POElitics of Statelessness

I was told that my suggestion regarding a Roxas-Poe Team up for the 2016 elections has reached some leaders of both camps. As I stated in my previous column "POE, POEtic Justice, Polls, Politics, Positioning" the proposal is best for the country, for PNoy and “Tuwid na Daan”, for Roxas, Poe, and the LP and its allies.

There is resistance from some Poe followers understandably. They think that since Poe is currently No. 2 to Binay and Roxas is only No.3 in the latest survey, she should be the presidential candidate. In fact, in the most recent Pulse Asia survey, Poe is now no.1 beating Binay and Roxas respectively.

As I argued previously, it would be a big mistake to rely on surveys alone to determine the winning viability of a candidate at this time. During the 2010 vice presidential campaign, an SWS poll conducted from Sept. 18 to 21, 2009 or about eight months before the elections, 40% of the respondents chose Roxas as Vice President while Binay was the choice of only 2%. In fact, Legarda and Noli de Catro were tied at second place with 23% each. Escudero was third with 13%. Binay was nowhere near.

It is still eleven months away so things may change. In fact, the SWS vice presidential survey on May 2-3, 2010 showed a virtual tie with Roxas getting 37% and Binay 37.2%. Guess who eventually won? Thanks to the NoyBi people (including some PNoy relatives) Roxas lost. Overconfidence on the part of Roxas was partly to blame.

Let me reiterate, as my San Beda professor once said, “I repeat it again and again once more for the second time” – “Machinery (Organization); Money (Resources); Manpower (volunteers and paid employees); Message (Traditional Media, Social Media, PR, Propaganda/Advertising); and Management (Planning, Leading, Organizing, & Controlling) are very important factors” in determining the winning viability of a presidential candidate.

Since PNoy, Roxas, and the LP are considering Poe for a higher position seriously, I explained to friends in the Poe camp that this is an opportunity that Poe should be prepared to meet. “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”.

The Binay camp and some legal experts presented some issues that Poe might be forced to face if she decides to run for either the presidency or vice presidency. First, is the 10-year residency requirement and the second, is the citizenship qualification.

I do not think that she would have a real problem defending her 10-year residency. The doctrine of“Animus revertendi” and jurisprudence provide sufficient evidence to support the Philippines as her “domicile” or legal residence for at least 10 years. Furthermore, there are sufficient factual circumstances showing that she actually resided – not just intended to return for a longer period.

The second issue is a little tricky. The Philippine Constitution requires that one should be a natural born citizen to run for President or Vice President. Fernando Poe, Jr. and Susan Roces adopted Grace Poe. According to certain Supreme Court decisions, “adoption does not confer citizenship...it only gives the adopted child the civil rights of a legitimate child, like the right to use the surname of and to inherit from the adoptive parents.”

Furthermore, Poe turned out to be a “foundling - refers to a deserted or abandoned infant or child whose parents, guardian or relatives are unknown; or a child committed to an orphanage or charitable or similar institution with unknown facts of birth and parentage and registered in the Civil Register as a “foundling.”

It is therefore unknown whether Poe is a natural born citizen of the Philippines as expressly provided for under Philippine domestic laws. There are however, International laws that specifically recognize the rights of “foundlings” in relation to their nationalities. International laws are considered part of the country’s laws.

One of these laws is the 1961 International Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Article 2 of said convention provides, “[a] foundling found in the territory of a Contracting State shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be considered to have been born within the territory of parents possessing the nationality of that State.”

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panaganiban recently opined, “Applying that article to Senator Poe, a foundling found in the Philippines is presumed, in the absence of contrary proof, to have Filipino biological parents. Since she was found near a church in Jaro, Iloilo, when she was only a few days old, her parents are presumed to be Filipinos. Therefore, she is a natural-born citizen,” 

The bad news is that the Philippines is not a signatory to the 1961 International Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The good news is that PNoy’s Administration could accelerate efforts to accede and be a signatory to the Treaty/Convention.

Senator Grace Poe, her followers and friends in the political arena might start lobbying for PNoy’s assistance if a Roxas-Poe tandem is to be realized.

