A day after topping the country’s highest approval and trust ratings among his fellow senators, Sen. Manny Pacquiao has remained focused in staying in shape, while providing help to fellow Filipinos nationwide in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The 41-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2 win-loss-draw record, with 39 knockouts) has been in General Santos City since July, doing his daily boxing training regimen to remain fit and be ready for his next fight once the pandemic is over.
But the eight-division world champion has also committed in helping his fellow Filipinos, particularly the poor, as he has continuously provided them with food, medicine and shelter, among others, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May for instance, Sen. Pacquiao, in cooperation with billionaire philanthropist and Alibaba co-founder and executive chairman Jack Ma, donated 50,000 more COVID-19 testing and extraction kits.
This is in addition to the first batch of 57,600 Covid-19 testing kits from Ma back in March. The senator also donated 600,000 face masks.
Pacquiao’s special assistant Jayke Joson clarified that the fighting senator is not after the survey, but is instead focused on the welfare of his countrymen.
“Since COVID-19 started, the first priority of our Senator MP (Manny Pacquiao) is how to help his fellow Filipinos affected by this pandemic. He’s not doing this to seize the spotlight from anybody because we all know that he is already a popular person,” said Joson.
In a survey conducted by the Pahayag SONA by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. from August 1 to 11, Pacquiao had the highest approval rating from among the senators with 70.80 percent.
He was followed in the poll by senators Mary Grace Poe, 45.8 percent; Juan Miguel “Migs” Zubiri, 44.47 percent; Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, 42.20 percent; and Panfilo Lacson, 41.87.
Pacquiao was also no. 1 in the list of most trusted senators, with 62.73 percent.
Behind him are Go at 32.87 percent; Poe at 32.53 percent; Zubiri, 27.27 percent; and Lacson, 26.60 percent.
Pacquiao’s popularity, Joson said, is a given for the reigning World Boxing Association welterweight titleholder, explaining that this is due to “The will of God, making him as an instrument to help the Filipinos.”
“He (Pacquiao) is focusing on helping the people and the people are very aware of it. So if the people believe our senator, it is because of what they see and feel, and what he can provide everyday to them,” explained Joson. “Glory be to God, that’s what the senator always say.”