MANILA, Philippines—World boxing hero Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao was not the only one throwing punches on Sunday to defend a title. During the long commercial breaks of the telecast of his fight with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, candidates in the May polls also boxed each other—through political ads—to win desired titles in May.
 
Newsbreak monitored a total of 32 television advertisements during the 6-hour delayed television feed of the 3 matches at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. There were 2 undercard games before Pacquiao’s match with Joshua Clottey, himself a former IBF welterweight champion.
 
The live feed from Solar Sports didn’t show political ads.
 
Presidential candidates senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Villar dominated the commercial breaks with 10 ads each. They ignored an earlier call from another presidential aspirant, Bangon Pilipinas’ Eddie Villanueva, on fellow candidates not to disturb Pacquiao fans with electioneering.
 
Two of President Arroyo's legacy ads were also shown.
 
Pacquiao for congressman

Himself a candidate for Sarangani congressman, Pacquiao aired 1 advertisement to court the voters of province’s lone district.
 
The ad starts with Pacquiao standing in the middle of a road. He is wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and slippers. As he starts to run, his clothes change into his gym clothes and his signature hood jacket. He speaks about the way people would always tell him that boxing is the only fight that he could win.
 
Another shot shows him in polo shirt waving to a caricature of crowds. He then says he also wants to serve the people.
 
Another local candidate who took advantage of the high rating television feed was Makati mayoralty candidate Erwin Genuino, son of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Efraim Genuino.
 
He aired 2 ads where he says he wants a new Makati where everyone is equal.
 
Other candidates and party-list groups that showed ads were senatorial candidates Ramon Guico of Lakas-Kampi (2 ads), Ralph Recto of the Liberal Party (2 ads), and party-list group Buhay (3 ads).
 
(Click here to download Newsbreak’s complete list of candidates who aired advertisements during specific rounds of the Pacquiao-Clottey match.)
 
Ads or food?

In a press release on Saturday, a day before the fight, Villanueva advised the public to count not just the punches that would land on the boxers, but also the ads that politicians would be airing. By his own estimates, 1 ad in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight can feed up to 20,000 families in a day.
 
Supposedly, a candidate has to buy a package worth at least P2 million to be able to show an ad during the fight. The packages supposedly include airing in the replays and cable exposure. Villanueva said that the minimum ad placement at P2 million could amount to 80,000 kilos of rice if priced at P25 per kilo.
 
“The 80,000 kilos of rice could feed 20,000 families of four members.  Kaya pag nanood tayo ng commercial ads ng mga kandidatong ito sa laban ni Pacman, ituring natin na nanonood tayo ng 20,000 gutom na pamilyang Pilipino,” he said in a statement. (Newsbreak)