Manny Pacquiao

[[File:Pacquiao and Didal (cropped).jpg|thumb|165px|right|The People's Champ, at least according to them.]]
{{politics}}{{cquote|Only God knows that. He is the only one who knows. He is only one who will know. And he is the only one who does know.|||Manny Pacquiao,<ref name="yahoo">{{Cite news |date=2009-03-31 |title=Pacquiao-Hatton worthy of grand setting |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ro-pachat033109.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302052008/https://sports.yahoo.com/ro-pachat033109.html |archive-date=2024-03-02 |access-date=2024-08-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> spokesperson for the Department of Redundancy Department.}}
'''Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr.''' (local pronunciation: [pɐkˈjaʊ]; {{lived|1978|}} is a [[Filipino]] politician and former professional boxer. Nicknamed '''Pac-Man''',<ref group="note">not to be confused with the ''other'' ''{{wpl|Pac-Man}}'', though he did deny that his nickname was derived from the Namco mascot, but rather as a contraction of his surname and first name</ref> he rose from poverty to become the only eight-division world champion in the history of boxing, has won twelve major world titles, is the only boxer to win world championships across four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s), and has taken on a [[Barbie]]-level laundry list of side careers from acting to being a basketball coach among other things. Pacquiao entered politics well into his boxing career in 2010, when he was elected as the representative of the Province of Sarangani and was later elected as a senator in 2016, juggling between his duties as a politician and as a boxer (though given his numerous absences from the Philippine legislature, he leaned more towards the latter). Pacquiao retired from boxing in 2022 in a bid to further pursue his political ambitions, and unsuccessfully ran as presidential candidate in the {{wpl|2022 Philippine presidential election||,}} though he came out of retirement in 2025 when he mounted a comeback fight against Mexican-American professional boxer {{wpl|Mario Barrios||}}<ref name="barrios">{{Cite news |date=2025-07-14 |title=Barrios vs Pacquiao: Trainer Dave Coldwell on why he won't watch legend's comeback fight |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/articles/cwyqrq94yyvo |access-date=2025-07-17 |work=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> which ended in a controversial draw.<ref name="Dawson">{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Alan |date=2025-07-20 |title=Manny Pacquiao robbed of making history, Mario Barrios fight ruled controversial majority draw |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/boxing/breaking-news/live/manny-pacquiao-vs-mario-barrios-live-results-round-by-round-updates-ring-walks-start-time-for-pacquiaos-return-053047810.html |access-date=2025-07-20 |work=Yahoo! |language=en-US}}</ref>

Much as how [[Scientology]] took [[Tom Cruise]]'s life for the worse, Pacquiao's life is a tragic tale of how an otherwise skilled and talented boxer has gone completely batshit [[insane]] through being swayed into [[religious]] [[fanaticism]] and [[Zeal of the convert|zealotry]], as well as fiendish crooks within the Philippine sociopolitical elite puppeteering him into less-than-noble pursuits such as politics.

==Descent to fundieness==
Originally raised as [[Roman Catholic]] (his equally eccentric, ''nouveau riche'' mother Dionesia Pacquiao being a devout parishioner for one), Pacquiao converted to [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Protestantism]] in the early 2010s, claiming that he had a vision where he saw a pair of [[angel]]s and heard the voice of [[God]], leading him to engage in [[Bible]] studies and wean off of his vices. While it did convince him to turn over a new leaf and to exhibit a more humble public image compared to his fellow prizefighter contemporaries like {{wpl|Floyd Mayweather Jr.}} (who was reviled even by his African-American compatriots notably after his bout with Pacquiao<ref>[https://www.si.com/boxing/2015/05/03/floyd-mayweather-beats-manny-pacquiao-fans-boos-history Mayweather beats Pacquiao but will never have victory he wants the most]</ref> especially in light of Mayweather's domestic violence controversies<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/floyd-mayweather-domestic-violence-history-2015-4 Floyd Mayweather has a disturbing history of domestic violence]</ref>), Pacquiao's turn to [[Born again|born-again]] Christianity nevertheless raised eyebrows especially in light of his outspokenness and zeal towards his newfound [[ideology]], particularly the conflict between Christian aversion to violence{{efn|Not that [[Jesus]] himself lacked any sort of violent tendencies,<ref>[https://baptistnews.com/article/jesus-the-man-of-violence/ Jesus, the man of violence] by Miguel De La Torre (June 23, 2016) ''Baptist News Global''.</ref> mind you.}} and the gladiatorial nature of combat sports,<ref>Watson, N. J., & Bolt, B. (2015). [https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/1038/1/mixed-martial-arts-and-christianity-where-feet-fist-and-faith-collide-34836 Mixed martial arts and Christianity:'where feet, fist and faith collide']. The conversation.</ref> as well as his sociopolitical views. Some have slyly joked that the numerous blows to his head during his boxing career may have either accounted for the 
delusion
 vision or otherwise driven him into making bombastic statements regarding his religious views.

