Category Archives: Sports

Manny Pacquiao: “I Was Just Kidding”

July 23, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Pacquiao, left, and Crawford (Photo source: boxingscene.com)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – A little less than a year ago, while campaigning for a Senate seat in the Philippines, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he will give his full focus and will not be absent should he win in the 2016 elections.

”Kaya po ako natagalan magdesisyon is because of that. Kapag magdecide ako – although nag-decide na nga ako – ang inisip ko, kapag pumasok ako kailangan seryoso, walang absent, palaging papasok, dahil buong bansa ang responsibilidad mo,” the boxing champ said in one interview. (The reason it took me so long to decide [to run], I thought, if I entered the race, I needed to be serious, no absences, always reporting for work, because the entire nation is my responsibility.)

Well, it’s 2016 and Pacquiao — the number one absentee while he was a congressman — is now an elected senator. And guess what?

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has confirmed that Pacquiao has decided to face WBO junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford in the ring. Arum said Crawford is deemed to be a “high risk-low reward” for Pacquiao but the senator is willing to give the American champion a chance.

The Adobo Chronicles chanced upon Pacquiao while jogging around Luneta (Rizal) Park this morning. We asked him about his promise to the voters that he would focus on his senatorial duties.

His response: “I was just kidding.”

Government, International, Politics, Sports

Manny Pacquiao Not Happy As A Senator, Will Return To Boxing

July 12, 2016 Pol Pinoy 2 Comments

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Newly-installed Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao regrets having been elected by 16 million Filipinos and wants to return to his boxing career as early as this fall.

The Philippines Daily Inquirer is reporting that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum told Boxingscene.com that Pacquiao is looking for another opponent for a possible return fight and is working with Senate President Franklin Drilon to figure out how to go on a leave of absence to train.

The champion boxer and former top absentee congressman was originally slated to fight Adrien Broner but the American asked for a price Arum can’t afford.

Top Rank has made a pencil reservation for October 15 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for Pacquiao’s possible return.

The Adobo Chronicles caught up with Pacquiao while he was jogging around the Elliptical Circle in Quezon City and asked him what his longer term plans were.

The senator said that because he was elected by the people, it would not be kosher for him to voluntarily step down. “I’m meeting with Senator (and former Aquino administration Justice Secretary) Leila de Lima who promised to help by initiating impeachment proceedings against me. Until such time, I will have to be absent from my senate duties to train and prepare for my next fight,” Pacquiao said.

Government, Politics, Sports

Senator Manny Pacquiao’s First Bill: Make Davao City The New Philippine Capital

July 5, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In advance of the opening of the 17th Philippine Congress on July 25, senators and congressmen are trying to outdo each other by filing their respective signature bills.

So far, senators and congressmen have filed bills ranging from giving President Rod Duterte emergency powers to deal with Metro Manila’s traffic woes to calling for a constitutional convention to consider the proposal for federalism.

Well, the No. 1 absentee congressman, now Senator Manny Pacquiao is out to prove that he is serious about being a national legislator. He has filed his first senate bill.

In a yet unnumbered bill, Pacquiao is proposing to change the capital of the Philippines from Manila to Davao City.

The champion boxer told The Adobo Chronicles that since Duterte has chosen to establish a Malacañang (presidential palace) of the south in his hometown of Davao City, it just makes sense to also move the Philippine capital to Mindanao. Duterte is the first-ever Philippine president from Mindanao. “Besides,” Pacquiao said, “Manila is already too crowded and polluted and we need a capital that we can all be proud of — clean, peaceful and far from the madding crowd.”

Asked what his second bill might be, Pacquiao said he will also propose to change the Philippines’ national language from Pilipino (tagalog) to his and Duterte’s native Cebuano.

It’s going to be a very busy year for Senator Pacquiao. Or so it seems.