Richard Javad Heydarian is a Manila-based academic, columnist and author
August 20, 2021
Despite its tortuous history and penchant for dramatics, the Philippines does not have an official national hero. Not even the polyglot Jose Rizal, an European-trained doctor and novelist who inspired generations of Asian nationalists in the 19th century, is recognised as one. In contrast, other former Spanish colonies such as Cuba (Jose Julian Marti Perez) and Venezuela (Simon Bolivar) can boast of undisputed national heroes, who have been unswervingly venerated across all political divides throughout countless generations.
In the boxing-crazed Philippines, however, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao comes closest to a living national hero. Nicknamed "PacMan" for his lightning-speed counterpunches, the boxing sensation is the only man on earth to who have won 12 titles in eight divisions. Among his countrymen, Mr Pacquiao is hailed as Pambansang Kamao – the National Fist – a symbol of collective strength and Filipino grit.
Though hailing from a nation deeply divided across ethnic and class lines, Filipinos from all walks of life tend to come together whenever he enters the ring. During his matches, families gather in merriment, with grannies joyously punching into the air at his every winning strike while toddlers are tickled into laughter by their cheering parents.
During the pre-pandemic days, even bustling cities such as Manila turned into ghost towns as soon as Mr Pacquiao’s matches flashed live on television screens while radio announcers howled before an anxious nation. Upon his return to the country, a victorious Mr Pacquiao marched across Manila’s thoroughfares, with a legion of adoring crowds cheering him on like a Roman emperor.
Manny Pacquiao reacts after defeating Keith Thurman by split decision in a welterweight title fight in Las Vegas in 2019. AP Photo
Manny Pacquiao is a hero for millions of Filipinos. Mike Young for The National
His upcoming match, in Las Vegas this weekend, however, could be his most fateful one. Should Mr Pacquiao, now a senator approaching his mid-40s, decisively defeat his Cuban rival Yordenis Ugas, the boxer-turned-statesman is likely to make a run for nothing less than the office of the presidency next year. But unlike in the past, the current man in the Malacanang Palace, who has other anointed successors in mind, will not be cheering for him. Thanks to an inevitable clash of ambitions, Mr Pacquiao has unwittingly emerged as one of the top opposition figures in the 2022 election.
Throughout much of the 20th century, Philippine politics was dominated by the landed elite, mostly from Chinese or Spanish mixed stock, as well as lawyers trained in the country’s elite universities. The Philippines’ first president, Manuel Quezon, was a Spanish-blooded creole, who fought in revolutionary wars against Spain and the US.
A trained lawyer, the dapper president was both a master of rhetoric and political persuasion. Charming, self-assured and at times authoritarian, Quezon not only personified presidential power, but he also represented the very idea of presidency. For decades, Filipino presidential candidates, hailing from the competing liberal and nationalist parties, tried to approximate his best qualities.
No less than former strongman Ferdinand Marcos also tried to replicate the dashing Quezon in style, rhetoric and decisiveness. Following his declaration of Martial Law in 1972, Marcos became a de facto dictator and subsequently abolished the American-style two-party system, which dominated Philippine politics throughout the first half of the 20th century.
Manuel Quezon was a president like no other. Getty Images
Instead, he created a single-party system and tried to systematically eviscerate any kind of genuine political opposition. But the eventual collapse of Marcos dictatorship in 1986, following years of deep economic crisis, didn’t lead to the genuine restoration of political parties in the Philippines.
Instead, the landscape gave birth to a fiesta-style democracy, whereby multiple parties, largely funded by tycoons and with identical platforms, competed based on the resources of party bosses and charisma of their latest standard-bearers.
The upshot is a vicious kind of personality politics, whereby celebrities and political dynasties have come to dominate practically all elected positions in the past three decades. Thus, self-made millionaires and global celebrities such as Mr Pacquiao have managed to become senators of the republic, a highly prized position that was historically dominated by Ivy League-trained lawyers, journalists and statesmen.
When the populist mayor Rodrigo Duterte became president in 2016, Mr Pacquiao swiftly emerged as one of his staunchest allies. To begin with, both men hailed from the historically marginalised southern island of Mindanao, which bore the brunt of decades of internecine conflicts between the government and various rebel groups.
The two men presented themselves as symbols of Mindanaoan pride, self-consciously contrasting their humble beginnings and populist style against the American-accented politicians from “imperial Manila” in the north. Mr Duterte and Mr Pacquiao also shared similar political views.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has had a falling out with Manny Pacquiao. AFP
On multiple occasions, Mr Pacquiao enthusiastically defended the incumbent’s violent drug war, which has claimed the lives of thousands of suspected drug dealers. He also actively supported the president’s call for restoration of death penalty for heinous crimes, especially drug trafficking.
