Sen. Manny Pacquiao (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
If and when he decides to stay in politics, neophyte Sen. Manny Pacquiao says he’s ready to accept whatever position God would grant him.
Pacquiao earlier said that he was dismayed and discouraged by some politicians with a hidden agenda that he had thought many times of resigning from politics.
Asked then if any presidential bid in the future would now be far from reality, the senator had this lengthy answer at a press briefing in Senate on Tuesday:
“Ito lang masasabi ko sa lahat, especially yung mga nag-a-aspire na maging presidente: It is impossible to become president without the approval from God.”
“Kung titingnan niyo, marami nang nag-aspire na maging presidente. Marami nang malakas na gustong maging president. Maraming malakas na potential na maging presidente. Pero pag hindi pinayagan ng Panginoon. Walang pwedeng maging presidente kundi kung sino yung in-anoint ng Panginoon.”
[This is what I can say to everyone, especially those aspiring to be president: It is impossible to become president without the approval from God. If you look back, so many have aspired to be president. There have been so many who are already powerful who want to become president. There have been many with a strong potential to become president. But the Lord did not allow it. Nobody can become president except those who are anointed by the Lord.]
But would he seek Lord’s guidance whether or not he should run for a higher post like the presidency?
Pacquiao said it would depend if he would decide to stay in politics.
“Kung nandyan ako sa pulitika, kung ipagpatuloy ko yung pagiging pulitiko ko, kung ano yung responsiblidad na ipagkaloob ng Panginoon sa akin, tatanggapin ko. Kung nandyan pa ako sa pulitika,” he said.
[If I’m still in politics, if I continue to be a politician, whatever responsibility the Lord will give to me, I will accept. If I am still in politics.]
Before this, Pacquiao expressed his disappointment at some politicians with a “hidden agenda” and at those who were trying to destabilize the country.
“Kung tatanungin mo ako ngayon sa pulitika, parang gusto kong madismaya, ma-discourage,” he said. “Gusto kong umayaw na: Ano ba? Ganito pala yung pulitika? Kasi hindi ako marunong mamulitika e. Kung ano yug tama, kung ano ang alam kong tama para sa bayan, yun ang isusulong ko, yun ang gusto ko.”
[If you ask me now about politics, it’s like I want to feel dismayed, discouraged. I would want to give up: What? Is this what politics is about? That’s because I don’t really know how to play politics. Whatever is right, whatever I think is right for the country, that’s what I will pursue, that’s what I like.]
“Marami akong nadiskubre dito pagdating sa pulitika na hindi mo malaman kung totoo o hindi. Maraming nagtatago sa ibang anyo,” he added.
[I discovered a lot when I joined politics – things that you wouldn’t know whether it’s real or not. A lot of them are cloaked behind a different appearance.] /atm