MANILA, Philippines – World boxing champion and neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao has now vowed to attend Senate sessions regularly.

“Yes, yes, ready ako diyan. Siyempre, magkakaroon tayo ng committee so magiging busy tayo,” Pacquiao told reporters on Monday, July 4.

(Yes, yes, I’m ready for that. Of course, we’ll be getting committees so we’ll be busy.)

The former Sarangani representative had the most number of absences in the House of Representatives.

Pacquiao, for his part, took the chance to explain his frequent absences. Aside from training for boxing matches, he said there were times when he was just inside the House building premises to talk to his constituents.

“Unang-una, busy ako sa mga training ko, ‘yun ‘yung inaamin ko naman ‘yun. Pangalawa, nag-aattend ako. Nasa Congress ako pero di ako nakakababa sa floor dahil binebase nila (attendance) sa floor. Kung wala ka sa floor, absent ka. Nandoon ako pero di ako makababa sa floor so di na ako na-mark (as present),” Pacquiao said.

(First of all, I was busy with my training. I admit that. Secondly, I was attending. I was in Congress but I was unable to go to the floor. They base the attendance on your presence in the floor. If you’re not there, you are absent. I was there but I was not able to go down so I was not marked as present.)

“Doon buong Pilipinas ang constituents ko eh. Sa Congress lahat, buong Pilipinas nasa opisina ko eh,” he added.

(In Congress, the whole Philippines is my constituent. Everyone, the whole Philippines is in my office.)

So does this mean the Filipino boxing icon is now quitting boxing to focus on legislation?

“Hindi ko alam, pero nakafocus ang isip ko, katawan ko sa pagtatrabaho (I don’t know, but my mind and body is focused on working),” he said.

‘Common sense’ in the Senate

Despite issues against his absences and competence as a lawmaker, Pacquiao is confident he could perform well in the Senate. After all, he said his service is not just for him or his family but for the Filipino people – the same mantra he has in his boxing fights.

Pacquiao said he is “ready” to mingle with his colleagues – some more educated and experienced – in the upper chamber.

“Ready naman ako. Common sense lang naman ‘yan eh. Hindi ‘yung pagalingan sa pagbara, pagalingan sa utak; kailangan common sense na may laman yung sasabihin mo, di yung puro papogi lang sa camera,” Pacquiao said.

(I am ready. It’s just all about common sense. It’s not about being better at debating, being more intelligent; you need to have common sense so your statements will be sensible. It’s not just all about looking good in front of the cameras.)

The neophyte senator and his staff earlier underwent a 9-day crash course on governance.

Pacquiao, an evangelical pastor, emphasized the need for divine guidance in a leader. For him, it is “impossible” to successfully lead the nation without it.

“At saka importante din yan dahil pagka maging honest ka, matatakot kang magnakaw. Totoo naman ‘yan. Kahit ilang libong batas pa ang ipasa mo diyan para sa mga magnanakaw, ‘pag may takot ka sa Panginoon, kahit ikaw lang mag-isa di mo gagawin ‘yan dahil ang Panginoon ang nakakakita sa ‘yo.”

(And that’s also important because if you are honest, you will be afraid to steal. That’s true. No matter how many laws you pass against thieves, if you fear the Lord, even if you are alone, you won’t do it because the Lord is watching you.)

Asked if he would invite his colleagues to Bible studies, Pacquiao said he would do so if they are “willing” to join him.

In the same way he has memorized the Holy Bible, Pacquiao said he would be able to memorize the Constitution and put it to heart.

“So parang nung araw, wala kong alam sa Bible, nung araw di ko alam paano sumunod sa tama. Pero nung nagstart ako magbasa ng Bible, anytime I can preach the word of God, ma-share ko kahalagahan sa buhay, relationship natin sa Panginoon, mga verses nating matutunan, ganun din ‘yan, same thing with the Constitution na minememorize natin at binabasa natin,” he said.

(So like before, I didn’t know anything about the Bible; before, I didn’t know how to follow the right path. But when I started reading the Bible, anytime I can preach the word of God, share its importance to our life, our relationship with the Lord, the verses we need to learn….It’s the same thing with the Constitution that I am memorizing and reading.)  – Rappler.com