HOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Oscar winners are decided by more than 6,000 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but not every actor, director, producer, writer, cinematographer, etc. is an automatic Oscar voter. One has to be invited by the Academy.

Champion boxer Manny Pacquiao has just been invited to be an Oscar voter, the first known full-blooded Filipino to be afforded such privilege.

The Academy invited Pacquiao by virtue of his newly-released documentary, “Manny” starring himself and narrated by Academy Award winner Liam Neeson.

The honor is yet another feather in the cap for Pacquiao who, aside from being an eight-time world boxing champion, is also a Philippines congressman, recording artist, basketball playing coach, and  beauty pageant judge (he was on the judging panel of the most recent Miss Universe Pageant).

While his documentary is not eligible for this year’s Oscars, it will be for next year.

Asked by The Adobo Chronicles if he would vote for himself and his film, Pacquiao said, “Op kors!” (Of course). Not surprising since Pacquiao is used to many a hometown decision in his long career.

The Internet site NeverTooEarlyMoviePredictions has a list of more than 4,000 confirmed Academy voters — about 70 percent of the total — in case you want to find out if your favorite actor or director is an Oscar voter.

Here’s to Pacman, Fried of the Pilipeens! (Pride of the Philippines)