“Between the idea and the reality,
Between the motion and the act, falls the shadow.”
— T.S. Eliot

IF truth be told, all the rhetorics and saber-rattling by Filipino politicians are nothing but hollow threats and political shadow boxing.
The fact is that the Philippines is a weak republic feebled by politics and distracted by allegations of corruption which latter is not, by any means, unique to this country.

That is, corruption is a universal cancer disease that afflicts all countries without exception from the United States to France, to Britain, to Germany, to India, to Pakistan, to Afghanistan, to Thailand, to China, to Myanmar, to Japan, to South Korea, to the Philippines, to Bangladesh, to Indonesia, and to many other societies.
Thus, the ability of the nation, and the capability of Filipinos to tackle and confront national and international issues, will depend ultimately on the stability of its democratic institutions, its economic strength, its military preparedness; and most important of all its best use of the “intellect” where the physical forces do not provide a level playing field.
For example, while the United States condescended to allow local courts to try and convict Marine Smith for alleged rape, there is no way that the US will surrender its citizens to the custody and perfidy of foreign governments with or without the protection of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). That’s power! On the other hand, US authorities will not have any hesitation to incarcerate violators of US laws.

By the same token, China has been steadily building and expanding its physical presence and  possession of the Spratly group of islets without a peep or cry of righteous indignation by the Philippines.  Why?  Who will stop China?
In an earlier era, the Philippines lost Sabah either by acquiescence, or by default, or from fear of military confrontation.
Today, the Philippines cannot even patrol its vast coastlines from marine poachers and smugglers.
When all is said and done, any display of braggadocio or saber-rattling by our politicians is nothing but shadow boxing and grandstanding.

What Filipino leaders must provide is a higher level of intellectual superiority, sound strategies and cunning to balance out this nation’s own inferior economic and military strength.  It will be mind over matter as the US and China vie for the Philippines’ patronage.

As Rober Browning had succinctly put it, “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” The power of the mind is limitless.
You be the judge.

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Dr. Manny Pacquiao
Boxing icon and folk hero, Dr. Manny Pacquiao. Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, has been rewarded an honorary doctorate degree before he has even earned his college diploma.
Now, Manny Pacquiao plans to pursue his political career after his megabucks title fight with Ricky Hatton of England in May 2, 2009 in  Las Vegas... His entry into politics will add prestige and luster to the House of Representatives as Manny Pacquiao is no ordinary pugilist from Gen. Santos in Southern Mindanao.

Manny Pacquiao does not only possess a native acumen, despite his humble and impoverished origin, but is also profoundly intelligent, enamored with higher education, a voracious reader, and self-confident in his every pursuit.
We are saying all these because (1) of his personal and tested courage (2) his great wealth earned from boxing (3) his honesty and sincerity (4) his obsession for education; and (5) his mission to help the country and Filipino people, will usher in a new generation of leaders and representatives.

By the time Manny Pacquiao gets elected Congressman and has earned his college diploma, he will not only be ready for higher political positions but shall have also finished a bonafide Ph.D.
Manny Pacquiao is an extraordinary Filipino with an awesome future. (For comments and views, please e-mail:  chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)