POE, POETIC Justice, POLLS, POLITICS, POSITIONING

In the 2010 Presidential elections, I endorsed NoynoyAquino for President. 

I also wrote: “Mar Roxas must be elected as Vice President to work with Noynoy. To institute the educational, environmental, economic, electoral, military/police, judicial, civil service, social and constitutional reforms needed, it would take more than six years; in fact, a whole generation. Mar is needed as a Co-Manager to tackle them. He prepared and invested to be President. He sacrificed and gave way to Noynoy. He deserves to be Vice-President.”

LP leaders Senate President Frank Drilon and Budget Secretary Butch Abad recently revealed the LP plan for an 18-year tenure for the Liberal Party running the Philippine government. They meant having Aquino, Roxas, and then Poe being President successively. This is to maintain and continue the gains of the “Tuwid na Daan” policy and programs as well as guaranteeing a quality of leadership that reflects the 4Hs: “Honesty, Hope, Honor and Humility.”

(Photo from Rappler.com)

I am glad that the LP and its allies are planning long-term. I am sure that depending on the performance of Congresswoman Leni Robredo in the next Senatorial elections and as an elected Senator thereafter, she and Bam Aquino are considered in the line of succession. Within the period, I am further sure that an aggressive recruitment, development, and maintenance program would produce a new set of leaders among the Millennials.

It looks like the favored tandem is Roxas-Poe. Based on the discussions among friends and political pundits in the barbershops here in Washington, D.C., the Roxas-Poe combination would be formidable.

How would you convince Poe to become a Vice-Presidential candidate? Remember, she is really NOT sliding down being a Senator now but aiming at a higher position. But polls show her placing second as a Presidential candidate and no.1 as VP. Her supporters, of course, would prefer her to run for President.

There are other factors outside of polling in determining the winning viability of a Presidential candidate. Machinery (Organization); Money (Resources); Manpower (volunteers and paid employees); Message (Traditional Media, Social Media, PR, Propaganda/Advertising); and Management (Planning, Leading, Organizing, & Controlling) are very important factors.

At this point, Poe knows that unless supported by President Aquino and the LP machine, she is unable to compete given the requirements. “Ambition,” as Mark Anthony said, “should be made of sterner stuff” – meaning, ambition by itself does not get a job done.  It must be combined with the above-mentioned M’s, “determination, perseverance, and a passion to get the job done well.” Five to six years of Vice Presidency and running a Cabinet department like DSWD to win the “war against poverty” or DILG to localize and distribute resources and power in the exercise of sovereignty by the people would be an effective preparation.

To win, Roxas and the LP must convince the Poe followers to support the tandem. They must be assured that when they vote and campaign for the team, they are also voting for Poe as the next President. How can this guarantee be made?

The suggestion is this: PNoy, Roxas, and the Liberal Party (including Drilon and Belmonte) must commit that if the team wins, Poe would be the next President. How? Roxas resigns before his term ends and Poe succeeds him. Why? This is because before the end of Roxas’ term, a Semi-Parliamentary Federal System would be instituted installing Poe as President and Roxas as Prime Minister. Or the Liberal Party and its allies may elect a new Party Chairman who becomes Prime Minister automatically after the next elections.

If the Semi-Parliamentary Federal System is not instituted, Roxas must agree to govern only for 5 years and so Poe could become President and run with the benefit of incumbency. (Roxas and the LP would therefore make sure that a Semi-Parliamentary Federal System is instituted).

Poe must also serve only for 6 years, thus – resigning after 5 years of her term to give way to the new VP who could be Leni Robredo (first Bicolana) who will run for the Senate and is expected to do well in 2016.

Robredo should also serve only for 6 years, thus – giving way to her VP who could be Bam Aquino or another young LP stalwart from Mindanao.

A Semi-Parliamentary Federal System could produce a different scenario but the LP and its allies would be able to rule continuously assuring the gains of “Tuwid na Daan.”

Poe and her supporters should not delude themselves by the fact that she topped the Senatorial elections in 2013. Claro M. Recto, Jose Roy, Raul Manglapus, Jovito Salonga, Loren Legarda, Noli de Castro  and Bong Revilla all garnered the highest number of votes as Senators.  They never became President.

