How Manny Pacquiao passed the A&E test of the ALS

Does education make news?

Last weekend, 20 young journalists realized that it does after attending the UNESCO forum "Education Makes News: A Workshop on the Coverage of Education", which was organized in cooperation with the Lopez Group of Companies, ABS-CBN, Benpres, and the Philippine STAR held at the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo.

They were briefed by 30 experts, including Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, UNESCO Bangkok media specialist Anuje "Pilipina" Sirikit", ABS-CBN News Head Maria Ressa, CHED Commissioner and TESDA Board Member Nona Ricafort, Education for Life Foundation Director Ed dela Torre, SEAMEO-INNOTECH Consultant Zeny Domingo, Knowledge Channel Program Director Doris Nuval, BALS Director Carol Guerrero, TESDA Director Marissa Legaspi, DepEd ASec. Lilia Roces, Philippine STAR News Editor Ichu Villanueva, AIJC Senior VP Ramon Tuazon, Benpres Senior VP Boo Chanco and me, as the secretary general of UNACOM.

Other resource persons included NCCA Executive Director Cecile Alvarez, CICT Commissioner Tim de Rivera, USAID Senior Education Advisor Mr. & Mrs. Tom Kral, DOST ASec. Marilou Orijola, PSSC Director Virgie Miralao, CWC Director Marilyn Manuel, E-Net Philippines Auditor Ines Fernandez, EQUALS Director Charito Cruspero, Marikina PIO Chief Millet Lorenzo, Benpres AVP Rosan Cruz, UNESCO Culture Commissioners Carmen Padilla and Gabby Lopez.

The enthusiastic journalists listened, learned, but bombarded these experts with "loaded" questions provoked by their discovery that education truly makes news.

The First National Summit on ALS

Two weeks ago, I was a speaker at the First National Summit on Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City. ALS Director Carol Guerrero and her staff were overwhelmed that the expected participants of 800, from all over the Philippines, doubled to 1,600.

Alternative Learning means learning outside the four walls of the traditional classrooms. ALS providers work with families, communities, barangays and towns, among sidewalk vendors and market people, drivers, farmers, fisherfolks, etc. Using their experiences as the basis, they can eventually be rated as meeting elementary or high school equivalencies.

In his talk, Secretary Lapus explained that the "key to national development is empowerment" through education. He happily reported that he had succeeded in getting support from private sector partners for the Adopt-A-School program, exceeding the contributions made in all previous years combined since it was initiated in 2001. However, he admitted that the formal public school education cannot provide all the needs of our countrymen.

"There are 12 million out-of-school youth, thus ALS is the lifeblood of our Education For All efforts," Secretary Lapus added. "Without it, we can never achieve the EFA targets, at least not, within the time frame that we have set."

How it all began… according to Sec. Jesli Lapus

Secretary Lapus observed, "ALS is not yet accepted as legitimate learning by both policy makers and the public." He was thinking of the major literacy problem of 70% of the population who are poor and illiterate. Therefore, what was needed was a campaign to make ALS accepted. Thus, the idea of a people’s hero struck him. One can call the circumstances God sent, when in his frequent sortie to Mindanao, Secretary Lapus happened to meet Manny Pacquiao in General Santos City.

Pacquiao inquired, "Secretary Lapus is there a way I can earn a high school diploma? I only finished elementary school." Secretary Lapus thought, "Finally, we have here the Pilipino ALS Ambassador!" He immediately let him take the Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A&E Test) of the Bureau of Alternative Learning System.

Dr. Carol Guerrero assures the critics that there was no foul play. The test results of the annual Accreditation and Equivalency Test are processed, analyzed and scored not by the Department of Education, but by a reputable and credible private research organization – the Center for Educational Measurement. Because of the intent to make him Ambassador of ALS, Pacquiao’s paper was checked immediately.

Secretary Lapus exclaimed, "See, Carol, what more can you ask for? We got the most expensive advocate of ALS - "P300 million worth of promotions" — Pacquiao as Ambassador of ALS.

Sec. Lapus recalled: "Manny took six hours to finish the 250 multiple choice questions. Afterwards, it took him three days to recover. He said he prefers 15 hours of boxing to this." His test results revealed: Communication skills = 99, English = 90, Science and Numeracy = 87, Livelihood = 102, and Critical Thinking = 95.

