The statements revealed last week to media by Senator Manny Pacquiao is quite a revelation. It can be seen as the real feeling of someone who may have discovered inner trouble and may now entertain some second thoughts, doubts and probably a feeling of insecurity of what is in store for him in the next few months or years when he shall already be sitting as one of the nation’s elected lawmaker -Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. Quoted hereunder is his plan to go back to the boxing ring while in the Senate. “Boxing is my only means of livelihood to support my family and to help those who are in need.”
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The neophyte senator may have been interacting lately with some lawmakers and may have discovered that the incomes of Senators are just a pittance compared to the billions he has acquired literally earning these billions through the sweat of his brow to include body pains in boxing. This also gives us an idea that legislators may have extra incomes aside from their salaries and other perks because no legislator exists economically depressed lives. Congressmen and Senators are wealthy by any and all standards of living. So why he says that he cannot support his family as Senator reeks unbelievable.
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It may also be a possibility that the famous world-boxing champion may have opened his eyes lately and is convinced that he is a square peg in a round hole to be a member of that august body -the legislative branch of government whose main task is lawmaking. As an active and healthy individual it would be uneasy and boring for him to simply be sitting down warming his Senate seat just watching his peers perform their functions, and who will be actively and intelligently participating in open debates in the session hall, which Senator Pacquiao may not have the adequate competence to join.
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To quote Bob Arum, his boxing promoter, “He likes to fight and he likes the attention.” He will miss that in the Senate. He will be another Lito Lapid or a Bong Revilla and other fence sitters in the Senate who will not be noticed. In boxing definitely he will be! Manny Pacquiao was also quoted as saying that he will accept a boxing bout but he will make his job in the Senate as his priority. Really? Again, how?

In his weekday mass homily, parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Noel Lao of the Sto. Niño Parish in Tacloban City stressed a point that should be a guidepost for Christians in these days that the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte is dead serious in the war against drug menace. He exhorted the churchgoers to be redeemers like Christ for the drug personalities who surrendered and promised to reform. It is not right to just criticize the surrenderees but instead empathize with them. Noting the unprecedented number of those killed in the course of the arrest of hundreds of suspected drug pushers and an even more overwhelming number of those who admitted being drug users and pushers, he cautioned the people not to condemn them. The people should rather ask their own selves, “What have I done for them and for this change?” His query poses a challenge that penetrates beyond sheer comprehension, but the conscience of man now that “change is already here.” “Be a redeemer to them like Christ,” he egged on.
Lao, along with fellow parochial vicar Rev. Fr. Fritz Francis Del Pilar, were among the spiritual leaders, advisers and counsellors who were invited to a meeting with other interfaith church representatives held at the Tacloban Astrodome very recently. The role of the church could not be overemphasized in the holistic struggle to help the drug personalities who surrendered to truly change to a “illegal drug-less” life. Simple counselling and prayer for them are highly appreciated as gesture of morally supporting the surrenderees attempt to be better citizens.
Del Pilar, however, disclosed in an informal conversation that the Tacloban vicariate will still have to meet to synchronize efforts towards same end. He underscored the need for synchronicity. This is to at most make the intervention effective. At the Archdiocesan level, plans for rehab intervention of the church must likewise be underway. As of today, according to the Archdiocese’s spokesperson and secretary of Archbishop John Du, none of these plans have come to his knowledge. In a social media post, Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin expressed the significance of prayer and counselling in the transformation of surrenderees. While no rehabilitation facilities are ready to welcome the surrenderees, alternatives could be had, such as instilling Values formation upon these drug personalities. “For now, we will seek the help of the church through their pastors, priests and minister in counselling, the PNP for monitoring and the support of the private sector and NGO for the program,” he elaborated in an inquiry.
The city government embarks on a program called “Inside Out Transformation” for the surrenderees that includes prayer, counselling, community service and eventually livelihood. Absence of rehabilitation center does not seem to be an obstacle for the city government to push for the reformation of the drug personalities who surrendered. What is vital is sustaining the program and helping the surrenderees get over what hook them to the vice. To the surrenderees, this is what Yaokasin could advice, “If you are willing to change, the city government is ready to help…Do it for yourself, your family and for your future.”