Poetic justice catapulted Cory and PNoy to the presidency. Poetic justice also got Poe to top the Senatorial elections and is now bringing her closer to the Presidency. Poe must exercise enlightened discernment and practical, pragmatic, political positioning.

The next president of the Philippines is the candidate endorsed by PNoy. I have said this in an earlier column. I find no reason to change this view. 

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES in ATTACHMENT and EMOTION

DR. TRACI accepting her Award for Excellence in Research

 She earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Yale University and became a successful writer, a published author, and an excellent professional editor. Our daughter Traci made us PROUD!

She earned three Masters Degrees: two from Columbia University and one from Rutgers University. Traci made us even PROUDER!

On May 17, 2015, she earned a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University, the No. 1 public university in the New York – New Jersey Region. But most importantly, to our surprise, Tina and I witnessed her receive the highest award for excellence in research – having written the most outstanding dissertation among those of 46 doctoral graduates. The recognition (including a Cash Award) and her well-written, scholarly and inspiring speech are forever remembered. DR. TRACI made us PROUDEST!

The truth is, our daughter fulfilled what Tina wished and had planned to achieve earlier – a Doctorate in Psychology. Motherhood duties – raising good and responsible children took the opportunity away. DR. TINA would have sounded nice too but DR. T should suffice. After all, she already has a Masters Degree from George Washington University under her belt and an Honorary Doctorate in Motherhood par excellence from the University of Life.

Dr. Traci’s Commencement speech briefly described her award-winning dissertation. I am publishing it here:

“Good morning, Dean Messer, GSAPP faculty, family, friends, and fellow graduates. I am honored and privileged to be receiving the Cyril Franks Award today. I would first like to thank Shalonda Kelly for shaping me into the clinical psychologist I am today, and Karen Riggs Skean for her guidance in the conceptualization of this dissertation. I would also like to thank my parents for their endless support, and my husband, Jason, who deserves an honorary doctorate for walking alongside me these past five years.

As my fellow graduates can attest, starting a dissertation is not easy, and choosing a topic is often the hardest part. So, I looked to my own life, and decided to conduct an unofficial, makeshift pilot study--of my marriage. Unbeknownst to my husband, I began to gather data on our arguments, which intrigued me the most. And I noticed that we would get stuck in the same argument over and over again. No matter what we were fighting about, how we fought stayed the same. (I am sure no one in the audience can relate to this.) It seemed like we were speaking two different languages--two different languages of emotional connection. Whereas Jason needed to verbally express his emotions in the moment, I needed to process my emotions inside first. Whereas Jason felt comforted by my words, I felt comforted by his touch. My data were further corroborated when I compared our family gatherings. For my tempered, Filipino-American family, gatherings involved sitting around a table focused on a competitive game of Texas Hold’em, or taking turns performing eighties pop on a karaoke machine. My family connected through engaging in an activity together, content in simply being in one another’s presence. For Jason’s energetic, Italian-American family, gatherings involved storytelling. Everyone told stories--sometimes the same story over and over again. His family connected verbally, by reminiscing together. Our different ways of connecting originated from the two distinct cultures that shaped us. So when we tried to connect, we used our own respective languages, without realizing we had each stepped foot into foreign territory.

I began to wonder whether there existed a universal language of connection, and ultimately found my way to emotionally focused couples therapy, or EFT. With its foundations in attachment theory, EFT is based in the universal idea that as human beings, in order to feel secure enough to explore the world, we are all hard-wired to seek safety and emotional connection with another human being, be it our caregivers when we are babies, or our partners in our intimate relationships. EFT is an evidence-based treatment supported by RCTs on predominantly White couples in the U.S. and Canada. Yet while EFT is utilized by couple therapists worldwide, there exists no research on its cross-cultural application. When it comes to finding that universal language of connection, I wondered whether EFT might be on to something. So I decided to find out.

