In the Year 2007: MannyLA!

June 30, 2007 – This is the year 2007! You did not make a mistake in checking the time stamp.

Yes it is the 30th of June 2007 and it’s the first day in office at 12:00 noon for the newly elected officials in the Philippines.

The City of Manila celebrates a new era, an era of champions for this is the beginning of the new leadership of boxing champion Manny “Pacman’ Pacquiao.

From being the boxing ring’s treacherous left handed fighter, Manny is now the dangerous threat in the halls of legislation of the city council.

With a major knock out of all his political opponents during elections in May, Pacquiao is the guy now at the center seat of the Philippine capital. After knocking out and beating all of Mexico’s prize boxers, the “Pacman” KOed all the political wannabes of the city.

In the first hour of ballot canvassing, “Pacman” edged out by a large margin an aging city elder who has a dozen mistresses young enough to be his grand daughter, quashed political ambitions of a wash-out actor of soft porn, and defeated a police general who is known for being a really tough guy.

Opposition was a real let down for the Philippines’ premium boxing champ.

After retiring from the boxing ring, amassing millions of dollars from his fight pot, and from the never ending number of product endorsements, the pride of General Santos City takes center stage as the mayor of the City of Manila.

Now for the first order of business was to knock down … what order of business?

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This scenario in the future is not very far from this point in time and nobody really knows what is on the mind of Manny Pacquiao.

For now, he should be busy preparing for his title fight, a re-match with his ring nemesis Mexican Erick Morales for the November bout.

But politicians and opportunists see that the victory of Pacquiao in the boxing ring is a possible victory in the political ring.

But like the age old question is what will Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao do as the chief executive officer of the nation’s capital.

Is this another brewing example of governing by remote control? Have a popular figure get elected and the cabal of political mechanics handle the nitty gritty on behalf of the naïve front man?

Comedian Dolphy was asked years ago on why he was not too keen on running for office like his contemporaries Joseph Estrada and the late Fernando Poe, Jr?

The comedian in a serious and somber mood replied in saying something like this, “Running and winning is easy but once I am there, what will I do?”

There will be no unsolicited advise at this point on what Pacquiao should do and there is nothing to be offered in the future.

As a resident of Manila, I have concerns on who would run the affairs of the city come next year when the incumbent Mayor needs to take a 3-year hiatus until he could run again. Blame it on the Constitution on why bar a good leader a chance to run uninterrupted. Why limit the term?

News reports have been thrown around serving possibly as test balloon on public reactions on Pacquiao political career.

There have been rumors that the “Pacman” might seek office in his hometown and more recently, he has been suspected of running for office in Manila.

The condominium Pacquiao got as a prize from the City of Manila is now the official address for the boxer.

People have started to suspect that why should Pacquiao settle only for General Santos City when he could be the big honcho of the nation’s capital.

Perhaps Pacquiao is also a political animal who like most of the people, wants to help this country and the people.

Perhaps he was tantalized by the glory of fame, fortune and power, but then again, good intentions are not enough to make a real difference or to effect the positive changes that all the people need.

Governing is not just all about good intentions and popularity or in the case of Pacquiao, a World Boxing belt is not enough.

Pacquiao who may have good intentions or perhaps he's been listening to a lot of “Rasputins” who are harping and egging the “Pacman” into entering an area where he has not proven his worth.

Manila is the jewel of this country and it deserves a good leader with a proven track record.

Incumbent Mayor Lito Atienza proved that the tax payer’s money of the city goes into good use with all of the upgrade and upkeep that he has made on the once decaying city.

Atienza is a tough cookie to beat with all of his success and even the least of his efforts and achievements, on what he has done is enough for him to attain a safe nd revered spot in the city's history alongside the likes of Arsenio Lacson and Antonio Villegas.

If and when somebody takes over the post of Atienza, there will always be a point of comparison. Tough luck for the one who will inherit the post.

And when we say Atienza, it’s the Joselito Atienza, Jr. and anyone else who would claim stake on his achievements is still subject to scrutiny on whether or not they are capable of duplicating the feat of the Joselito Atienza, Jr.

For all its worth, here is something we need to think and ponder on. How do you feel when you read and hear this someday, “Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable Mayor of the City of Manila, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

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