Filipinos Grateful to Margarito For Punching a Congressman

When the world’s number one boxing champ Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines defeated Antonio Margarito of Mexico last Sunday in Texas, USA, the Filipino nation understandably cheered. The celebration was all over the more than 7, 100 islands constituting the Philippine archipelago. The jubilation spread to the more than 10 million Filipinos across the globe, as well.

When Pacquiao, also a congressman in the Philippines, was proclaimed the winner in that Sunday match --which earned him the singular distinction as the first boxer in the world to win eight titles – I received a text message from friend. The text message said : “Antonio Margarito may have been beaten black and blue at last Sunday’s big fight but he was able to do what millions of Filipinos have always wanted to do : PUNCH A CONGRESSMAN IN THE FACE!”

That sounded funny, but on deeper reflection, that rings loudly with truth. For the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines has never been known for commendable performance as a legislative body. More than for law-making achievements , Congress is better known for its being a center of power-wheeling and dealing, eating up a large chunk of the US$ 48 Billion (or 1.968 trillion pesos) lost by the Filipino people to corruption in two decades (1977 to 1997), according to the World Bank.

So, as we say “Bravo Manny!”, we also say, “Muchas gracias Antonio!”