MICHAEL MARLEY'S PHILIPPINE DIARY, PART 13:
BARANGAY SULI, SARANGANI PROVINCE—The fight of his life figures to be the inevitable one against American antihero Floyd Mayweather Jr.
But Congressional candidate from this rural, impoverished province Manny Pacquiao gave the impassioned speech of his life Thursday afternoon, imploring about 1000 enthusiastic men and women to send him into public service.
Speaking with obvious emotional conviction, Pacman related his poverty stricken childhood which including sleeping on sidewalks and sometimes having only small pieces of dried coconut for supper.
His message came across loud and clear: He is not some money hungry “trapo” or traditional politician whose main mission will be feed at the national trough.
“Give me one chance,” the 31 year old world welterweight champion from nearby General Santos City said. “One chance for me to show you all what good governance really is.
“My interest is to serve you, the people. Other politicians want to get more power just to get more money to spend for themselves. I will be different.”
One photographer translated for me and a news reporter from the Tokyo bureau of The Times of London.
The translator told us Pacman promised this barangay (barrio or neighborhood) 500,000 pisos “if my whole slate is elected here.”
Another spectator informed us that Pacquiao promised even more, a total of one million pisos if the audience voted him into office.
He also said that Pacquiao promised to buy his listeners school supplies for their children.
The fighter told ABS-CBN TV news that “we wanted to show to the people that we are determined to provide service and service they will get.”
In speaking to me and a few other scribes before his speech, Pacman said, “The people should vote for me I will do my job on their behalf.
“In my heart, I want to help the people and that is why I want to go into public service.”
Pacman's powerful opponent is Roy Chiongbian, scion of a billionaire status family which has immense business and influence in the province.
Pacquiao lost to incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio in 2007 in a race for her Congressional seat in Gensan.
Pacquiao said his electoral effort this time has been much longer and better organized than his first foray for elective office.
Pacquiao said he will provide the electorate with clean water, cheaper electric power and fulfill other basic needs if he is elected.
I don't know if he can beat the Chiongbian interests on their home turf but I've no doubt of the Pinoy Idol's sincerity.
More scintillating election coverage to come...
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
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