MANILA, Philippines – It was a much-awaited “debate” between a veteran senator and an athlete-turned-lawmaker on the Senate floor.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon on Wednesday, August 17, took the opportunity to “interpellate” neophyte senator Manny Pacquiao on the resolution honoring Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz. Diaz was at the Senate to receive the recognition.

Drilon, who concurred with the resolution, moved that the Senate give some of its savings to Diaz as cash reward – a motion instantly approved by his colleagues.

He then requested Pacquiao, the resolution’s main author and sports committee chair, to answer some questions: “Will the principal sponsor yield to one or two questions?”

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said: “It is up to you Senator Pacquiao.”

It took Pacquiao several seconds before standing up. At this point, his colleagues – including Drilon himself – were already cheering the world-boxing champion to heed the request, with some telling him “madali lang ‘yan.” (It’s just easy.)

The session hall was filled with laughter when Pacquiao suddenly joked: “I will answer questions if he (Drilon) can survive 3 rounds (of boxing).”

Personal money

After the noise had died down, Drilon asked Pacquiao if he would give Diaz incentives from his own pocket. He went on to tease the boxer for having a reputation for being “generous.”

“Mr President, our colleague Senator Pacquiao has also brought honor to our country. Apart from that, Mr President, Senator Pacquiao has also been known for his generosity,” Drilon said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

“Ms Diaz has dreams for our country… in fact she intends to use the incentive in order to put up a gym where aspiring athletes can follow her example and it is in this regard that we would like to ask Senator Pacquiao: Puwede din ba magbalato sa ‘yo si Hidilyn (Can Hidilyn get incentives from you as well)?”

Pacquiao, in jest, just returned the question to Drilon: “Mr President, I’m going to ask my question to my colleague – how much would [he] give to Hidilyn Diaz for the achievement [s]he accomplished?”

“Wala po ako kinikita kay Bob Arum (I’m not getting money from Bob Arum),” Drilon readily quipped, drawing more laughter from the people inside the hall.

Turning serious, Pacquiao reiterated that he would give Diaz a cash incentive from his own money. But he’d rather that the amount be kept a secret. 

“Definitely I will give Hidilyn Diaz incentives from me, my own pocket. But I will not announce it because it’s personal,” Pacquiao said.

Drilon said in jest: “Maybe you can triple the amount given by the Senate President from the savings of the Senate.”

Pacquiao earlier said he would give P5 million to each Filipino athlete who would win a gold medal in the Olympics. – Rappler.com