For my dissertation study, I interviewed nine EFT therapists across the world about their experiences using EFT with intercultural couples. I asked them how their own cultures impacted their experiences of connection and emotion, and how and when cultural differences arise in treatment. I also asked whether they found EFT to be helpful with intercultural couples or whether they needed to modify the treatment in order to make room for cultural differences. What I found was this: First, EFT is helpful with intercultural couples because of its grounding in the universal attachment framework, as well as its emphasis on openness, curiosity, and vulnerability. Second, even these therapists who work regularly with intercultural couples do not explore how their own cultures shape their understanding of emotional connection, and how in turn this understanding impacts the therapy, and they were pleased that the interviews allowed them to consider these influences. Third, therapists find it necessary to explicitly address cultural differences, as often these differences are similarly outside of client awareness, yet have an undeniable impact on emotional connection. Finally, they find that helping intercultural couples to address their differences helps the couples to understand, celebrate, and integrate their respective cultures, further deepening their connection. Overall, I found that at its core, EFT, with its attachment focus, shows promise as an effective treatment for intercultural couples, provided that it is enhanced by multicultural models that explicitly address cultural differences.

What I’ve learned from the results of my study is something that I hope we can all keep in mind as we begin our careers as psychologists helping at-risk, underserved populations: That whether we are sitting across from a playful child, a battling married couple, or a tormented adult, what we all have in common is a hard-wired longing to feel safe and connected to another person. How we and our clients each express this longing is shaped by our cultural maps, and it is through giving voice to all of these overlapping maps that we can all learn to speak a universal language of connection.  THANK YOU! “

GERRY JUMAT: Embodiment of Christian-Muslim Democracy

Bantayog Ng Mga Bayani is the institution that honors the “Heroes and Martyrs of the struggle against dictatorship in the Philippines (1972-1986). Prominently honored by Bantayog were the late Raul S. Manglapus, Bonifacio Gillego, and Gaston Ortigas.

Manglapus was the founding President of the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP);Gillego was MFP’s Director of Intelligence, Research and Development; and Ortigas was MFP’s Executive Director. MFP is historically dubbed as the 20^thCentury equivalent of the Propaganda Movement – the group that kept the fires burning as it exposed the atrocities and evils of the Marcos dictatorship.  It is credited for convincing the United States to give up Marcos as its puppet for as historically discovered and proven by its own records, that the latter was a Fake Hero.

Unbeknownst to many, the ability and success of MFP’s three top propagandists for Freedom were due to the significant contribution of one man I call the embodiment of Christian-Muslim democracy. His name is GERRY JUMAT!

Manglapus could not have founded the MFP and led it more effectively and efficiently had his family not escaped from Marcos’ hold. Colonel Gillego who was an expert on Psywar, intelligence and military organizational techniques; and AIM (AsianInstitute of Management) Dean and Engineer Ortigas who earned his DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) from Harvard, and was an expert in business organizational development, also escaped to join Manglapus in the struggle.

The escapes with all the risks involved actually helped change the course of Philippine history. For this, we owe recognition, recording, and publication of Gerry Jumat’s role for an event so historic in significance! My posts in both mainstream and social media hope to partially fulfill that responsibility.

Gerry Jumat joined the GOD Almighty and his late wife Boots Ayson Jumat only a few days ago. Tina and I will be with their son Wally, daughter Lara and her spouse Ervin with their children tonight. We will be expressing our condolences and joining them in prayers as Gerry enters the Gates of Heaven.

Gerry was my partner. We led our respective families together in our escape to freedom and to join the struggle for the restoration of democracy. Together, we braved the armed pirates in the high seas amidst the discomforts of rain, storm, and thunder. Together, we faced a Malaysian government who was initially suspicious of our presence in the island of Sabah – a territory that the Philippines still claims its own then and today. Together, we faced a US government that initially opposed our entry to the Land of the Free and of the Brave for fear of hurting its relationship with a dictator. Together, we fought for a movement that believed in Christian-Muslim democracy, in the creation of a society “based on human dignity, built on justice and dedicated to progress.”

As we raised our children in the United States, I gained access to a series of confidential cables that the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sent to then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about me and Gerry during our escape. I will reprint the cable on Gerry as a Tribute as well as to show the importance of our escape.