===A Pharisee in the Senate===
Pacquiao's biblical zealotry even in his political career garnered scrutiny from some commentators and groups. In an opinion piece for ''Sun Star'', columnist Rhoderick Abellanosa argued that Pacquiao went beyond his job description over his use of scripture as his rationale for proposing the reinstatement of the [[death penalty]], all because he believes [[Didit fallacy#Goddidit|the Bible told him so]]. Never mind the fact that while Filipino religious leaders can and do have a significant sway on national politics, the country is still established under secular principles and thus religious and morality-based arguments "belongs to the pulpit and not in the legislative chamber."<ref>[https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756889/cagayan-de-oro/opinion/abellanosa-a-critique-of-biblical-pacquiao Abellanosa: A critique of biblical Pacquiao]</ref>

===Homosexuals are "worse than animals"===
{{cquote|As a Christian, same-sex marriage is not allowed. Woman was made for man, man was made for woman. For me, it’s [[common sense]]. Will you see any [[animals]] where male is to male and female is to female? The animals are better. They know how to distinguish, male or female. If we approve male on male, female on female, then man is worse than animal. Right? Even among animals… those of the same sex are not allowed to lie together. But [[I'm not prejudiced, but...|I’m not condemning them.]] Just the marriage, the committing of [[sin]] against [[God]].|||Pacquiao on same-sex marriage<ref>Christopher Devine, [https://www.sportingnews.com/us/more/news/manny-pacquiao-same-sex-marriage-comments-apology/19dx3jud5vrqj1tkxo7dg7q0ue Manny Pacquiao sparks anger with same-sex marriage comments]. ''The Sporting News'', 16 February 2016.</ref>}}

Pacquiao generated furor in 2016 when he made a statement in Tagalog about his views on [[same-sex marriage]], opining that those who have engaged in it are "worse than animals". Unsurprisingly, this did not sit well with the [[LGBTQ+]] community, especially in his native Philippines, where prominent local LGBTQ+ celebrities — namely {{wpl|Vice Ganda||,}} {{wpl|Ice Seguerra}} and {{wpl|Boy Abunda}} – took umbrage and condemned his statements,<ref>[https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2016/02/16/1553652/vice-ganda-tells-manny-pacquiao-make-sure-we-wont-see-you-hell Vice Ganda tells Manny Pacquiao: Make sure we won't see you in hell]</ref> with Vice Ganda pointing out the boxer's [[hypocrisy]] by way of his previous extramarital affairs,<ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/16/16/vice-ganda-throws-jabs-at-false-prophet-pacquiao Vice Ganda throws jabs at 'false prophet' Pacquiao]. ''ABS-CBN News.'' Retrieved on 25 June 2022.</ref> as well as with Filipino-American former professional wrestler {{wpl|Dave Bautista|Dave "Batista" Bautista}} lashing out at Pacquiao<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6tyHbhcSA Dave Bautista: 'Pacquiao's An F'ing Idiot' My Mom's Gay, I'm Extremely Offended]</ref> and having his tattoo depicting Pacquiao covered up out of disgust over the boxer's sociopolitical views.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/dave-bautista-had-manny-pacquiao-214303538.html Dave Bautista had Manny Pacquiao tattoo covered up after his 'anti-gay statements']</ref> Prominent Filipino Broadway singer and [[Disney]] Legend {{wpl|Lea Salonga}} – herself a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights –  also took to Twitter where she voiced her criticism of the boxer's religious views towards the LGBTQ+ community by calling out [[double standards]] towards Pacquiao's use of {{bible|Leviticus|20|13}} which supposedly condemns same-sex relationships, and responding by quoting a number of verses from the same book which Pacquiao has flat-out violated such as a treatise supposedly prohibiting bodily mutilation such as tattoos.{{efn|Though to be fair, Pacquiao had numerous tattoos prior to his conversion to Evangelicalism. It's not like it would be trivial for him to have those markings undone anyway.}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2016 |title=Lea Salonga reiterates support to LGBTs by tackling inconsistency of haters |url=https://outragemag.com/lea-salonga-reiterates-support-to-lgbts-by-tackling-inconsistency-of-haters/ |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=Outrage |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004222007/https://outragemag.com/lea-salonga-reiterates-support-to-lgbts-by-tackling-inconsistency-of-haters/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Pacquiao was initially defiant and continued his show of force as a [[Bible thumper]], citing {{Bible|1 Corinthians|6|9}}, but later back-pedalled and issued an apology, though he still reaffirmed his stance and argued that same-sex marriage is contrary to biblical teaching.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/16/466922420/manny-pacquiao-apologizes-for-comparing-homosexuals-to-animals Manny Pacquiao Apologizes For 'Comparing Homosexuals To Animals']</ref>

