Now that Manny Pacquiao have achieved to be the first boxer in history to win 10 world boxing crown in 8th different weight class, I believe that his concentration now is for his constituents in Saranggani. Manny, the Boxer now shifts to be Manny, the Congressman. In his 1st privilege speech, he delivered a surprisingly poetic piece that somehow touched on the following.
27th July 2010
Delivering his first privilege speech in plenary, the neophyte lawmaker made a pact with his constituents to give them livelihood, their first provincial hospital, employment and schools.
“Forty percent of the people of Sarangani have no adequate housing, no adequate food, no proper nutrition. For those 40%, it’s not just statistic, it’s their daily experience of life.
Numbers are very useful for all sorts of things. But numbers don’t tell us what something is really like. For that, we need imagination. Better yet, actual experience.
For me, poverty was an actual experience. I know what it feels like to do without a home, to do without food. I know what it’s like to go hungry. That was me for the first half of my life. Yes I knew hunger, homelessness, and what it was like to want to go to school but unable to do so. Life then seemed hopeless. I still sometimes find it hard to believe that I am now where I am.”
Sarangani is a livelihood province that relies primarily on fishing. But why should we confine ourselves to fishing? We also have corn, rice and coconut. These industries are crying out to be improved. And that is one of the things we will do. We will improve the production, post-harvest and marketing processes of corn, rice and coconut. Yes! We are going to diversify.
“Livelihood is the first important thing on our agenda. Without a source of livelihood, people go hungry. There are two other things just as crucial. One of them is health. Did you know that Sarangani does not have a provincial hospital? Establishing one must obviously be a top priority.” Aside from infrastructure, I will work on expanding PhilHealth benefits and other medical services in his province.
“We are going to make sure that there is continuous educational upgrading in Sarangani…we will coordinate with TESDA (Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority) on what the most relevant and useful programs are. We are also going to put up the Placement Assistance Coordination and Manpower Assessment Network centers, or PACMAN centers for short.”
“I can barely contain my excitement about what Sarangani can become, will become. I am eager too that I will be part of these improvements in my province,” he said. “But I have a special request to make of you, my colleagues, and of the people of Sarangani.
There is something else I want to contribute and I hope you will give me your blessing. I want to do something for the Filipino athlete. I want us to work together, and to work very hard, to win the first Filipino gold medal in the Olympics, especially this coming 2012.”
I also would like to thank the people who supported me and my family.
I asked myself frequently – “Can I be a good congressman? And my resounding answer is, with my heart in the right place, my work ethic, my discipline and my commitment to learn from wiser and more experienced people such as all of you here today, yes, I can be a good congressman.”
Congressman Manny Pacquiao said, in closing, “So let’s get started on this road to progress. I am tempted to quote Robert Frost – ‘The woods are lively, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.’ However, in the effervescence of my youth, I choose Michael Buffer’s famous line – ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ But in the same fashion that I end my fights, let me leave you with this prayer that I carry with me all these years – ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
27th July 2010
Delivering his first privilege speech in plenary, the neophyte lawmaker made a pact with his constituents to give them livelihood, their first provincial hospital, employment and schools.
“Forty percent of the people of Sarangani have no adequate housing, no adequate food, no proper nutrition. For those 40%, it’s not just statistic, it’s their daily experience of life.
Numbers are very useful for all sorts of things. But numbers don’t tell us what something is really like. For that, we need imagination. Better yet, actual experience.
For me, poverty was an actual experience. I know what it feels like to do without a home, to do without food. I know what it’s like to go hungry. That was me for the first half of my life. Yes I knew hunger, homelessness, and what it was like to want to go to school but unable to do so. Life then seemed hopeless. I still sometimes find it hard to believe that I am now where I am.”
Sarangani is a livelihood province that relies primarily on fishing. But why should we confine ourselves to fishing? We also have corn, rice and coconut. These industries are crying out to be improved. And that is one of the things we will do. We will improve the production, post-harvest and marketing processes of corn, rice and coconut. Yes! We are going to diversify.
“Livelihood is the first important thing on our agenda. Without a source of livelihood, people go hungry. There are two other things just as crucial. One of them is health. Did you know that Sarangani does not have a provincial hospital? Establishing one must obviously be a top priority.” Aside from infrastructure, I will work on expanding PhilHealth benefits and other medical services in his province.
“We are going to make sure that there is continuous educational upgrading in Sarangani…we will coordinate with TESDA (Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority) on what the most relevant and useful programs are. We are also going to put up the Placement Assistance Coordination and Manpower Assessment Network centers, or PACMAN centers for short.”
“I can barely contain my excitement about what Sarangani can become, will become. I am eager too that I will be part of these improvements in my province,” he said. “But I have a special request to make of you, my colleagues, and of the people of Sarangani.
There is something else I want to contribute and I hope you will give me your blessing. I want to do something for the Filipino athlete. I want us to work together, and to work very hard, to win the first Filipino gold medal in the Olympics, especially this coming 2012.”
I also would like to thank the people who supported me and my family.
I asked myself frequently – “Can I be a good congressman? And my resounding answer is, with my heart in the right place, my work ethic, my discipline and my commitment to learn from wiser and more experienced people such as all of you here today, yes, I can be a good congressman.”
Congressman Manny Pacquiao said, in closing, “So let’s get started on this road to progress. I am tempted to quote Robert Frost – ‘The woods are lively, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.’ However, in the effervescence of my youth, I choose Michael Buffer’s famous line – ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ But in the same fashion that I end my fights, let me leave you with this prayer that I carry with me all these years – ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”
