Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao poses with Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar after the boxer’s local political party signed a coalition agreement with the NP Monday night. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

With a common agenda of eradicating poverty, the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by Senator Manny Villar forged a coalition with the People’s Champ Movement (PCM), the local political party of seven-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

In his remarks, Villar declared that now is the time for real change as he lamented the worsening poverty situation in the country.

Villar issued the remarks as he formally welcomed Pacquiao and his complete slate for the province of Saranggani and General Santos City into the NP fold during a simple ceremony at the Laurel Mansion on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City Monday night.

Accompanied by his wife Jinky, Pacquiao, who was in Villar’s signature orange color, was met by loud cheers of fans and NP supporters who trooped to the Laurel Mansion to witness the event.

But the loudest cheers and applause were given to Villar’s wife, Rep. Cynthia Villar, and Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, when they were introduced by Remulla as “first ladies.”

NP senatorial bets took the opportunity to have their photos taken with the world boxing champion, putting “conflicting” NP bets – Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and party-list Representatives Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo – literally on the same stage.

With Villar in the middle, Marcos was at the left side of the stage while Maza and Ocampo sat on the right side.

Also on the same stage were NP bets Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra, Gilbert Remulla, and Susan “Toots” Ople.

“Kung ang People’s Champ ay may world champion, ang NP naman ay may dating Speaker, dating Senate President at people’s champ para sa mahihirap, si Sen. Manny Villar,” said Remulla, who also acted as emcee during the event.

Absent were senatorial candidates Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Pia Cayetano, and Miriam Defensor Santiago, as well as lawyer Adel Tamano.

During the same occasion, Villar welcomed billiards champions Efren “Bata” Reyes, Rubylyn Amit, and Ronnie Alcano.

“Kung hindi sa kanila, wala po tayong maipagmamalaki sa ating bansa ngayon,” Villar said in his speech, referring to the billiards champions. He stressed the importance of the athletes in attaining greater heights for the Filipinos.

For his part, Pacquiao thanked Villar for accepting him in the NP fold as its congressional candidate in Sarangani.

Pacquiao said our country deserves a leader like Villar who really came from and poor family.

“Kung baga, kung ikaw ay mekaniko, kahit ilang taon na lumipas, alam mo pa ring gumawa at mag-mekaniko. Ganoon din ang pagiging mahirap.”

Pacquiao said if a leader knows how it is to be poor, he can truly work for their betterment.

Narrating his sufferings as a poor boy, “Ako ilang million rin ang kinikita ko ngayon. Sa puso ko, alam ko pa rin ang maging mahirap,” Pacquiao said. He recalled having to ask for a kilo of rice from their neighbor to be able to have food on the table. The rice cooked into porridge to allow all his siblings to have food for the day.

“Si Manny Pacquiao, grabe ang sinimulan. Nakatulog ako sa bangketa at karton lang tinulugan ko. Proud ako sa magiging mahirap at nagsikap,” Pacquiao said.

Villar said Pacquiao, for all his exploits in the international boxing arena, does not only personify the country's national pride, but also embodies the collective hope and aspiration of a country jabbing its way out of poverty.

“I am proud to announce this partnership which will continue to give inspiration for our country and bring us out of poverty,” Villar said.