Controversial host and vlogger Toni Gonzaga has released her video interview with Senator Manny Pacquiao after the ‘Pambansang Kamao’ formally accepted the nomination as presidential candidate of PDP-Laban (as declared by the group of Senator Koko Pimentel) on September 19,2021.

“He is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. He is the only eight-division world champion in the history of boxing across four decades. He also became the oldest welterweight champion in history at the age of 40. And in 2015, Forbes named him the Second Highest-Paid Athlete in the World. There has never been a boxer like him. And there will never be another one like him. The legend, the icon and Philippine Senator,” Gonzaga stated as she introduced Pacquiao in her YouTube channel Toni Talks.

“You wear too many hats,” Toni mentioned as to how Manny balanced things, from being a senator to a philanthropist. The senator said it is not easy but time management and discipline helped him with his work in the Senate and focus on his training before a fight. And on top of that, he has a family to worry about too.

Toni cited Pacquiao’s defeat and humility in his latest fight against Yordenis Ugas and asked him how he handles defeat.

Manny said his faith in Jesus Christ in his life and his heart reminded him.

“Humility will turn naturally as God reminds me to be humble all the time,” he said, although he admitted that before, he cried over his defeat against Juan Morales.

Toni asked if there was an instance where he got angry at God when he is defeated. Manny said he never got angry at God. In fact, he is very grateful to God. His faith as a Christian made his life right, adding that he is being tested all the time as temptations and trials also come.

Manny became a Christian in 2010. It happened in his room, when he had a fight in Las Vegas, while reading this book called “A Purpose Driven Life” and reading a Bible. He cried and told Toni that he came to a point where he wanted to end his life, regretful for his sins.

He said “he is not worthy” and if he could turn back time, he would undo all things he did against Him. He admitted to being a womanizer, drunkard, gambler, and cussing a lot too.

He started to attend Bible studies and said that when he heard the word of God, he became happy. Even when he was defeated in his fight against Bradley, he was never discouraged because for him, all these worldly things are not important. What is important to him is to know and be close to God.

Toni also asked him about his statement regarding the LGBTQ Community comparing them to animals. He said his message was very lengthy and was edited. But he did not judge or condemn them because he has a niece and nephew and even his employees who are part of the community.

He said the LGBQT community is actually great to work with, creative, hardworking, clever and fun to be with.

Asked if he was a different person inside and outside the ring, Manny said he is different inside the ring. He has to be a fighter and take out the Christian mindset since they are authorized to hurt each other.

But outside the ring, he said he is also a fighter, but of evil doings. Manny said he wants to use his passion as a fighter in boxing in his fight against corruption.

He said corruption is the main cancer of society and has seen this after serving for a decade in government. He said that if corruption continues, it will worsen. If it is not stopped after 10 to 40 years, the Philippines will become poorer.

Asked why he exposed the alleged corruption in the Department of Health too late, Manny said he was updating them (politicians) about what is happening in government. He said he was not insulting them.

When he started in the Senate in 2016, he investigated the Php8-billion anomaly in the right of way in General Santos. Asked why it was not published, Pacquiao said it was recorded in the Senate.

He wanted the people behind the issue imprisoned. Since then, people started saying that “Manny is really against corruption” and some people have been providing him information and evidence. He said he cannot keep quiet and ignore this because he is not a corrupt politician. And that he is here not for himself but for his countrymen. He wants to fight for the rights of the poor. And stressed that this can be done if he gets rid of corruption while he is still in the government.

Toni also asked the big question in the minds of most Filipinos: why he entered politics when he is famous, rich, a world champion, and one of the most respected athletes in the world that put the Philippines in the map for boxing.

“Naaawa kasi ako sa mga kababayan natin. Kung hindi ako, sino? Sino ang magtatanggol sa kanila? Sino ang magpo-protekta sa kanila? Hindi ko pinagmamamalaki ang sarili ko. Pero yun ang nararamdaman ko. Hindi ako materialistic na tao,” he stressed.

Toni asked what he gets from politics if boxing is his passion, Manny said “Politics is his life-long commitment to serve the people.”

She asked what the senator’s mission would be now that he has declared that he will be running for the presidency.

“I will imprison the violators of the law in the government; boost the economy; provide employment and sustainable livelihood for the people,” Manny said.

He also revealed that when he was in the US, he wrote a “22-Round Agenda” for the country ahead of the 2022 Elections by himself. He mentioned a few of these “rounds” such as the First Round is to fight corruption; the Second Round is economic growth and development; the Third Round is employment; the Fourth Round is free housing; the Fifth Round is the improvement of the health care service; while the Sixth Round is sustainable livelihood.

He said his number one agenda is to fight and abolished corruption.

He also said that if he wins as president, his boxing career is over since his family has been telling him it is time to stop. He said he will just help and support boxers to produce another champion but not another Manny Pacquiao.

“Kadami ko mabangga! Kadami ko masagasaan. Takot ba ako sa kanila? Ako? Manny Pacquiao,” he said, adding that he has been a fighter since he was 12 years old. He then mentioned that he only fears God.

When asked if he knew the corrupt officials, he just laughed and told Toni that he knows not only the high officials but the systemic corruption starting from the bottom. He said he is not making up stories or does not know why President Duterte got angry with him. He is said he is helping him fight corruption.

He affirms that there is rampant corruption in the country and that it is his dream for all the corrupt people to be imprisoned and that this will boost progress in the economy.

Asked if he can do all this if he becomes president, he told Tony: “Ang lahat ng yan magagawa natin, kung nasa puso mo at dedicated ka. Mahal mo, gusto mo, wala kang vested interest, magagawa mo” he concludes.

Toni Gonzaga became controversial after her interview with Bong-Bong Marcos last week that now has 5.6 million views.