Pacquiao's comparisons with homosexuals to animals is not factual: homosexual behavior is widespread among mammal and bird species.<ref>''Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity'' by Bruce Bagemihl (1999) St. Martin's Press. ISBN 096588001X.</ref> His statements were also condemned by some as a form of [[cherry-picking]] and an ''[[ad hominem]]'' attack towards those whom he does not agree with, particularly with the phrase "but I’m not condemning them. Just the marriage" contradicting with "worse than animals".<ref>[https://www.bogocebutimes.com/a-missive-to-bible-cherry-pickers A Missive to Bible Cherry Pickers]</ref> As a result of the scandal, sports apparel company Nike dropped him as an endorser,<ref>[https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2016/02/18/nike-drops-manny-pacquiao-after-his-anti-gay-outburst/ Nike Drops Manny Pacquiao After His Anti-Gay Outburst]</ref> and Pacquiao was also banned from entering {{wpl|The Grove at Farmers Market|The Grove}} in Los Angeles.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/sports/126323-pacquiao-banned-grove/ Manny Pacquiao once again banned from The Grove over gay remarks]</ref>

However, Pacquiao's opposition to same-sex marriage is par for the course in the Philippines, whose population is predominantly religiously conservative, even in the case of supposedly-LGBT celebrity hairdresser [[Ricky Reyes]] (whose statements regarding [[cross-dressing]] and the [[bathroom debate]] raised a lot of eyebrows from the community); while public opinion towards LGBT rights have become increasingly positive in recent years as evidenced by growing participation in pride parades and other LGBTQ+-centric events, as well as the likes of Vice Ganda through television programmes such as ''It's Showtime'' actively promoting and advancing causes in favour of the LGBTQ+ community, the Catholic Church's influence and vehement opposition towards progressive policies served as a barrier for LGBTQ+ groups to be accepted by society.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2013/0306/Power-of-the-Catholic-Church-slipping-in-Philippines "Power of the Catholic Church slipping in Philippines"]. ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]''. March 6, 2013. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved April 5, 2022.</ref> It is even worse in Mindanao where Muslim-majority communities have an even dimmer opinion on those whom they view as "sexual deviants" and "perverts", sometimes even advocating violence against them.<ref>Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle, Homosexuality in Islam (India: Oneworld Publications, 2010)</ref> Interestingly though, the various precolonial tribes of the Philippine islands did have a far more accepting stance towards homosexuality prior to Islam and Christianity being introduced to the natives.<ref>Salazar, Zeus (1999). ''Bagong kasaysayan: Ang babaylan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas.'' Philippines: Palimbang Kalawakan. pp. 2–7.</ref>

===On raising his family===
In an interview with {{wpl|Boy Abunda||,}} Pacquiao's wife Jinkee recalls having used a stick with a Bible verse inscribed on it when administering [[corporal punishment]] on their children.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlmR204nIwY The Interviews Of The Wives And Children Of The 2022 Presidential Candidates: Pacquiao]</ref> Besides the obvious controversies regarding the practice of [[spanking]] one's offspring (though it remains legal in the Philippines), the idea of putting a Bible verse on a cane does reek of undue religious [[indoctrination]] especially given the Pacquiaos' born-again ideology.

