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      • Brunei

      • Cambodia

      • Central Asia
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      • Laos
      • Lebanon
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      • Malaysia
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      • Marshall Islands
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      • Mongolia

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      • Nauru

      • Nepal

      • New Caledonia

      • New Zealand

      • Niue
      • North Korea

      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman

      • Pakistan

      • Palau
      • Palestine

      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar

      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore

      • Solomon Islands

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      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey

      • Turkmenistan

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Manny Pacquiao on His Fight for the People: 'In the Philippines, Politics Is Like Boxing'

October 12th, 2015
Filipino politician, humanitarian and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao arrives at Asia Society in New York for a press conference and tour of Asia Society Museum on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao explores the critically acclaimed Asia Society Museum exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao explores the critically acclaimed Asia Society Museum exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao explores the critically acclaimed Asia Society Museum exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao explores the critically acclaimed Asia Society Museum exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao explores the critically acclaimed Asia Society Museum exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao signs an autograph for a fan at Asia Society Museum on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao talks to the press at Asia Society in New York on the eve of accepting Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year award on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski poses a question to Manny Pacquiao at Asia Society in New York on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao talks to the press at Asia Society in New York on the eve of accepting Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year award on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao talks to the press at Asia Society in New York on the eve of accepting Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year award on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
Manny Pacquiao talks to the press at Asia Society in New York on the eve of accepting Asia Society's Asia Game Changer of the Year award on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Ellen Wallop/Asia Society)
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Philippine Gold
Asia Society Museum’s exhibition Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, which runs from September 11, 2015, to January 3, 2016, in New York, features recently discovered gold artifacts from little known Philippine cultures that flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries. Learn more

In addition to his athletic career, the champion boxer Manny Pacquiao is also a philanthropist, musician, and, since 2010, a politician: He represents Sarangani in the Philippine House of Representatives. On Monday, Pacquiao confirmed his interest in seeking a seat in the Philippines’ Senate, and would not rule out an eventual run for the presidency.

His experience in the ring seems likely to prepare him well for office.

“In the Philippines, politics is like boxing — people are always fighting each other,” he said, adding that “a lot of politicians masquerade as righteous, especially at election time. But what I’ve learned is that you have to forgive your enemies.”

Pacquiao issued these remarks at a press conference Monday at Asia Society in New York, which will honor the fighter with its Asia Game Changer of the Year award presented in a ceremony held at the United Nations on Tuesday night. Pacquiao called the award “prestigious” and indicated that receiving it came as a surprise. “It’s an unforgettable memory that I can have this award,” he said. “It’s an honor to me and my family and to my whole country — the Philippine people.”

Earlier in the visit, Pacquiao arrived at Asia Society Museum for a 30-minute tour of Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms, an exhibition displaying the country’s pre-colonial tradition of golden jewelry, armaments, and ornamentation. As he was guided by Florina H. Capistrano-Baker, consulting curator from the Ayala Museum in the Philippines, Pacquiao appeared loose and relaxed, frequently expressing amazement that the items on display were made of actual gold.

The conversation during the subsequent press conference, naturally, turned to boxing. Five months after an injured shoulder contributed to his defeat to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a much-anticipated welterweight match, Pacquiao says his shoulder is now “80 to 90 percent healed” and that he could fight again as early as March. And while he still hasn’t settled on an opponent, he’s keeping the 28-year-old British boxer Amir Kahn in mind as a possibility. “Although we’re friends, I think that when we’re doing our job in the ring, there is no friendship,” Pacquiao said. “This is sport — we allow each other to hit each other.”

Pacquiao’s career trajectory stands in stark contrast to his humble origins. Raised in a poor village near General Santos City, he possessed a philanthropic instinct from an early age, frequently donating fight earnings to family members and neighborhood children. This practice has continued despite his tremendous success in the ring. “My life has changed because of the money I’ve earned in boxing,” he said. “I can go all over the world and enjoy myself. But every time I hear the voice of poor people, I feel it in my heart because I’ve been there.” 

Watch the complete press conference:


Manny Pacquiao speaks to reporters at Asia Society in New York.

Related Links

  • 2015 Asia Society Game Changer Awards
  • Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms at Asia Society Msueum
  • Manny Pacquiao Aims to Resume Training by End of Year [ESPN]
  • Manny Pacquiao Says He'll Be Ready to Fight Again in March
  • Shoulder Almost Fully Healed [New York Daily News]
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Matt Schiavenza is the Assistant Director of Content at Asia Society. His work has appeared at The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, The New Republic, Fortune, and strategy + business among other publications.

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