Retire the glove

It wasn't the usual Sunday noon Pacquiao fight over the weekend. There weren't any gymnasiums or hotels holding viewing parties that were so full of noise every time a punch landed on an opponent. This year we are simply in the comfort of our homes watching on pay-per-view or illegally streaming on social media sites. Every punch felt like a miss. Every count the compubox made was a step closer to the reality that the people's champ, now senator Manny Pacquiao, is coming to an end in his career.

Maybe he should retire from boxing. His world record being champion for eight divisions is already very hard to beat, at least not in this lifetime. His age of 42 has already caught up with him, causing him to be not as quick and agile as before. Sometimes it is all in the mind but the body just can't keep up with the many things he is doing. We've never been more proud of what honor he has given the country in terms of sports. Let's keep it at that.

But one thing that's sure for him to hang up the gloves is his duty the country as a legislator. You see, you shouldn’t just skip sessions and committee meetings just because you are training for a fight. Sure, he could be bringing the country to greater heights but aren't our laws also in need of reaching greater causes? We are in the middle of a pandemic where budgets need to be deliberated and released, where some committees in aid of legislation have to do further probing. I'm sure he could contribute to that.

His pay doesn't go on hold if he doesn't do his duty as a senator. Meanwhile, many others have to wake up early for work despite risks because in their office it is ‘no work-no pay’. How unfair is that. I mean, the power given to him by the people was for him to make laws in their favor and not miss important gatherings.

If indeed this person will run as the next president, I'm not so sure that we can rely on him. At least he has a juris doctor in Humanities and experience in governance. We can always gauge a person on the way he works on any level. Leading the country isn't going to be one sports tournament but a whole lot different.

We can always give him the benefit of the doubt considering the many things he can prove along the way. Yet, if you ask me, we have no time to ask for proof if ever he is given the chance to be the next president. Our country is like a severe COVID patient, with difficulty breathing and it needs utmost urgent care for it to be on its feet again. We need not just resuscitation but rehabilitation. The next leader should put that in mind, voters should too.