===The matter of life and death===
Pacquiao has voiced his vehement opposition against [[abortion]], even in cases of [[rape]] victims who were impregnated against their will.<ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/28/22/pacquiao-maintains-stance-vs-abortion-even-in-rape-cases Pacquiao maintains stance vs abortion, even in rape cases]</ref> Perhaps paradoxically, he also initially voiced his support for the [[death penalty]],<ref>[https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/29/20/pacquiao-govt-biblically-allowed-to-impose-death-penalty-on-heinous-crimes Pacquiao: Gov’t ‘biblically’ allowed to impose death penalty on heinous crimes]</ref> but later took a step back from it when he stated in an interview that judicial reform should be implemented first before capital punishment is reinstated. Pacquiao was previously criticised by local Catholic Church authorities for using the scripture to advance his death penalty agenda.<ref>[https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/from-staunch-supporter-death-penalty-manny-pacquiao-says-not-now-january-2022/ From being a staunch supporter of death penalty, Pacquiao says 'Not now']</ref>

===(An attempt at) knocking some sense into him?===
[[File:Pacquiao rekt.jpg|thumb|190px|right|Sleeping on the job.]]
In what is perhaps one of the lowest points in his career, Pacquiao suffered a humiliating defeat in 2012 when {{wpl|Juan Manuel Marquez}} knocked Pacquiao out on the sixth round, landing face-first onto the canvas after receiving a right hand to his mouth.<ref>Prithingar, Keerthi (December 8, 2012). [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/dec/09/manny-pacquiao-juan-manuel-marquez-live-4 "Pacquaio knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez".] ''The Guardian''.</ref> Pacquiao's defeat became something of a ''cause célèbre'' for Catholic [[apologist]]s who questioned his sudden religious conversion, particularly when he gave up on his previous practice of carrying the [[rosary]] and making the sign of the cross prior to his fights.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Figuracion |first=Randy |date=2012-12-31 |title=Manny’s Defeat |url=https://www.donbosco.ph/salesian-bulletin-content/blogs/mannys-defeat/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630041749/https://www.donbosco.ph/salesian-bulletin-content/blogs/mannys-defeat/ |archive-date=2022-06-30 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Don Bosco Philippines South Province |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="rosary">{{Cite web |title=Manny forgets the power of the Rosary and the Eucharist |url=http://blessedmotherbvm.blogspot.com/2012/12/manny-forgets-power-of-rosary-and.html |access-date=2025-02-03 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="mannymum">{{Cite news |date=2012-12-12 |title=Manny Pacquiao's mom blames knockout on his change of religion |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-dec-12-la-sp-sn-manny-pacquiao-mom-religion-20121212-story.html |access-date=2025-02-03 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Dionesia also launched a similarly heated and bombastic tirade against "those Protestant pastors" whom she perceived as having corrupted her son's faith through incessant Bible study sessions that she believes has affected his career.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/12/10/manny-pacquiao-mother-blames-religion-for-loss/1759863/ Manny Pacquiao's mom blames loss on switching religion]</ref> Pacquiao later pleaded his critics to [[Stopped clock|leave religious matters out]] of what had happened, maintaining that his defeat had nothing to do with his switch to evangelicalism.<ref>[https://www.spin.ph/boxing/leave-religion-out-of-this-pleads-pacquiao-as-religious-issue-simmers-back-home Leave religion out of this, pleads Pacquiao as debate over 'new faith' simmers back home]</ref> To Pacquiao's credit, he did win a few more bouts since then, scoring a knockout against {{wpl|Lucas Matthysse}}, his first in over eight years.<ref>[https://www.espn.ph/boxing/story/_/id/24100683/manny-pacquiao-ko-lucas-matthysse-7th-round-claim-wba-welterweight-title Manny Pacquiao tops Lucas Matthysse via 7th-round TKO]</ref>

===As if that wasn't enough...===
If one nutter like Pacquiao isn't enough entertainment for you, some [[wingnut]] blogger took to his [[webshite]] to shoehorn the boxer into the ever-expanding [[Illuminati]] lore, particularly the so-called 201 [[New gematria]] conspiracy for some reason.<ref>[https://unmaskedilluminati.org/2021/03/30/the-201-list-march-29th-2021/ The 201 List]</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pacquiao, Manny}}
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[[Category:We're on a mission from God]]

Categories: Actors, Anti-abortion activists, Anti-Catholicism, Anti-LGBT bigots, Asian politicians, Christians, Christian fundamentalism, Crank magnetism, Fundamentalists, Government incompetence, Homophobes, Living people, Philippines, Sport, Theocracy, We're on a mission from God