With only a few days away from Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Antonio Margarito on Nov. 14, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond ‘Mong’ Palatino joins us for Sparring Sessions, a series of interviews with pundits, bloggers, and boxing fans that discuss issues that affect Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxing, and combat sports in general, veering into topics that mainstream media rarely talk about. Rep. Palatino was gracious enough to answer our questions even while he was traveling, and had to send his replies via mobile phone, hence the short answers as he talks about his most celebrated colleague.



Fire Quinito: Can you describe the interaction between the honorable gentleman from Sarangani, Manny Pacquiao, with the rest of your colleagues? Is there more deference toward him given his stature as a world champion?

Mong Palatino: I think he did well in the past few months. He delivered two speeches on the floor. His advocacy (fighting human trafficking) is indeed relevant, especially in his district and the whole Mindanao island. He is respected by all parties. He is ready to support campaigns that concern the poor. I once approached him to sign a manifesto calling for the increase of the budget of state universities. He signed it and he helped me gather more signatures on the floor. He is rarely absent.

FQ: Pacquiao is currently on leave, having been excused to train for his upcoming fight. How does the absence of a congressman affect his legislation work, specially the committees he belongs to? Can he do these things by remote control?

MP: We were on break until the 7th. An absent congressman can't perform house duties. He has to be present on the floor or during committee hearings to participate in the debate and to vote. If he is absent in Batasan, he is expected to be performing an official function elsewhere or attending to his duties in his district. Pacquaio can still attend sessions after his fight. Our session will be on November 8 – December 17.

It is fortunate that session has just started this year, so there are no major bills that need to be urgently tackled.

Pacquiao and I are both vice-chairmen of the Committee on Youth and Sports

FQ: A common issue during Pacquiao fights is how members of the Lower House seem to travel in droves to Las Vegas to watch him fight. There’s a new administration and a new speaker, and Pacquiao is now a congressman. Will anything change? Will fewer congressmen be going to Vegas? Will there be more?

MP: I hope the new leadership would not encourage members to attend because we have session during the fight period. Pacquiao can understand if not all members will be cheering for him in Texas. He knows we are supporting him. No need to be physically present to watch him win.

(Ed: Ronnie Nathanielsz reports on Twitter that 54 congressmen will be joining Pacquiao on a chartered jet to Texas.)

FQ: Pacquiao was seen attending a political rally with US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Is there any implication there with his stature as congressman?

MP: Reid won. It affirmed Pacquiao’s global popularity.

FQ: What’s going to happen in the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight?

MP: I hope Pacquiao wins.

Mong Palatino represent Kabataan Partylist, the first and only youth party-list group in Philippine Congress today. Despite his duties as a parliamentarian and an activist, Rep. Mong still finds time to blog at mongpalatino.com. Follow him on Twitter @mongster.