“JUMAT--   WAS A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER FOR ADMIRAL ESPALDON'S COMMISSION FOR WESTERN MINDANAO BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW EDUCATED MOROS AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE. A CONVERT TO CATHOLICISM, HE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM NOTRE DAME COLLEGE IN JOLO IN 1965 WHERE HE FIRST ENCOUNTERED MAYNIGO AND BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE CSM IN SEPT 1965 HE ENTERED THE OBLATE SEMINARY AT TEWKSBURY, MASS, AFTER WHICH HE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM OBLATE COLLEGE AT 391 MICHIGAN AVE., N.E., IN WASHINGTON.

JUMAT WAS ORDAINED IN THE U.S. MAY 20, 1971, THEN RETURNED TO MINDANAO WHERE HE FIRST WAS STATIONED IN COTABATO. IN EARLY 1973 HE WAS MADE VICE PRESIDENT OF NOTRE DAME IN JOLO AND IN THAT YEAR HE MET AND MARRIED HIS WIFE, MARIA TERESA AYSON, WHO HERSELF HAS ALONG HISTORY OF STUDENT ACTIVISM AGAINST CORRUPTION AND AGAINST THE MARCOS REGIME. FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID THAT IN 1971-72 SHE LED A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THECORRUPT CRISOLOGO FAMILY, MARCOS ALLIES IN ILOCOS, WHICH ALMOST LED TO THE CONVICTION AND JAILING OF BINGBONG (SIC) CRISOLOGO AND WHICH EMBARRASSED MARCOS.

IN 1973 MRS. JUMAT WAS PERMITTED TO GO TO A FRIEDRICH-EBERT FOUNDATION SEMINAR IN WEST GERMANY BUTEARLY THIS YEAR WHEN SHE APPLIED TO GO TO A FOLLOW-UP MEETING TO BE HELD ININDONESIA PERMISSION TO DEPART WAS DENIED AND HER PASSPORT WAS CONFISCATED BY INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY.

LATER THIS YEAR JUMAT HIMSELF WAS WARNED BY RELATIVES IN THE ARMY THAT HE WAS BEING CLOSELY WATCHED AND LIKELY WOULD BE ARRESTED. BOTH HE AND HIS WIFE WERE ACTIVE IN THE ANTI-REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN AND WERE KNOWN TO BE ASSOCIATING WITH BOTH CATHOLIC OPPOSITIONISTS AND WITH PEOPLE WHO SYMPATHIZED WITH THE MUSLIM SECCESSIONIST EFFORT. (JUMAT SAID A COUSIN IS WITH MNLF CHIEF NUR MISUARI IN LIBYA.)

HE ALSO CLAIMS THAT HIS KEY ROLE IN SPIRITING MRS. MANGLAPUS AND CHILDREN FROM ZAMBOANGO BY AIR TO SITANGKAY ISLAND AND THEN TO TAWAU BY KUMPIT HAD BECOME KNOWN TO THE AUTHORITIES. THEREFORE, HE ARRANGED FOR HIS AND MAYNIGO'S FAMILIES TO FOLLOWTHE SAME ROUTE.

7. COMMENT. BOTH MAYNIGO AND JUMAT ARE PERSONABLE, WELL EDUCATED FILIPINOS WHO SEEMED TO BE TELLING THE TRUTH. THEY WERE CONSIDERABLY DISTRESSED WHEN THE EMBASSY OFFICER WHO INTERVIEWED THEM EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S. NORMALLY EXTENDED POLITICAL ASYLUM ONLY TO PERONS WHO HAD ALREADY EXTERED THE U.S. LEGALLY AND FACED ARREST OR PERSECUTION IF THEY RETURNED HOME. HE AND A CONSULAR OFFICER ALSO NOTEDTHAT ON THE SURFACE NEITHER JUMAT NOR MAYNIGO HAD A GOOD CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR IMMIGRANT STATUS.WHEN IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT IN FACT ASYLUM ALREADY SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN EXTENDED BY MALAYSIA, MAYNIGO REPLIED THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THE GOM WOULD PERMIT THEM TO STAY. THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THEIR REQUEST FOR ASYLUM WOULD BEFORWARDED TO WASHINGTON. DATA FROM VISA APPLICATIONS BEING SENT SEPTEL.

