Gays to Pacman: Let's Talk

It seems the apology of boxing champion and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to the gay community has not been accepted.

Various organizations serving Asian and Filipino American lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) community in the United States, instead called for a more open and transparent dialogue with Pacquiao, and all their "kababayans," about their lives as Filipinos and as LGBT.

In a joint statement issued following Pacquiao’s recent comments on gay marriage, the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), and Kaya: Filipino Americans for Progress called for "more civil discourse that does not simply focus on how we are different and where we disagree, but can instead move us beyond to an understanding of the experiences and values we do share."

"We call for moving beyond judgments about how we live our lives and whom we choose to love, and getting to the profound problems these tough times present to us all," they said, in a statement.

Pacquiao came under fire from the LBGT community after he expressed his opposition to US President Barack Obama’s recent statement in support of marriage equality during a recent interview with US-based freelance writer Granville Ampong.

News reports of that interview with the boxing champ directly attributed quotes from the book of Leviticus in the Bible to the lawmaker which, according to LGBT groups, was seemingly "taken out of context."

Pacquiao has since denied calling for “gays to be put to death,” and has apologized to the gay community in a televised interview with a US entertainment talk show.

"Regardless of who dealt the blows, they have landed," the LGBT alliance said. "As he himself can tell you, once a punch is thrown, it cannot be unthrown."

Nevertheless, the LBGT group hailed Pacquiao as "the most famous Filipino living today."

"He is a person who rose from humble beginnings to be the best in his field anywhere in the world," they declared. "He has become a fighter not only in the boxing arena, but in the political arena as well."

"But on the issue of marriage equality, he is wrong," they quickly pointed out. "To rely on religious scripture to justify ongoing discrimination against the LGBT community is wrong."

According to the LBGT alliance, Pacquiao's decision to come out publicly on this issue and to "dip his foot in the political waters surrounding it is wrong."

"Not because, as some in the LGBT community in the United States would say, because of convenient geopolitical categories that place him outside of the United States’ political context," they said. "As an elected official in the Philippine Congress, but one who lives in Los Angeles, he embodies the term 'citizen of the world' and reflects the globalized nature of Filipinos and the diasporic communities we build."

source: mb.com.ph

House members differ over Pacquiao's fight against BIR

MANILA, Philippines -- House members are of two minds on the accusation by their peer, Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, that he is being persecuted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. One view holds he should just quietly settle the issue with the tax agency, while another view insists he was treated unfairly.

Leaders of the House of Representatives said Wednesday that instead of crying harassment, Pacquiao should just explain to the BIR the questions raised on his tax payments.

“Congressman Pacquiao should talk to BIR preferably with his accountant. That’s the better way to settle the issue,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said.

The issue at hand stems from a case the BIR lodged against Pacquiao for alleged violation of Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code or the provision on “failure to obey summons.”

Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II said the cry of harassment by the boxing champion was unfounded.

“There no basis to cry harassment,” Gonzales said, adding “to further connect it to the impeachment is hitting below the belt.”

But Pacquiao's friend and colleague from San Juan City thinks otherwise.

“Insensitive and a major distraction in preparation for Pacman’s June fight” was how San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito slammed the BIR and Commissioner Kim Henares’ attitude toward their handling of the alleged tax fraud case against Pacquiao.

The lawmaker said this distraction is all due to the bureau’s process of exacting tax, which has now come to a point of harassment to the personality of the Sarangani Representative.

“BIR’s duty is given; Manny is not taking that personally. What only bothers him is how his case is being handled. Because BIR officials coming out to speak to the media is apparently becoming an attack to his personality rather than what they say as a fulfillment of duty,” Ejercito explained.

“For example, in news reports, some government officials may not be blatantly labeling Pacman as a tax evader. But if you read between the lines, it’s all the same,” he added.

And given Pacquiao’s rock star status, Ejercito said the media picks up almost every news item that relates with the boxing champ so easily.

“It is just unfortunate that at this time that Pacman needs to promote his upcoming fight, some government officials choose to feed media with pressers that smear on his personality,” he furthered.

“Is this how the government repays him with the victories he has brought to our country, by harassing him in the public to pay his taxes?”

But this is not to say that he and his colleagues in Congress are seeking for special attention with regard to Pacquiao's taxes, the lawmaker said. “Manny is only asking for consideration that they (government) listen to his side of the story. Because after all, he is also a public official.”

In the end, Ejercito hopes the BIR is not merely riding on Pacquiao’s popularity to portray that it is performing well, but is only after accomplishing its tax exacting responsibilities.

source: interaksyon.com