But Pacquiao has less than a week to decide as the deadline for submission of entries draws near.
Pacquiao is willing and eager to put the country in the Olympics gold medal standing but is worried of the opposition from both his promoter Bob Arum, who is dissuading him from participating, as well as his critics who have made an issue about his absenteeism while serving as a two-term congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani.
The 37-year-old retired boxer is worried that his critics will again revive the issue now that he has been elected as senator.
Asked about his possible participation in the Rio Olympics — set to unfold on August 5 and end on August 21, 2016 — Pacquiao said he wants to consult the people before he makes his decision.
“Gusto ko nga tanungin ang sambayanang Pilipino kung papaya ba sila. Kasi sa August ang Olympics eh noon pa lang maguumisa ang trabaho ko sa senado.” (I want to ask the people if they will agree because the Olympics will be in August and by then I will be starting my work in the senate) Pacquiao told reporters right after he was proclaimed winner in the 2016 senatorial elections.
Pacquiao garnered 16,050,546 votes and ranked No.7 in the list of 12 winning candidates who will serve for six years in the upper house.
The Rio Olympics is a good opportunity for Pacquiao to cement his legacy in the sport and it will be good for the country especially if he wins the gold medal in boxing.
The Philippines has not won a single gold medal in boxing and if Pacquiao wins the gold in the upcoming Rio Olympics, he will be the first to do so in the history of Philippine participation in the Olympics.
The lone gold medal the country has won is the Olympics was in archery when Luis Gabriel Moreno bagged the championship in the youth game category during the 2014 Nanjing Olympics.
It will also be a timely opportunity for Pacquiao to join the Rio Olympics as he could be included in the AIBA wild card invitation on May 27. Otherwise he will have to compete in the AIBA Open-Olympic qualifying tournament next month in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson is hoping Pacquiao will consider the AIBA offer and make his decision soonest.
“Hopefully, Manny will say yes,” said Picson, who met with Pacquiao last Wednesday at his Forbes Park residence in Makati City. “But he’s more concerned with what people will say,” he added.
Pacquiao, who announced his retirement from boxing after his trilogy fight against Timothy Bradley last April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has promised the electorate that he will work full time if he is elected senator.
Hopefully his public consultation in the next few days won’t yield a negative feedback so he can be included in the wild card draw and give the country its first Olympic gold medal in boxing.
