HOW MUCH IS MANNY PACQUIAO’S ENDORSEMENT WORTH?

At the height of his unparalleled and historic boxing career, Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, known worldwide as Manny Pacquiao, was every commercial company’s most sought after endorser.

He was so in demand that even the owners of Datu Puti vinegar asked him to endorse their product, a vegetable growing company in the US asked him to promote their vegetables and the Dept. of Agriculture asked him to help in their promotions campaign to convince more Filipinos to eat corn.

Pacquiao’s boxing shorts during his big fights became a virtual advertising pants as decals of products like Motolite, Cafe Puro, Phoenix Fuel and LBC adorned every available space.

Even American politicians sought Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement with Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada successfully hurdling a tough challenge from the Republicans, thanks to the Filipino boxing icon’s endorsement which swayed the Filipino voters to Reid’s side.

In Saranggani Province, where he currently holds sway, Manny holds the proverbial political magic wand.

He is now running for his second term as Congressman of the lone district of Saranggani unopposed while his wife, Jinkee, who made the surprise move to get involved with politics by running for Vice Governor, has a token opponent and is certain to win the contest.

But outside of Saranggani politics, how much is Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement worth?

When I told my political leaders that Manny has promised to come to my proclamation rally to personally endorse my candidacy for Governor of North Cotabato, everybody got very excited.

Even ordinary people I talked to about Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement said the boxing icon’s presence during the proclamation rally would have a great impact on my campaign.

I agree with them.

While Manny Pacquiao will certainly not be discussing the issues involved in North Cotabato politics, his presence during the proclamation rally will certainly draw a bigger crowd.

A bigger crowd means more people listening to the issues which I will explain at the start of the official campaign period which is March 29.

And most of all, Manny Pacquiao’s presence will emphasize one thing: that those who plant the seeds of friendship will reap its fruits in the future.

(I planted so many seeds of friendship and kindness, never mind if some of these were strewn on barren and infertile grounds.)

Manny Pacquiao’s support of my candidacy is also a proof of his exemplary character of remembering the people who helped him in his rise from obscurity and poverty to the pages of boxing’s history books.

Perhaps, some of my so-called “friends” who abandoned me following my loss in 2010 believing that I could no longer spring a comeback because I do not have the money and the resources, should read and learn from Manny Pacquiao’s life story.