Word: chiongbians
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...thrill rounds to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown. The disarray at party headquarters suggests that his next fight - campaigning for a congressional seat in the nearby province of Sarangani in the May 10 elections - won't be so easy. His opponent this time is Roy Chiongbian, a U.S.-educated businessman from a wealthy and well-entrenched political dynasty. "Pacquiao is up for a very tough fight," says Prospero de Vera, professor of public administration at the University of the Philippines. "Sarangani is relatively poor and local politics is very traditional. The Chiongbians have had a stranglehold on power...
...Chiongbian is withering about his famous opponent's chances this time around. "Although he is popular as a sportsman, it's very different being a politician," says Chiongbian, who soft-launched his campaign by celebrating his 61st birthday at his family's 2,718-acre (1,100 hectare) plantation near Kiamba. "Tiger Woods is the No. 1 golfer, but he can't be, let's say, a race-car driver. We have our limitations and our skills." He believes Pacquiao's popularity plays against him: many voters don't want their national hero dirtying his hands in politics. "People like...
Still, "Sir Manny" - as his staff reverentially call him - is a more formidable opponent than Chiongbian will ever admit. Pacquiao is approaching round two of his political career with at least some of the searing focus he usually reserves for the boxing ring. "Last time, I wasn't prepared," he tells TIME, as he tours his would-be constituency. "I was very confident [because] I was famous. This time I'm ready." And confident. Asked if he's going to win, he flashes his delinquent smile. "Landslide," he says...
...Pacquiao's main pitch to voters has remained unchanged since 2007: I understand the poor man's woes, while my opponent is aloof and élite. Roy Chiongbian doesn't claim to have the Almighty on his side, but then perhaps he doesn't need him so much. Sarangani is a family affair. The province's borders were drawn in 1992 by Chiongbian's late father; his mother was its first governor. The current congressman is his brother and the vice-governor his nephew. Incumbents have a natural advantage over challengers, since they have had years - in the Chiongbian family...
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