The Pinoy LGBT Community and Ambassador Pacquiao of the Philippine Catholic Church

It all began with a dream. The dream sequence was supposed to have gone this way: he found himself in the middle of a dark forest where a lone, bright light shone. The light spoke to him, asking him why he has distanced himself from the way, the truth and the light. He was crying his heart out in that dream, and when he woke up, his pillow was wet.

Thus began the renewal of faith of the Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao of the Lone District of Sarangani who sits in the 15^th Congress as Vice Chair of the Committees on the Millennium Development Goals; Committee on Poverty Alleviation; and Committee on Youth and Sports Developments. He is a member of the Committees on Agriculture and Food; Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources; East Asean Growth Area; Energy, Housing and Urban Development; Mindanao Affairs; National Defense and Security; People’s Participation; Public Information; Public Works and Highways; Transportation; and Basic Education and Culture.

A newly-installed member of the PDP-Laban, the political butterfly that is Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao used to be with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats. In 2010, he ran for congress under the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manny Villar. He won while Villar lost, prompting The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao to jump to the Liberal Party of President  Aquino.

The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao is of course better known as the People’s Champ who has world championships in eight different weight classes.

Today, the Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao is the Bible Ambassador for the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). His main task is to promote Bible reading among Catholics.

Yes, the CBCP has virtually touted The People’s Champ as the Tim Tebow of the Philippines, a country that simply has to have its own version of anything and everything (i.e. James Dean of the Philippines, Elvis Presley of the Philippines, etc., etc., etc., and we even have Vangie, the Filipino version of iPhone 4S’ Virtual Assistant named Siri). But while Tebow is known as a devout Catholic, Paquiao is not a stranger to controversies, including marital infidelities and their consequences.

This time, the Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao is in the spotlight again with his controversial statement disagreeing with US President Barack Obama's support of redefining marriage to include same-sex couples.

The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao stated in no uncertain terms that Barack Obama is wrong. Speaking to the National Conservative Examiner while in training in LA, The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao was said to have emphasized the need for society to put "God's words first," quoting Leviticus 20:13 which reads: "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

This prompted a howl of protests especially from the LGBT community in the Philippines and the rest of the world.  This only goes to prove that indeed, the Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao is not a stranger to creating/being in the headlines, whether for boxing or otherwise.

The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao has subsequently denied quoting Leviticus, saying he has not yet read Leviticus.

While we are on the subject of denials from The Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao, it will be recalled that he has likewise denied ownership of the controversial West Cove, his resort in Boracay; as well as his relationship with Krista Ranillo (which incidentally, his wife Jinkee virtually confirmed); and having a love child with 22-year-old student Kat Ordoñez, among a host of other denials.

In his official website, the Honorable Congressman Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao states: “I’m not against gay people … I have a relative who is also gay.” Oh yes, and I distinctly remember his own admission that he has had sex with a homosexual.