By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
MICHAEL MARLEY'S PHILIPPINE DIARY, PART 5: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Just seconds before he and his political ally, presidential hopeful Manny Villar took the stage amidst fireworks, the sexy Villar Orange dancers and an audience of 15,000 men, woman children, I conducted an “entrance poll” with Manny Pacquiao.
With about 10 hours to go before the Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout will be screened on TV and in a few theaters here in Pacman's homeland, I asked the Congressional candidate from Sarangani Province is he still felt Mosley can spring the big upset against the undefeated Mayweather.
Pacquiao, wearing the Villar/Nacionalista Party orange shirt also, did not hesitate for a millisecond.
“Big chance,” Pacquiao said, “I think Mosley has a big chance.”
I asked why considering the fact that Money May is quicker and younger.
“Because Mosley is also fast and Mosley is strong.
“I think Mosley is a nice boxer and I think give him a big chance in what I believe will be a good fight. To me, Mosley is a serious fighter and he can win this fight.”
Good news for Pacman in his battle to beat back scion of a political dynasty family, Roy Chiongbian, in the heated campaign for the three year term in Congress.
Three different polls—a private poll, a survey conducted by a Catholic church group and even a poll requested by Chiongbian's own, savvy campaign team—also show Pacman steaming ahead by a 70-30 percentage split. One of those polls had the Pinoy Idol with 70 percent, with only 22 surveyed backing the billionaire Chiongbian and two percent undecided.
I guess the remaining eight percent of the voting populace is undecided as the action heats up between now and Election Day, May 10.
The Villar and Pacquiao forces have also been buoyed by fact that they hekld earlier rallies which drew massive crowds estimated at 100,000 and 130,000 people .
I spoke to some voters at the lively rally and, naturally, they were Pacman supporters although some made it clear to me they would not back Manny's pal, Villar, in his quest to take over at Malacnang Palace in Manila.
“Manny is a good man and he is a hero to us,” a middle-aged woman named Ruby Macaluda told me near the orange streamed festooned stage,
“I don't care about him not having political experience. We are hoping he can help us. We are hoping he can help the poor people because he was one of us.”
Rubin Siscon, age 56, rubs Pacman the right way, sometimes giving the world champion massages.
“I think Manny will do the job and do it well,” Siscon said.
Although I have spoken directly with four or five age 20ish female voters who all said they would not mark Manny's name on the automated ballots, 26 year old Analie Vargas could not have been more pumped up for Pacquiao.
She is a small business owner in Gensan.
“I think Manny is a good choice because it gives us a change in office. I think he will use his power and his position to help the people. I am for him 100 percent and I will give him a chance. It's only a three year term in Congress, let him go and we shall see what he can do.”
Pacman has major rallies without the presence of Villar in Sarangani on May 6, 7 and 8. Obviously, Villar must roam the entire archipelago for his national race against Nonoy Aquino and others in what seems to be a very tight contest.
Speculation continues that "a darkhorse" may emerge the winner in the presidential battle.
While he was on stage Saturday night, wife Jinkee and her two sisters—all Sarangani raised—were out on the hustings in a “House To House” campaign effort where they literally knock on doors to meet and greet potential voters.
One Pacman aide told he thinks Chiongbian will grow increasingly negative but said that the fighter, as he does in boxing, will refuse to do any trash talking in return.
“Roy is going to make some desperate moves now because of the poll numbers. But Manny only talks about himself and never about the opponent.”
As for Manny himself, he told me he is numbering the days with his intense campaign.
“Nine more days, nine more days,” he said, smiling.
He then raced to the stage as he was ready to rumble for the Congressional position.
Pacquiao looked happy but tired.
Maybe he finds boxing relaxing compared to this crazy political pace.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
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