What alternative learning experiences has Pacman been acquiring non-formally?

During many interviews, one can easily sense that Manny Pacquiao had intelligence as he deftly answers questions thrown at him by media. He surely had non-formal education with his regiment of training — he had to learn time management, diet and discipline. Signing numerous contracts was an ordeal. For example, in September 2006, Pacquiao signed a seven-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), headed by Oscar de la Hoya. Under the deal, Pacquiao is guaranteed prize money of US$5 million for each fight. He will be receiving at least 90% while the remaining 10% will go to Golden Boy Promotions.

Pacquiao and Morales fought for a third time on November 2006 witnessed by a near-record crowd of 18,276. Pacquiao defeated Morales via a third-round knockout at the Thomas & Mack Center. After the Pacquiao-Morales rematch, Manny returned his signing bonus check back to Golden Boy Promotions signaling his intentions to stay with Top Rank. This resulted in GBP’s decision to sue the famed fighter over contractual breaches.

Among his fans were important businessmen and government officials and the press with whom he had to converse in English. Five-star hotels and famous boxing arenas like MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Alamodome in Texas, Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, and Staples Center in Los Angeles, California were his "classrooms". His geography lessons were his frequent world travels.

However, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach was concerned of the latter’s late night lifestyle and warned him that he is in danger of losing both his edge and his focus. Roach noted that there are too many distractions surrounding Pacquiao in the Philippines, including sponsorship deals, personal appearances, nocturnal activities as well as his circle of friends.

The Pacman cult

Emmanuel Dapigran Pacquiao was born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, 29 years ago. Known as Pacman, he is the reigning WBC International Super Featherweight defending champion. He has a record of 43 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws.

Pacman started his professional boxing career in 1995 at 106 pounds. His early fights in small venues were shown on Vintage Sports’ evening boxing show Blow by Blow hosted by John Ray Betita. He became an instant star of the program.

Pacman’s big break came in 2001 when he stepped into the fight as a late replacement against IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. He walked out as the newly crowned champion held at MGM Grand.

Probe’s Lucille Sodipe and Zanneth Tafalla, who attended the UNESCO media forum could very well use Manny Pacquiao’s story. "Once upon a time, there was a poor boy…" Manny recalled to Sec. Lapus how he endured eating sometimes only once a day and as a grade school drop-out he began boxing in the neighborhood.

These aggressive TV reporters could let their boss, CheChe Lazaro (also a UNESCO commissioner), visit and interview the Pacquiao family in Bukidnon and GenSan. Filming the rags to riches story, spotlighting the mansion he built in Mindanao, the lottery outlet he owns and the basketball association he established, etc. would give so much hope to the poor. But, specially draw their attention to his deep desire to continue his interrupted studies.

The public insists that Pacman stays a champ in boxing, but not in politics

His popularity made many speculate that Manny Pacquiao will enter politics after he ends his boxing career, especially after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s sixth SONA where she said, "Mabuhay ka, Manny."

However, on February 12, he announced that he was running for Congress representing South Cotabato. His decision turned off both his fans and the general public. COMELEC Chairman Ben Abalos mentioned a possible legal entanglement could ruin Pacquiao’s candidacy since he already registered himself as a Manila resident months before. Pacquiao should think seriously and deeply about his sports career, which could potentially be destroyed by the dirty world of politics. He should not allow himself to be used by selfish and desperate politicians.

A potential disadvantage for Pacquiao is his alleged mental immaturity. The incumbent congresswoman he is challenging is not only a well educated person but also a member of one of South Cotabato’s political dynasties.

Para Sa Iyo Ang Laban Na Ito

Will Pacman listen to his countrymen? Is he true to his song, "Para sa iyo ang laban na ito"?

"What now Manny? What would you take up in college?" asked Secretary Lapus.

"I like to take up Political Science in Ateneo," replied Manny.

"That will not help you manage your huge earnings," Secretary Lapus responded.

"Sir, do you think it’s better if I take up a Management course in La Salle?" Manny asked.

"That’s better," Jesli answered.

"Meantime, sir, how about managing my funds now!" Manny requested.

(For more information or reaction, please e-mail at exec@obmontessori.edu.ph or pssoliven@yahoo.com)