Wearing a boxing gloves with a message that reads “125 Peso Wage Hike Now”, Congressman Manny Pacquiao attended a press conference on Tuesday, June 14 at the Kilusang Mayo Uno headquarters wherein he supported a workers’ demand for a P125 across-the-board wage hike for private-sector workers.
Pacquiao, a Representative for Sarangani in Mindanao has co-authored House Bill 375 on the wage hike, whose main author is labor group Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano.
The working class has found a new hero in Pacquiao – who ironically is currently the richest Congressman in the Philippines.
It’s no secret however that his story is a rags-to-riches one; using his boxing skills to escape from the clutches of poverty.
In his last fight with Shane Mosley on May, Pacquiao wore yellow gloves to signify his own fight against poverty in his homeland.
“Ako, basta kapakanan ng Pilipino at sa mahihirap, kailangan natin tulungan at suportahan. Hindi ako pumipili ng taong susuportahan, basta nangangailangan ng tulong”.
Congressman Pacquiao is also a staunch supporter of the campaign against the passing of the Reproductive health bill.