Why should we feel insulted when Arum is only showing us what we really are? An electorate of fools who vote according to superficials but expect the highest order of public service. Why expect anything more than a handsome face when we vote the actor based on his image as he portrays himself on the silver screen? Why expect anything more from someone who buys our votes with his advertisements and even actual cash at the voting booth?

A congressman observed even before Pacquiao made mincemeat of the feared and highly regarded Ricky Hatton that Manny would be a cinch to be elected into Congress. In fact, if he were to run to represent athletes and boxers in our multifarious party list system wherein everything and everyone except gays are allowed representation, a Pacquiao Party would probably have the maximum allowable representation. I predict that it will have more votes than any other Party List.

Manny Pacquiao for President? Why not? As far as what we can expect of a Pacquiao presidency (ten or more years from now when he has become of age) Manny is probably more God-fearing and loves the Pinoy more than anyone else we have ever tried as president.

What is insulting from the Arum introduction of Manny Pacquiao is that Bob regards the rest of the Pinoys as being nothing more than adoring boxing fans who would take a Muhammad Ali or an Oscar de la Hoya or the latest unqualifiedly best boxer (for now) of all time who is today Manny Pacquiao as if they were God to be given the highest place in our history and present society.

Sadly for the Philippines, Bob Arum has hit the right button. What is our voting record? Whom have we been picking as our leaders if not the rich and the famous amongst us? And, for now, who is richer and more famous than Manny Pacquiao?

***

The fight itself, by the way, was pretty awesome. Manny hit Ricky with 87 punches with three of them flooring Hatton. The last time that Hatton dropped to the floor, it was clear that he would not soon be getting up. His day, the fight and his career as a boxer were over – just like that.

Pacquiao was simply too strong and too quick for Ricky Hatton. If he was impressive when he demolished Oscar de la Hoya, he was even more so when it came to Hatton.

A black t-shirt with a mean-looking Manny was available at the Amazonia Bar in Ermita where I watched the fight. It asked in ominously dripping red letters: "Who’s Next?"

Whoever it will be. I am betting on Pacquiao to once again prove that he is the greatest boxer of all time. There is just no more room for doubt on that one.

***

Elections are clearly just around the corner. Note that the Pacquiao-Hatton fight was available live at most government-owned coliseums and gymnasiums. This cut down on the number of patrons that paid to watch the fight as it was happening.

Local TV aired it about half an hour after the fight and crammed the five minutes and 59 seconds of the fight (one minute between rounds) with too many commercials.

There ought to be some way that broadcasts of sports events can be regulated to make them more interesting to the viewer. Certainly, having too many commercials does not add to the pleasure that a sporting event gives the sports fan.

***

Ho-hum. So Jun Lozada is in jail for a perjury charge and he will not post bail but, instead, prefers being with criminals in a common cell. Honestly, why should that concern us?

Many journalists are arrested and would be in jail basically for committing the crime of journalism; but since they are not interested in fame and a career in politics, these true victims of political harassment who were only doing their jobs (unlike Lozada who had his own dirty self-dealings when he was in government service), do post bail because they are not out for personal fame and eventual election to public office.

In the case of Lozada, since he has shown that – like all politicos – his idea of public service was to treat his family and friends to whatever he could give from his being a government functionary, why should anyone expect that, if he is elected a senator of the land, it will be any different this time around.

Jun Lozada has chosen jail as his road to fame or further infamy. I sincerely believe that he made the wrong choice.

Since he has opted not to post bail and none of his supporters will, JL is bound to have a very long self-imposed jail experience. Perjury cases take years, even decades, to unravel. Clearly, putting up the bail would not have made a dent in Lozada or the Church’s wallet. That they chose to go for infamy rather than put up a small amount of money that would eventually be returned to him (if he does not skip town and escape the court’s jurisdiction) is their own mature decision. Thus, if Jun Lozada rots in jail, they can only blame themselves. But, at least, it made Lozada famous again for close to one whole week, before Manny beat up Ricky.