Boxer-Senator Manny Pacquiao goes back to school (again)

Look who’s back in school.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division boxing world champion, announced late last week that he’s studying political science at the University of Makati.

Pacquiao announced his return to academic life by posting his school ID on Instagram on Friday, writing: “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.”

While Pacquiao dropped out of high school, he passed a high school equivalency exam in 2007. That same year, he enrolled in a business program at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City.

GMA News reports that he studied at least six subjects in his first semester in school, just a few months after his historic October 2007 win over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. However, Pacquiao never completed his degree. 

That fact came back to haunt him this year in a bit of a “gotcha” interview on cable news channel ANC.

In the February sit-down, news anchor Karen Davila asked Pacquiao if he believed that senators and presidents should have college degrees. Clearly caught off guard, Pacquiao answered in the affirmative, adding that he was actually pursuing a college degree.

However, when repeatedly asked by Davila, he couldn’t come up with the name of the school he was supposedly attending, something the senator’s fans found deeply disrespectful.

Read: News anchor Karen Davila gets hate for grilling Manny Pacquiao about college degree

Those same fans, however, appear to be inspired by Pacquiao’s latest effort in continuing to pursue higher education. “Congratulations on your educational journey. Knowledge is power,” said @mdiaz6181.

Fan @guysmit added, “A champion in the ring! But a gentleman and scholar out of the ring makes you one massive inspiration!”

Follower @poldondoy, referring to Pacquiao’s viral interview with Davila wrote, “Can someone tag Miss Davila.”

Do you think Pacquiao did the right thing by going back to school? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.



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