Pacquio's skill compare with Ali

There is no doubt that Manny Pacquiao is today the best boxer in the world. His victories speak for themselves. No need to rave about them. But there is still room for improvement, though not necessarily in his already near-perfect boxing skills.

Here’s my unsolicited advice to “Pacman”: If you want to be “The Greatest,” do what “The Greatest” did.

• In Muhammad Ali’s time, the United States was committing horrible atrocities against the Vietnamese people.

In Pacquiao’s time, the illegitimate administration of Gloria Macapagal-arroyo is committing equally horrible atrocities against the Filipino people.

• In Ali’s time, the United States, through its Armed Forces, tried to use him for propaganda in the Vietnam War.

In Pacquiao’s time, this illegitimate administration, directly through its “president,” is using him as a prop to help lift Arroyo’s sagging popularity and, most likely, will use him to gain public support for its Charter change campaign.

• Ali, during his time, rejected being drafted into the US armed forces and protested the Vietnam War, which killed scores of innocent people.

Pacquiao, in his time, seems to be clueless about what is happening around our country: the numerous corruption scandals hounding this administration; the genocide (the word “murder” doesn’t quite capture it) of several journalists and of countless more political activists; and the shameless drive of changing our Constitution to keep public thugs in power.

• Ali didn’t become “The Greatest” because he won boxing titles and “[floated] like a butterfly, [stung] like a bee.” He became one because he stood for what he believed in and even paid the price for it. (He was stripped of his title.)

Pacquiao can become better than “The Greatest” not because of his boxing prowess or a stint in politics. He can “beat” Ali by standing up against the traditional politicos, or “trapos,” who swarm like flies around him, and by opposing Charter change and other crimes against his countrymen. Only then would he truly deserve the title “People’s Champ.”

But then again, maybe this could all be a Christmas wish.