Another joke

Long before Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao saw the light of day, the Philippines was already in the map of the wide world of boxing.  Our country stood tall when Francisco Guilledo became the first Filipino world boxing champion in 1923.

The era of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde came in the late 50s to the early 60s.  He was followed by the likes of Roberto Cruz, Pedro Adigue, Rene Barrientos, Bernabe Villacampo, Erbito Salavarria, Ben Villaflor, Rolando Navarette, Frank Cedeno, Bobby Berna, Dodie Boy Penalosa and Luisito Espinosa.  All of them gave our country world boxing titles in different weight classes.

Compared to today, prizes then were in mere thousands and their biggest purse perhaps seldom reach six figures.  The Philippines was, and up to the moment, considered as one of the top producers of very good fighters.  At the height of their success, yes, they too savored the good life, promoted and marketed the country as a boxing power.

Then come Mommy Dionisia’s chosen son.  Gifted with quickness, amazing hand speed and pure knocking power, Manny Pacquiao made the country proud and gaga by winning 8 boxing titles in 8 different weight divisions.  Fast forward to now.

Many adjectives were used to describe the May 2 (May 3, morning PH time) Pacman-Mayweather fight.  To sum them all up, the fight will be the biggest, most hyped, most intriguing and most expensive ever in the sport’s history.

Both fighters have started their training and both promised to make good.  Manny, with the help of composer Lito Camo, even recorded his own music for his fight entrance.  Mayweather probably will have Justin Bieber behind him.  Both fighters have celebrity fans and of late, UFC women’s champion Ronda Rousey has pledged allegiance to Manny. 

Total earnings for both fighters including all revenues from fight-related promotions and broadcast rights are expected to reach $300 million.  With the agreed 60-40 split, Mayweather will pocket $180 million, the Pacman $120 million.  Even a cargo ship will sink with that load of money.

Converted to the current peso-dollar exchange rate, Pacman will have in excess of 5 billion pesos in less than an hour’s work.  Managed well, Manny and his descendants will live like royalty for generations.  On second thought, with all her queerness, Mommy D is surely acting like a queen.

Even before his coming billions, Pacman is already living in magnificent opulence.  He has several mansions, a fleet of high-end vehicles, several business holdings, maintains a battalion of aides and reportedly owns a helicopter and a yacht.

Someone told Spiderman this.  “With great power comes great responsibility.”  An almost inextinguishable source of money gives an individual power he thought he only had in his dreams.  The greatest responsibility of all is giving your due to Kim Henares.  And this responsibility is where the Pacman is remiss.

Enter another joke.  A senator is sponsoring a bill to exempt Pacquiao from paying taxes, saying, “Manny being a Filipino, promotes the Philippines and marketing value for the country is priceless.”  Sort of honoring a “national treasure”.  Ergo, if you’re not Manny Pacquiao, you can’t promote and market the country? 

Okay.  When Manny fights, from Batanes to Jolo, the entire archipelago is at a standstill that even law enforcers are united as one with lawbreakers hoping for a KO victory.  Likewise, Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists and atheists join hands in prayer for Manny.  This alone is already a sublime form of homage to Pacman. 

The national men’s football team promoted and marketed the country well that some of them are playing in other Asian leagues as imports.  The national men’s basketball team also did the promotion and marketing of the country that we are in the candidates’ shortlist as to hosting the next world cup of basketball.  The PBA’s marketing and promotions people are doing well that players with NBA and Euro league experience prefer playing here in the country.  So what if they’ll be fined and banished for pointing out a joke.

We marvel at the staggering amount of boxing prize money but hey, it’s what they’re worth and they’re risking their health and lives.  Yes, Manny fights for flag and country but that is only secondary.  The main reason for the fight is the money and it always will be.  Same with Mayweather and all the other prizefighters.

Exempt a billionaire from paying taxes because he is fighting for the country?  Fighting for the country are the soldiers and policemen who gave up their lives in the line of duty with total disregard to their pay.  Teachers are underpaid yet they continue to teach and develop our children often using their own resources.   Daily wage earners toil just make ends meet.  These people are milked by taxes and they have no choice.

OFWs endure loneliness and harsh working conditions to be able to send hard-earned currencies back to their loved ones.  They too are taxed.  They are the ones that promote and market the country and are the primary players contributing to the nation’s economic growth.

Members of the armed forces, the police force, the fire fighters, government employees, teachers and OFWs – these people should be given, if not exemption, leniency on taxes.  Spare us the bullcrap on exempting billionaires from taxation.  Manny doesn’t need the money, he wants the money, tax him.

If this bill passes, there’s no one else to blame but us because we elected jokers to the senate and a conceited fool as head of state.  And yes, our taxes pay them to craft ridiculous laws and afford them the wasteful luxury only we ordinary living things can imagine.