MANILA, Philippines—Siya ba mismo tatakbo sa 2010? (Is he himself running in 2010?)

The “Ako Mismo” (I myself) Advocacy movement, launched with a bang during the television broadcast of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight on Sunday, has sparked talk that businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan is gunning to be the CEO of the Philippines.

The slick black-and-white ad that featured some of the country’s leading icons sponsored by Smart Foundation was meant to give Pangilinan a platform should he decide to throw his hat in the political ring, said a businessman close to the billionaire.

“If given the chance and if there is a possibility of winning, MVP will (run for president),” the businessman said.

Another business source said that a lot of Pangilinan’s close friends had been egging him to take a shot at what was expected to be a crowded field of 2010 presidential hopefuls and that the businessman was seriously considering this as an option.

However, Pangilinan said that while he believed in Ako Mismo’s advocacy, he was not interested in the country’s highest post.

In a text message, Pangilinan said:

“As I understand it, Ako Mismo is a movement that wishes to awaken and spread the Filipinos’ sense of responsibility as an individual. Our legacy is reliance on community, government and family, must, at this time, as this opportunity must be balanced by strong personal accountability.

“It is a principle I happen to believe in, as must millions of OFWs who left home and fended for themselves. I have recused myself from Ako Mismo precisely to wash away any political color from it.

“As for myself, I am not running for any political office. I am truly at home running a business.”

Among 40 richest Filipinos

Pangilinan, 60, is listed among the 40 richest Filipinos by Forbes magazine. He is the big boss of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Company Ltd., which controls the country’s largest telecommunication concern, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Smart Communications.

Despite Pangilinan’s denial, talk of him running for president persists.

Two presidential aspirants are unfazed by the billionaire’s reported plan.

Sen. Francis Escudero said: “It is every Filipino’s right to offer his services to the country. I will respect and accept his decision whatever it may be. The more choices our voters have, the better for them.”

Sen. Loren Legarda considered Pangilinan a “good man with a good business sense.” She said anybody was welcome to run for president and present his vision for the country.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, an economic adviser of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said the vagueness of the Ako Mismo movement had made it “ripe” for a lot of speculation, specifically Pangilinan’s reported political intention.

Salceda said that while Ako Mismo was a “feel-good propaganda” that could launch a thousand purposes, it was not about a presidential bid.

“MVP is a good businessman and a good citizen but the nation is better off if he remains just that. No reason to doubt his patriotism, but the incest between big business, foreign at that, and politics is always a temptation that has not proven to be a winning formula for modern states,” he said.

Country needs an Obama

Salceda cited Premier Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, regarded as a European Union laggard, and Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

“What the country needs is an Obama, someone with the least vested interests that are not always parallel to the interest of the nation,” he said, referring to US President Barack Obama.

Members of the House of Representatives are divided on whether Pangilinan was fit for the job.

Best among rotten apples

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson said Pangilinan should run.

“The more the merrier. He is not a trapo (traditional politician), he might be the best apol or alternative politician in a basket full of rotten apples,” Joson said.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said: “I have always been in favor of broadening the selection base but we should start the winnowing process through public debates starring the candidates. MVP is very qualified just like most of the apparent contenders. ”

But Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra said businessmen like Pangilinan should just stay as businessmen.

“Just because they have the funds does not mean they can have their way with the electorate. Money is not everything. They often look down on people because of their money. The Philippines is not for sale, Sir Manny, common touch is the key,” Mitra said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said Pangilinan might have to change his name because he might be considered a nuisance candidate because presidential wannabe Sen. Manuel Villar has a prior claim on “Manny.”

56.7 TV rating

Sunday’s Pacquiao-Hatton fight and its Ako Mismo ads had a staggering 56.7 overnight Mega Manila television rating from AGB Nielsen.

Endorsers in the Ako Mismo ads included former Ateneo de Manila University basketball varsity player Chris Tiu, actress Angel Locsin, Eraserheads lead vocalist Ely Buendia, Journey lead vocalist Arnel Pineda and Fr. Matt de Jesus OSJ, the president of San Beda College, where Pangilinan serves as president of the board of trustees.

A two-page spread about the movement was also published in Sunday’s edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star, which Pangilinan’s PLDT group is set to acquire for an estimated P4.8 billion.

The ad did not allude to any political process or endorse a specific candidate, but logos of PLDT and its mobile phone arm Smart Communications were flashed prominently at the end of the commercial.

It’s about taking a stand

According to Ako Mismo’s website, the movement is about “making a stand and taking real action for the causes” that would-be members believe in and “can truly pursue to make a real, positive difference” to their countrymen and their country.

“[Ako Mismo] is for you who still dare to hope that life for millions doesn’t have to be a hopeless battle against problems like poverty, illiteracy, unemployment,” according to its website.

“It is for you who believe that not enough is being done about our country’s problems. And that to do right things, you’ll do them yourself,” it said.

“In Ako Mismo, you get to choose the cause you wish to pursue,” it said, explaining that commitments as diverse as teaching English, ending corruption, or ending inhumane treatment of animals are welcome.

“No cause is too small as long as it is a noble one. All we ask is that you make a pledge to do it.”

23,000 pledges

Approximately 6,700 pledges during the run-up to the Pacquiao fight past noon, grew to 23,000 as of late Monday.

A copy of the group’s video was also posted on YouTube late Saturday, labeled as an advocacy campaign by ad agency DDB Philippines.

Pangilinan has downplayed the role of his business group in the effort, saying Ako Mismo “has a number of supporters to it” including the PLDT-Smart Foundation “because the movement is cause-oriented and socially beneficial.” With a report from Daxim L. Lucas