Boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is virtually assured of a seat in the upper house Philippine Senate, according to election results on Tuesday that take him a step closer to his dream of the Philippines presidency.
Pacquiao, 37, whose rise from desperate street kid to boxing superstar has made him one of the nation’s biggest heroes, retired from boxing last month to become a fulltime politician.
Pacquiao has garnered more than 15 million votes, with about 93 percent of precincts reporting on Tuesday. That places him eighth among candidates for 12 Senate seats, and nearly 3 million votes ahead of the candidate in 13th place.
Official results are days away.
Pacquiao placed eighth out of a field of 50 candidates in a national race where the top 12 win a seat in the upper house, a powerful legislative body that has often served as a springboard to higher office.
Regarded as an icon in the impoverished nation, Pacquiao’s boxing matches have regularly brought the country to a standstill.
The high-school dropout has parlayed his sporting successes into a fortune from commercial endorsements, eventually moving into a political career, serving two terms as a congressman.
His foray into government was part of a long-term strategy to become president, a not unrealistic ambition given his wild popularity.
However, his critics have charged that he performed poorly in the Philippine Congress, barely attending sessions, and instead preferring to train for matches, bask in the celebrity limelight and dabble in professional basketball.
Nevertheless, he campaigned actively for the Senate, touring the nation and delivering impassioned speeches recalling his tough upbringing.
“If a leader has not experienced being poor, he cannot truly feel for the poor,” he said at one campaign rally. “The children sleeping on the streets, using cardboard boxes for blankets, I know how that feels. I know how it feels to go hungry for whole day, just drinking water to survive.”
During his campaign, Pacquiao promised to help the poor, improve the lot of farmers and teachers, campaign for free education and — in a nod to his old profession — secure funding for grassroots sports programs.
“Sports doesn’t get any budget. That is why ... we cannot produce a single gold medal,” he said, referring to the Philippines’ long and so far fruitless quest for Olympic gold.
The boxer, a devout evangelical Christian, generated headlines and lost a valuable Nike sponsorship in February when he described homosexuals as “worse than animals” in a TV interview.
However, the comments had far less impact in the Philippines, with surveys showing his popularity slumping only slightly afterward, then quickly recovering.
Answering his critics, who say he is not fit to be a senator because he has little education or track record as an effective lawmaker, Pacquiao has insisted his rags-to-riches story qualifies him for the job.
Additional reporting by AP
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and