When Mr Duterte came under fire for burying Marcos in the cemetery of national heroes, a sanctimonious Mr Pacquiao called on critics to “forgive” and “move on”. Pleased with Mr Pacquiao’s loyalty, Mr Duterte went so far as to openly endorse him as a future president. His greatest reward yet was helping Mr Pacquaio to become the president of the ruling PDP-Laban party last year.
By this time, the boxer became increasingly open about his ambitions for presidency, confidently viewing himself as the de facto standard-bearer of the ruling party in the 2022 election. Within few months, however, all came crashing down, as Mr Duterte signalled that he prefers others, including his daughter Sara and his long-time aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, to succeed him.
In response, a visibly enraged Mr Pacquiao moved to expel the president's allies within the party, publicly opposing their push for a “Duterte-Duterte” tandem for next year.
The situation quickly escalated when the boxer-senator suddenly adopted a nationalist posture amid recent maritime spats between the Philippines and China, going so far as publicly warning Mr Duterte not to “buckle” before the Asian superpower.
“I found the president's response [to Chinese presence in Philippine waters] lacking. He should continue with our strong stance so China would respect us,” Mr Pacquiao declared, openly questioning Mr Duterte’s patriotic resolve.
Manny Pacquiao poses for media at Wild Card Boxing Club on August 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California ahead of his fight against Errol Spence Jr. Pacquaio will instead fight Yordenis Ugas on August 21 after Spence withdrew with an eye injury.
Manny Pacquiao poses for media at Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles, California.
Manny Pacquiao has not fought since beating Keith Thurman by split decision in 2019.
Manny Pacquiao talks with his coach Freddie Roach.
Manny Pacquiao talks with the media prior to his training session at Wild Card Boxing Club.
Manny Pacquiao poses for a portrait.
Boxer Manny Pacquiao smiles during a news conference with Errol Spence Jr on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles ahead of their upcoming boxing match.
Errol Spence Jr speaks during a press conference with Manny Pacquiao. The WBC and IBF welterweight champion Spence has had to withdraw from their August 21 fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 21 through injury.
As if that wasn't enough, Mr Pacquiao upped the ante by accusing the Duterte government of corruption and anomalies amid a raging pandemic. The allegations clearly hit a raw nerve, as Mr Duterte, who has claimed he won’t even tolerate a “whiff of corruption”, lashed out at Mr Pacquiao.
"That is the work of – I have a term for that, it is not mine, I just borrowed it – but I think Pacquiao is punch-drunk. And I leave it up to you," Mr Duterte said in a national address last month.
Next, he even threatened Mr Pacquiao with tax evasion cases, describing his ally-turned-rival as “a cheat” and “more corrupt”. It wasn't long before the president’s allies made the dramatic move of dislodging Mr Pacquiao from party leadership, with the threat of full expulsion hanging over the horizon.
Inching closer to his retirement years in boxing, and increasingly isolated amid his feud with Mr Duterte, Mr Pacquiao is heavily banking on his weekend – and possibly final – professional bout, against Ugas, to revive his political fortunes.
Though spurned by Mr Duterte, Mr Pacquaio has consistently featured among top five contenders for the top offices next year, namely the presidency and the vice-presidency. No wonder then, he has been actively courted by other potential candidates, including leader of the opposition, Vice President Leni Robredo.
Should he emerge triumphant this weekend, Mr Pacquiao will be a definitive "kingmaker" in next year’s election, whether as an independent presidential candidate or in tandem with other Duterte rivals. In a dramatic turn of events, the Philippines’ National Fist has unwittingly become an opposition leader against a popular president.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Moment of the day Not much was expected – on Sunday or ever – of Hasan Ali as a batsman. And yet he lit up the late overs of the Pakistan innings with a happy cameo of 29 from 25 balls. The highlight was when he launched a six right on top of the netting above the Pakistan players’ viewing area. He was out next ball.
Stat of the day – 1,358 There were 1,358 days between Haris Sohail’s previous first-class match and his Test debut for Pakistan. The lack of practice in the multi-day format did not show, though, as the left-hander made an assured half-century to guide his side through a potentially damaging collapse.
The verdict As is the fashion of Test matches in this country, the draw feels like a dead-cert, before a clatter of wickets on the fourth afternoon puts either side on red alert. With Yasir Shah finding prodigious turn now, Pakistan will be confident of bowling Sri Lanka out. Whether they have enough time to do so and chase the runs required remains to be seen.
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster with a decades-long career in TV. He has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others. Karam is also the founder of Takreem.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11 What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time. TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area. Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife. Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”. He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale. Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister. "We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know. “All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.” It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins. Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement. The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
