The world may have stopped, but the people have certainly NOT stopped talking.
All activity might have stopped from the busy streets to small households all over the Philippines during the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto title match, but indeed people haven’t stopped talking. Prior to his fight against Cotto, Pacquiao was reported to have flown sexy actress Krista Ranillo and her family to Las Vegas, all-expense paid, to witness him fight live at the MGM Grand. News then came out that Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee stayed in a different hotel and was seen twice on television in tears. Thus came the birth of Team Jinkee on Facebook and Krista Ranillo being labeled the “Pakbet” or “Pacman’s Kabet”. Although information about this love triangle started even before Pacquiao’s fight, it wouldn’t seem to let on even after the Champ won his 7th straight world title, making the match a significant event in boxing history and strengthening his stature as the world’s greatest boxer.
Pacquiao-Cotto Weigh-In (November 12, 2009 - Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America)
KEATS LONDON/PDI http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/ThePacquiaoFiles/
However, publicity brought by the infidelity issue is most likely not what Pacquiao’s political strategists had in mind. But publicity, bad as it is, could be repackaged to suit the party’s interests with the right reinforcement. And reinforcement comes when Jinkee Pacquiao becomes more vocal than her husband in interviews saying that she and her husband are working things out by talking things over. This is such an overrated line that has been used way before Sharon and Gabby, Pops and Martin and even Kristin and Diether. Funny because at the same time, Jinkee pleads to the public to respect her family’s privacy and her children’s welfare then suddenly the Manny-Jinkee love story is featured in a Sunday showbiz news show.
All the media coverage he’s given leads me to think this is another election propaganda conveniently reinforced by the surge of Filipino pride. Pacquiao has been vocal about his bid for Sarangani congressman in the 2010 elections. His closeness with known politicians and businessmen like Chavit Singson and Lito Atienza is not without a tinge of political agenda.
This issue gives the message that Manny is still “human” like any of us, more importantly his constituents despite being on the pedestal his achievements have placed him in. It balanced the good and the bad about him and emphasized his “family man” persona, the devoted husband and doting father.
Once again, politics is show business. We are looking at a very sly example of the classic appeal to emotions approach by a would-be politician. Though it’s obviously the norm, do we actually want to make it the standard?
