I never worry about Manny Pacquiao when it comes to boxing. Even at age 46, he can still do wonders in the ring and go toe-to-toe with young boxers in their prime. He is so athletically gifted that once everything is said and done, he will go down as one of the select few all-time greats — and the only fighter who won major titles in eight divisions, mind you, across four decades.

Nobody can simply replicate what he’s done in the ring. He is a true Filipino warrior in every sense of the word. Strong. Resilient. Fierce. And indubitably proud of his heritage and where he comes from. Were it not for his decision to enter politics, he would have been the only public figure whose reputation would have remained consistently intact and untarnished.

Like Efren “Bata” Reyes, his is a true story of a Filipino. For despite seemingly insurmountable odds, coming from extremely humble beginnings, he was able to prevail and overcome. Even as a politician, he never cheated the process and tried his best, albeit with expected limitations. He never stole money from the people and was practically giving back every given opportunity.

If you happen to see him abroad, you would marvel at how popular he is. In the US, people literally stop him for pictures and autographs. Yet despite that, he has remained grounded and humble to the core. He never brags, is loyal to his wife (at least ever since he became a “Christian”), and handles his job as a role model to a tee. He has never been involved in any public scandal and has always been a paragon of brilliance and excellence. His feats will simply endure the test of time.

I am fortunate to have witnessed the journey of this remarkable man. From selling bread to doing construction work and other forms of manual labor, nobody thought he could do great things. In fact, when he was a teenager, it was said that the owner of the gym where he used to train saw him talking in front of a mirror, pretending he was a politician speaking before Congress. The man reminded him to manage his expectations and avoid lofty dreams that were beyond his reach. “Don’t be too delusional, kid,” he said. Well, look who ate his words?

Although he made his dream come true, I sincerely hope he never goes back to politics. In fairness, he didn’t do that bad. He has passed a total of 25 laws as a lawmaker from 2010 until the present. These include the Handbook for Overseas Filipino Workers Act of 2018, an act establishing the Sarangani Sports Center, and the National Bible Day Act, among others. Compared to Robin, he obviously did better.

However — and this is not to take a dig at him — he lacks the needed acumen and discernment to just do the right thing. Due to his limited background and experience, he gets used a lot by his unscrupulous colleagues and is not able to fully comprehend where exactly he should be going when it comes to issues, albeit his heart is in the right place.

Anyway, I will still root for Manny every time he steps into the ring. I will never worry about him, unless when he gets interviewed. But that is another story.