Pacquiao a new senator
The president-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, said today that he is going to attend the ceremony in which Pacquiao and other officials will take their oath at the Sarangani Capital Gym in General Santos City in Sarangani province.
The 37-year-old Pacquiao has a lengthy career already as a politician, most recently serving as congressman in the House of Representatives for Sarangani, the Filipino province his wife, Jinkee, is from. Pacquiao is from Bukidnon province in the northern part of the country.
Manny Pacquiao is not the only one in his family to have a political career. One brother, Ruel, won the only Sarangani legislative seat while another brother, Bobby, was elected a councilor in General Santos City. In the May elections his wife Jinkee Pacquiao easily won her race to become the Vice Governor of the Sarangani province.
Pacquiao remarks on gays
Pacquiao, who said he will ask the Filipino people if he can take time out from his duties as a senator to fight for the Philippines in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in August, had his political momentum slowed in February after remarks about gay people.
He created a firestorm of criticism in his country and elsewhere after saying that people in a same-sex relationship were “worse than animals.” He lost traction in the polls at the time.
The conservative Christian father of five apologized for the remarks, though he continues to oppose gay marriage, and his polling numbers rebounded. It is widely believed that he is considering a run for the presidency sometime down the road.
Pacquiao is a modern day Renaissance man, taking part in my professionals and activities. In addition to boxing and politics, he is involved in basketball and owns a professional team in the Philippines, and has played for it. He’s also involved in acting, singing and playing the role of host on television shows.
