SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija - With much physical stamina and strength that made him a boxing legend still left in the tank, PROMDI party presidential bet Senator Manny Pacquiao said Filipinos can rely on him to work as president “without rest and without grumbling”.
In a press briefing at the National Carabao Center here, Pacquiao said that “kayod kalabaw”, referring to a Filipino phrase about perseverance and hard work, is the apt term that can best describe what he is willing to do as president.
“Alam mo, hindi ko binibilang ang oras ng trabaho ko kahit 24 hours or 30 hours pa iyan. Basta nandiyan ang trabaho, gagawin ko (You know, I don’t count the work hours whether its 24 hours or 30 hours. So long as there is work, I will do it.),” Pacquiao said in response to a question if he would be willing to work at least 18 hours each day just like what rival Vice President Leni Robredo pledged to devote as president.
“Basta marami akong matutulungan at napasaya ko, nawawala ang pagod ko (As long as I can help many people and I was able to make them happy, I don’t get tired),” Pacquiao stated.
He added: “Ang isang Manny Pacquiao more than kayod kalabaw ang dapat asahan. Kasi ang kalabaw may pahinga ng gabi eh (Expect me to do more than what a carabao does. It’s because a carabao rests at night.).”
Along with these remarks he promoted carabao milk as a healthy drink that should be developed as a potential export product. Also the standard bearer for PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing), Pacquiao told reporters that he believes he can work longer hours than any of his presidential rivals.
“Isa sa advantage ko, siguro naman mas malakas ako kesa sa kanilang lahat (One of my advantages, perhaps I am stronger than any of them),” the only eight-division boxing title holder in history stated.
He stressed that he is not a “boyboy”, a Visayan term for a person who put a limit on his work hours and constantly complains.
At 43, Pacquiao remains physically fit, spending time to work out in the gym, do some sparring and play his other favorite sports like basketball. He also plays chess regularly.
His last professional fight as a boxer was just over six months ago, against Cuban fighter Yordenis Ugas, holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title.
The loss from the Ugas fight prompted the country’s living legend to finally decide to retire from the boxing arena.