PEOPLE opposing the proposal of Senator Koko Pimentel to exempt Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from paying taxes for his multi-million dollar earnings in the historic fight against American Floyd Mayweather Jr. are so obsessed with the color of money they fail to appreciate the symbolism.
And those who claim that the passage of a Senate measure granting such tax exemption is pure and simple class legislation seem to forget that we have honored other outstanding Filipinos like Dr. Jose Rizal, by declaring their birthdays as national holidays.
But first let us discuss the question of money.
My friend and compadre, lawyer Eliseo Braganza of Davao City, last night said Pacquiao should not be exempted from paying taxes on his earnings in the Mayweather fight because he is already rich.
“Why exempt from taxes somebody who already has a lot of money?,” he asked.
It’s not about money, I told him. It’s about a national gesture to say thank you to a poor boy who has made the Filipinos proud and who has set a model for other kids who are now struggling in the squalor of poverty.
Pacquiao represents the Filipino nation’s struggle to gain recognition and respect.
Who among us Filipinos of today, or even of yesterday, has brought the nation to a level of international awareness where even CNN features Pacquiao on a daily basis.
How many millions of dollars does our government pay the international cable news network just so the Philippines could be featured in 15-second commercials?
Here, Pacquiao gives the Philippines unquantifiable media mileage for two months before the fight, more so if he wins the fight against Mayweather.
Granting a tax exemption to Manny Pacquiao is our way of thanking him for making us all proud.
Win or lose, Pacquiao’s fight against the undefeated Mayweather has already inscribed the word Filipino in the history books of sports and I believe no other Filipino in this generation or even the next could equal that.
Class legislation?
How poor could these people’s memory be.
Remember the Congressional actions granting financial rewards to outstanding Filipino athletes?
Following the “class legislation” argument, are they saying that the financial incentive given to Onyok Velasco for winning an Olympic silver medal should also be granted to another amateur boxer who has lost all his fights?
Manny Pacquiao is a source of pride for this miserable nation plagued by corruption and criminality and an inspiration to all of us struggling to survive everyday.
Granting him tax exemption in his fight against Mayweather is not giving alms to a poor boxer but a recognition of the honor he has brought this country.
Pacquiao is not asking for it but this nation should give it to him.
Failing to do that is ungratefulness in its worst form.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Bandera. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.