Pacquiao wants to study Political Science

FILIPINO boxing champion Manny Pacquiao recently passed the Department of Education Accreditation and Equivalency Test, making him eligible to enter college.

Pacquiao said he wants to take up Political Science or Business Management this coming school year but did not say in what school.

He admitted to reporters that he had some difficulty in the Science and Mathematics part of the tests but denied that the test was part of an orchestrated propaganda for his Congressional candidacy in his home province.

Education secretary Jesli Lapus said Pacquiao but not his brother Bobby, also a boxer, passed the exam administered last Feb. 4 at the Ireneo Santiago National High School in Gen. Santos City. The two are both high school dropouts.

Lapus said he and Pacquiao had agreed that after the bout with Erik Morales last year, the boxing champion will continue his studies. "We asked him to continue his studies to serve as a role model for the Filipino youths by taking the exams under the Alternative Learning System," Lapus said.

In addition to hurdling the test taken by more than 50,000 others, Pacquiao was also chosen DepEd’s ambassador for Alternative Learning System and People’s Champ for Education.

"Aside from being an excellent model for out-of-school youths who are determined to learn and are able to gain functional literacy skills outside of formal schooling, his desire to complete his high school education despite his age and stature through alternative forms of education and learning is very admirable," Lapus said.

Pacquiao, who is running against Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio for a congressional seat, said his decision to enter politics was not due to prodding from the Arroyo administration but a sincere desire to help his provincemates.