JGL Eye Column

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2011 Journal Group Link International)

And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more. – Luke 12:48

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Every time Manny Pacquiao starts and ends with his fight in the ring, he has been seen praying in his corner. And it seems that his prayers are always credited for his winning streak.

But if the eight-division world boxing champion really wants to be true to his faith, Manny should also follow what the Bible says, “And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.”

There were two big opportunities for Manny to show his philanthropic deeds to those closest to home and to his heart but he missed to show up at both times.

In November 2009, 32 journalists, mostly promoting, writing and singing his praises whenever he went home to a hero’s welcome, were massacred but I have never heard Manny order his MP Foundation donate to the survivors of the fallen journalists. Most of those massacred journalists used to be his town mates in Gen. Santos City.

During the flash floods last week that killed thousands of his region mates in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities, the Sarangani Representative disclosed the release for the flash-flood victims of his share of his pork barrel of one-million pesos (US$25,000) from the Philippine Congress (out of the nearly 100-million pesos or $2.50-million per year given each congressman). And he was reported to have shelled out additional money from his own pocket to the victims but he did not disclose the amount of his donation. Why the secrecy? What happened to transparency?

AND HE WANTS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

If he wants to become President of the Philippines in 2022, he should now start leading the way. He should know the "best practices" to get the most number of votes. He should talk the talk. He should say what he does and does what he says. Otherwise, it will be a bit too late in the day.

The public are entitled to know how much Manny gives back to the people, who pay for their tickets to watch his fights on TV and movies, listen to his song recordings and support the products that he pitches. He knew how it felt when he performed poorly against Juan Manuel Marquez – nobody wanted to meet him at NAIA. Nobody wanted to watch him in his motorcade. He even questioned the ethnic loyalty of his former friend, defender and analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz, for criticizing Manny for his off night although Manny admitted that cramp (pulikat) in his leg was the culprit. And from his own mouth, Manny said, "This fight (with Marquez) will answer all doubts, all questions once and for all." But doubts and questions lingered long after his fight with Marquez. Although the world loves only the winner, fans will still embrace you if you accept that you are just human to have a mediocre night (Michael Jordan had lots of these and was not afraid to miss his shots!) and accept humility.

Adding insult to injury was the news release of his purchase of a 25-million-peso (US$581,395) Italian-made yacht while thousands of his kababayans (country mates) were drowning and thousands more were suffering due to damages caused by tropical storm Sendong. Talk of Nero playing the violin while Rome was burning?

Manny was listed this year by Forbes magazine (July 9, 2011) as the 24th highest paid of the 50 athletes in the world with earnings of US$25-million.

This year, Forbes (June 22, 2011) announced that Bill Gates, the richest man in America, has a net worth of US$56-billion and Mr. Gates donated $28-billion to malaria, public health and education or 60% of his wealth.

The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim of Mexico, was listed by Forbes to have a net worth of US$74-billion and donated to education and health care US$4-billion or .05% of his wealth.

And the man Mr. Gates talked into opening his wallet to charity, Warren Buffet, who has a net worth of US$50-billion had given away to Gates Foundation, US$8.3-billion or 16% of his entire wealth.

AGNOSTIC EVEN GIVES TO CHARITY

M r. Gates is an agnostic, who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism. Mr. Buffet is a Protestant, a Presbyterian. While Mr. Slim is a Maronite Catholic, an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Room (in other words, Maronites are part of the Catholic Church).

So, it is very clear whether someone believes in God or not, it will still be good turn to set example to give back to the community. Isn’t the saying, the more you give, the more you receive akin to the saying, “you reap what you sow” or the karmaic principle?

So, if Manny gave away at least .01% of his US$25-million net worth to charity, like the massacre of journalists or survivors of flash flood victims, it is only US$250,000 or 10.7-million pesos. Chicken feed, as Filipinos are wont to say. After all, he cannot even take his riches to his grave!

But why would Manny limit his charitable donation to a miserly .01% or less when Bill Gates could even give away 60% of his wealth or Mr. Buffet, 16%, or Mr. Slim, .05% when he could do more than that because he is a Catholic?

According to Forbes, a private foundation of wealthy people can afford them “maximum control and tax-planning benefit, not to mention image-burnishing. But the foundation only has to spend 5% of its assets on charity work each year. That means that the largess can be doled out way in the future, perhaps, when a fading celebrity needs a publicity lift.”

Forbes advises if a “foundation gets its funds primarily from the celebrity (so there are no fundraising costs) and runs no programs, simply making grants of money to other charities, overhead costs can be negligible.”

CHRISTIANS ARE URGED TO OBSERVE TITHING (10% CHARITABLE DONATION)

I nterestingly, when TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey had net worth of US$1.4-billion in 2006, she donated US$58.3-million to her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, Oprah’s Angel Network and other groups or 41% of her wealth.

While Tiger Woods in 2006, donated $9,500,000 to the Tiger Woods Learning Center, Earl D. Woods Sr. Scholarship Fund, and other Tiger Woods Foundation programs when his net worth was US$90-million or 10% of his wealth.

If Manny really wants to be a follower of God’s word, like when he prays publicly to draw his strength from God, he should be mindful of the practices among Christians as written in the Bible of making donation to charity in the amount of 10%, which is called tithing.

He should not forget what the Acts 5:1-20 says as it contains the account of a man and wife (Ananias and Sapphira) who sold a piece of property and donated only part of the selling price to the church but claimed to have given the whole amount and immediately fell down and died when confronted by the apostle Peter over their dishonesty. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at: (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)