“Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”
This unforgettable quote from our national hero Jose Rizal, according to Senator Manny Pacquiao, was what inspired him to go back to his birthplace for the first time after his family escaped the town almost four decades ago.
The municipality of Kibawe is in the southern part of the province of Bukidnon. It shares a border with Magpet, North Cotabato. It is in this rural and quiet town that Senator Pacquiao was born.
“Five years old pa lang ako, tumakas na kami paalis ng Kibawe. Napakahirap na ng buhay, madalas pa ang bakbakan ng sundalo at rebelde. Hopeless,” recalled the Senator.
“Araw-araw, parang giyera, giyera sa sikmura, kasi walang makain.”
“Nakipagsapalaran ang aming pamilya sa Gen San (General Santos City), kasi ang nanay ko (Nanay Dionisia) ay originally taga-Glan, Sarangani, pero wala rin, napakahirap pa rin. Araw-araw, parang giyera, giyera sa sikmura, kasi walang makain,” added the boxer-turned-politician.
The struggles and ordeals that Senator Pacquiao had to endure and survive are public knowledge now. His story of hunger, and of triumph, is an inspiration and motivation to many among our people who continue to live in tremendous poverty. It is for this reason that Mayor Reynaldo “Jimboy Tebontu” S. Ang Rabanes, local chief executive of the municipality of Kibawe, invited Pacquiao to his birthplace.
“We pay tribute to Senator Manny Pacquiao, to his extraordinary achievements in the world of boxing, and to his unparalleled dedication to serve the people, especially the poor whose hardship he knows way too well,” said Mayor Ang Rabanes.
In a symbolic ceremony at the Kibawe Municpal Hall, Ang Rabanes turned over to Pacquiao a copy of his birth certificate to show that he is truly a proud son of Kibawe. Pacquiao then distributed gift packs and PhP1,000 each to poor residents.
“Dito ko unang natikman ang pait ng kagutuman. Dito ako nagsimulang maging fighter.”
“Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang lugar na ito. Dito ko unang natikman ang pait ng kagutuman. Dito ako nagsimulang maging fighter. Kailangan lumaban para makaahon sa pighati ng kahirapan. Kahit simpleng buhay lang sana basta walang takot at ligtas sa kapahamakan ang pamilya. Yan lang ang aking munting hiling noon. Hindi ako tumigil hanggang sa matalo ko na ang sumpa ng kahirapan,” remembered Pacquiao.
“Hindi ako tumigil hanggang sa matalo ko na ang sumpa ng kahirapan.”
In his message to his kababayans, the senator reiterated his call on politicians to share their wealth to the poor, and issued a new statement that, when given the chance, he will build a mega-prison facility exclusive for corrupt government officials.
“Sa hirap na dinanas ko at ng aking pamilya, ang paulit-ulit na sigaw ng puso ko, dapat bigyan ng hustisya ang mga mahihirap. Gusto ko ikulong ang lahat ng mga kurakot na pulitiko. Sa totoo lang, wala na akong kailangan. Hindi ko na kailangan ang kasikatan. Hindi ko na kailangan ang kayamanan. God will provide. What I want is to give justice to the poor. Kaya kayong mga ganid na pulitiko na walang ibang ginawa kundi magnakaw sa gobyerno, dadating din ang araw niyo,” warned Pacquiao.
With the senator in his homecoming trip to Kibawe were Bukidnon Rep. Manuel Zubiri and other provincial government officials.