8. ACTION. PLEASE INSTRUCT.
UNDERHILL

CONFIDENTIAL”

We were eventually paroled into the US as political refugees and granted political asylum later.

Gerry helped design an escape and exit route for freedom fighters during critical times in our history. It was a straight path to righteousness (Daang Matuwid). But I find no better formula or path than the life he fathomed for himself and his family.From poverty to education, to faith, to freedom and justice – and most importantly, what a nice way to go to your Maker, RESTING in PEACE! He died while sleeping.

Goodbye, PARTNER!

MayPac: Fleece, Flee, Flight or Filth of the Century?

“Fight of the Century”

The Mayweather-Pacquiao (MayPac) boxing battle was billed as a mega fight – in fact, the “Fight of the Century”.  The fact that we are only 15 years into the 21^st Century limits its vast claim but it also presumes that it would take another 85 years to top it. But it is also touted as a “mega” fight. So, its size or magnitude is assumed to be so large as it is factored to the millionth degree.

In short, both Mayweather and Pacquiao were expected to perform in this fight, substantially (if not a million times) better than their respective average achievements in the past. Records show the following:

PUNCHES thrown per fight (Career): Mayweather: 468; Pacquiao: 792.

(Against common opponents): May: 510; Pac: 680.4; Connected: May: 210; Pac: 225.6.

JABS thrown: May: 236.4; Pac: 315; Connected: May: 86.4; Pac: 50.4.

POWER Punches thrown: May: 273.6; Pac: 364.8; Connected: May: 122.4; Pac: 175.

Like the others, I would measure the “meganess” of the fight against the career as well as their records against common opponents.

In the last century, I have seen some that were also billed as “mega” fights like those of the Ali-Frazier battles to the finish especially the “Thrilla in Manila”. It was therefore not surprising for me to get hooked to the hype that MayPac would even be better. To guarantee full and clear viewing, I decided to forego streaming as I have done in previous Pacquiao fights and pay in full the Pay Per View fees.

“Fleece of the Century”

Boxing fans had been waiting for more than 5 years for this fight to happen. Mayweather had been accused of ducking it for some time but finally agreed under certain terms. The term used in the barbershop for Mayweather’s acquiescence was  “Fleece” it to the mega degree. Pacquiao’s camp agreed to all the terms demanded by Mayweather including a lopsided 60-40 sharing in the latter’s favor and MGM in Las Vegas as the site of the event.

Fight fans including me paid $100 (more than the usual) to watch the bout. HBO and Showtime reported in record numbers individual PPV buys. I understand that both were even “crowing that this haul was bigger than the GDP of 29 countries.”

The fight having gone the distance, MayPac did split earnings of at least $150,000 per second. Mayweather fleeced at least $180 million while Pacquiao easily cleared $120 million in this bout. Obviously, many more involved in the Sin City were “pleased” with this “fleeced” event.

“Flight of the Century”

I watched the fight live and recorded it in my DVR. I watched it again twice more in slow motion and without the pro-Mayweather biased commentaries later. It was definitely not the “mega” fight that promoters touted. Mayweather did not fight like a champion. In both regular and slow motion, I saw a fighter fleeing, running and flying away fearing to be hit. His supposed defensive genius consisted disappointingly of hugging, holding, hitting, and then, running.

The official record says that Mayweather threw a total of 435 punches – way below his record of 510 against common opponents with Pacquiao. He supposedly connected 148 punches – way below his record of 210. 

How could he throw and land more punches when he wasted so much time, hugging, holding, and running away? The sad thing was, the public paid $150,000 for every second that Mayweather was NOT fighting in the ring – and these were many and long. In one round, his hugging and fleeing lasted about 10 seconds straight and the public paid $1.5 million for such a travesty!

