Manny-a-Manny: Pacquiao to hit Villar campaign trail next month

Manny Pacquiao hopes to add star power in the campaign sorties of Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Sen. Manny Villar as the seven-time world division champion tries to turn his charisma inside the ring into votes for the self-made billionaire turned politician. Pacquiao, together with a number of movie and television stars, is supporting Villar’s bid to win the top post of the land. "Pagdating ko po sa Pilipinas, sasamahan ko po ang aking mahal na presidente na si Manny Villar para po ma-introduce sa inyong lahat (When I return to the country, I will accompany my beloved president Manny Villar to introduce him to you)," Pacquiao said in a videotaped message to Cebuanos during the Nacionalista Party’s grand rally Sunday that capped their two-day sortie in Cebu province. Pacquiao, who is now in the final stages of his training for his welterweight title defense against Joshua Clottey on March 13, is NP’s congressional bet in Saranggani province. [See: Pacquiao formally joins Nacionalista Party] In his message, the Filipino boxing icon asked voters to support Villar in the May polls saying the latter was the only one who could solve poverty. "Eto po si Manny Villar, siya po ang sagot sa ating mga problema dahil alam ko na galing siya sa hirap, kailangan natin ng isang lider na ang damdamin niya ay nasa pakiramdam ng mahihirap," Pacquiao said. (Manny Villar is the answer to our problems because I know he came from poverty, we need a leader who can relate to the sentiments of the poor.) He added the country needs a leader who had experienced poverty. "Ang tingin ko po, kailangan po natin ng taong may karanasan po na naging mahirap. Ako rin po ay galing sa hirap at isang sigaw po ng mahihirap na tao, kapag sumisigaw sila ng ‘tulong’ sa gobyerno, ako po ang unang nasasaktan. Napi-feel ko ang pakiramdam ng mga tao na kailangan ng tulong dahil nanggaling din ako sa pagiging mahirap," he said. (The way I see it, we need people who have experienced how it is to be poor. I myself come from that sector, and I feel the hurt when the poor cry for help from the government.) He also urged the people to unite in order to effect change in the government. "Panahon na para tayo ay magsama-sama sa pagbabago. Katulad po ng ating panawagan sa lahat: We need change for our country. Sana po lagi nating suportahan si Manny Villar," Pacquiao said. A survey conducted by Pulse Asia in late October and released December showed that Pacquiao was not one of the best endorsers and was allegedly carrying the proverbial "kiss of death". The survey showed that 58 percent to 79 percent of the 1,800 respondents "are surely/probably not supporting a presidential bet endorsed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former President Joseph Estrada, Willie Revillame, and People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao". [See: Pulse Asia: Aside from Arroyo, 3 personalities carry 'kiss of death'] Revillame is also endorsing Villar. The other endorsers of the NP senatorial bet are Comedy King Dolphy, singer Sarah Geronimo and TV host Michael V. – Amita Legaspi/JVP, GMANews.TV