Manny Pacquiao is eyeing his next big challenge, not Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather Jr.—but earning a college diploma.
Pacquiao back in the Philippines after defeating Oscar de la Hoya on Sunday, said his boxing career would not last forever. The Filipino southpaw said education is what would sustain him after retirement from fighting.
“Gusto ko pa ring ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ko. Gusto ko matapos iyun. Iba naman ang boxing hindi pang-habangbuhay [I want to continue my schooling. I want that. Boxing is different, as that is not for life],†he said.
Pacquiao’s statement is indeed welcome news to the Department of Education. Secretary Jesli Lapus announced that Pacquiao would serve as the department’s champion and spokesman for its Alternative Learning System, a program designed to lure back to school some 12 million out-of-school children and adults nationwide.
In 2007, Pacquiao earned the Education department’s Accreditation and Equivalency for high-school dropouts. The boxer took the exam at the Ireneo Santiago National High School in General Santos City, his hometown.
Based on department records, he scored 82 percent in communication skills, 82 percent in English comprehension and 66 percent in Mathematics and science.
His overall ratings were 70 percent correct, a standard score of 95 percent and a percentile rank of 70 percent.
The equivalency qualified Pacquaio to apply for admission to a college or university, but apparently, he has not decided which one.
We are proud of Manny as a boxer, a professional, and as a person, as he sees the value of education as a key component in life, and we do hope many people who haven’t finished their college education will emulate his plans, and finish a degree.
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