“Filth of the Century”

My barber emphatically said, “Face it. It is Las Vegas, Nevada – the Sin City. Name it, every sin you can think of has been committed there. Different kinds of Lords dominate – not the kind that Pacquiao prays to but to the Lords of gambling and other vices.”

According to the records, Pacquiao also performed at subpar levels. Expected to throw at least 680 or even 792 punches, he supposedly threw only 429. 

Why? First, every time he cornered Mayweather, the latter kept hugging and holding him. Second, Mayweather kept fleeing to avoid Pacquiao’s punches. The latter utterly failed to catch the former. Third, Pacquiao failed to follow up his flurries by backing out after. Fourth, Pacquiao was actually suffering from a right shoulder injury – thus, preventing him from pursuing Mayweather more aggressively.

The fourth bothered me the most. Team Pacquiao is now saying that in a series of incidents before the fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) was favoring Mayweather in the fight. First, a source said that the commission refused to grant Pacquiao’s request to have painkillers injected into his injured right shoulder. Second, the commission also refused to allow his handlers to bring into his locker room on fight day his water, sports drink (Red Bull) and multivitamin supplement (Pharmaton). Third, on several occasions, the NSAC entertained complaints by Mayweather about Pacquiao’s gloves, his hand tapes and groin guard – “playing mind games” with Pacquiao. Fourth, Freddie Roach also revealed that the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) had taken blood samples of Pacquiao a total of 13 times since the latter agreed to the drug-testing protocols according to the conditions imposed by Mayweather in their fight contract. USADA would not reveal how many times Mayweather was tested, Roach said.

The right shoulder injury of Pacquiao was hidden from the public. According to NSAC Chair Francisco Aguilar, Team Pacquiao did not make a formal request for the injections and that a verbal request was made less than two hours before the fight. He also said, the Pacquiao camp showed no proof of injury. Furthermore, the injury was not reported in the medical questionnaire filed by Team Pacquiao during weigh-in, according to Aguilar.

“Full Disclosure”

I am sure that Pacquiao’s injury could be proven. An MRI was taken and a medical report easily obtained. But that is not the point. Millions of people worldwide invested time, effort, and money to watch two champions at their best.

The likes of Mark Wahlberg, Filipino Congressmen, and many more definitely gambled their money convinced that Pacquiao would be fighting at 100% as he claimed. Even ordinary men and women paid hard-earned money thinking that Pacquiao was fighting at his best.

Pacquiao and his camp’s failure to fully disclose his health condition prevented the public from making a wise discernment involving the fight.

This is not just an entertainment where one can say, “sick or not, the show must go on” so as not to disappoint the fans. This is one show where the outcome is based not only on skill but also most especially, on strength and health.

Failure to disclose the facts or to cancel and postpone the event makes Team Pacquiao as guilty as those desiring to make money soonest with Money Mayweather at the expense of an unknowing public.

“Final Judgment”

The decision was unanimous for the Red Corner. The official score card of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) shows Glenn Feldman scoring 116 for the Red Corner and 112 for the Blue Corner; Burt Clements scoring 116 for the Red Corner and 112 Blue Corner; and Dave Moretti giving 118 to the Red Corner and 110 to the Blue Corner. Moretti was way off. He should be banned from judging!

Although officially, the Red Corner was that of Pacquiao and the Blue Corner that of Mayweather, the announcement still declared Mayweather the winner.

Pacquiao thought he won the fight. Former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield also claims Pacquiao won. Respected Sports writer Jeff Powell scored it as a Draw. He says, “Neither did enough to win it. Money (Mayweather) ran, Manny (Pacquiao) couldn’t catch him.”

After watching it 3 times, I also think that Pacquiao won. To verify, please watch the fight again. Pay more attention to Rounds 3, 11 & 12. There is no way that any judge could have scored these rounds for Mayweather.  I counted in slow motion the punches thrown and landed. It was impossible for Mayweather to have thrown and landed more punches while hugging, holding, and running.

A case could be made for a rematch but if Pacquiao is as beholden to God as he claims to be, perhaps it is time to move on to other things. Let Mayweather face final judgment for his own misdeeds.