................perfect!...............

[max americana]

My sis in Law is a Flip too. We loved him more when he compared fags to animals but that’s just me..