Why Pick on Manny Pacquiao?

“Mas masahol pa sa hayop.” (“Worse than animals.”) When I first stumbled upon this headline on Facebook, what came to mind immediately was that Manny simply responded to the question using an all-too-common cliché which he might’ve grown up hearing from within his environment. The danger of a cliché is it loses its meaning over time, but could still be potent on others. 

Being of low education, who even went the extent of cramming for a high school diploma to meet his congressional responsibilities, Manny was obviously speaking on grounds of his religious beliefs, yet, did not think hard for an answer. An answer which, I dare say, is shared by many a Manny lovers. How many fathers, do you think, live in embarrassment and believe having a gay son is a curse?

I am not going to bash Manny Pacquiao. I admit to being a huge fan but I do not share his views about LGBTs, either. I, however, from a communications standpoint, am in awe at the power of social networks to spread sentiments like wildfire, but disappointed that it is not powerful enough to inflict lasting cultural reformations. The even more disappointing truth is that the clamour for LGBT rights is most likely noisiest only on social media but discussed, in trickles, where they ought to be discussed more: by lawmakers, and local and national media which remain as the biggest opinion-shapers.

The growing sentiments against Manny is proof of the LGBT’s desperation for equality. However, even with the online support from the educated class a good majority of Filipinos, I bet, hold the same sentiments even prior to Manny’s online judgment day.

I am writing this not to stand with Manny Pacquiao and the millions of uneducated Filipinos who still jeer at gays and lesbians on the streets, but to raise awareness. They are the same Filipinos who think education is not the ticket to becoming rich but who, subconsciously or not, long for higher education, nevertheless.

I cannot blame this culture at all knowing that deeply engraved culture does not change overnight just because individuals or groups have begun propagating pro-LGBT chants two years ago… on Facebook and national dailies. Check out contents of Philippine tabloids or gays being made fun of on TV shows. Why pick on Manny alone? Fine. Manny’s only mistake is he IS Manny Pacquiao – the hero who is able to glue people in front of the television and lower petty crime rates whenever he has a match. Those who believe in him and share his views probably found a more convincing reason to vote for him for a Senate seat (God forbid).

Therefore, bashing at Manny creates a sort of a tug-of-war between pro- and anti-LGBT. Hate breeds hate.

Mocking at the People’s Champ is like mocking at your own ignorance about the socio-cultural challenges LGBTs have been trudging on for decades or even centuries. Likewise, Manny’s stance shows the backward culture of Filipinos buttressed by religious conservative and patriarchal foundations.

This incident did come with two positive points: 1) highlighting of Manny’s performance, or lack of, in Congress and why he shouldn’t have won a congressional seat; and, 2) it gave LGBTs and supporters another shot at the spotlight to define ‘respect’ and reasons for acceptance.

I will not pick on Manny. Rather, I will use his sentiments as a measure of the vast work that is yet to be done until such time LGBTs will be recognized as normal human beings who deserve respect in every way a human should be respected.