Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao considered taking his own life, he revealed in an interview with Toni Gonzaga.
The four-time welterweight champion opened up about his previous mental health struggles just one day after announcing his bid for the 2022 Philippines presidency.
Pacquiao, 42, is a self-proclaimed Christian and said he once considered suicide due to habits he struggled with in the past that went against his faith.
“I was reading this book called ‘[The] Purpose-Driven Life’ and I would read the Bible too,” Pacquiao said. “I felt like ending my life at that moment because I was repenting for my sins. I was alone in my room and I was crying uncontrollably. I asked myself what I should do. ‘Lord am I not worthy?’ If I could just turn back time and undo all I’ve done against you.”
Pacquiao admitted he struggled with addiction to alcohol, gambling, and even called himself a womanizer. But his devotion to religion helped him recover from those habits and find acceptance with himself.
“I felt small. I was on my knees, face to the ground, while I was alone,” Pacquiao said. “When I hear the word of God I feel so happy.”
Pacquiao’s troubled past dates back to his childhood in Kibawe, Philippines, where he lived in poverty as his family was regarded as the poorest in the entire town. He often only ate once a day, was exposed to family dysfunction and often got into fistfights with locals in the streets, according to his excerpts from his autobiography “Pacman: My Story of Hope, Resilience, and Never-Say-Never Determination.”
At the age of 16, Pacquiao left his family and boarded a ship to Manila to train as a boxer and launch a career in the sport.
Pacquiao became the only man to win world titles in eight different divisions.
However, now he’s seemingly turned his full attention to his political career and running for president of his country.
“My boxing career is already over,” he told Gonzaga. “It’s done because I’ve been boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough. I just continued because I’m passionate about this sport. I will just support other boxers for us to have a champion again.”
Pacquiao’s last fight ended in a defeat to Yordenis Ugas by unanimous decision in August.
Celestine Cruz Gonzaga-Soriano (born January 20, 1984),[2][3] better known as Toni Gonzaga, is a Filipina singer, television host, actress, producer, vlogger, and entrepreneur.
2015–present: Recent work
Star Cinema had produced a Coco Martin and Gonzaga movie entitled, You're My Boss. In April 2015, Gonzaga renewed her contract with ABS-CBN Corporation. She announced that she will reprise her role as the host of Pinoy Big Brother: 737, which premiered on June 20, 2015.[45][46]
Earlier of 2016, she was introduced as one of the HIMIGration officers (judges) of the original concept reality show of ABS-CBN, I Love OPM, together with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera, and hosted by Anne Curtis.
In 2017, she starred in a dark romance drama with Piolo Pascual entitled Last Night. A movie of her and her sister Alex Gonzaga with Sam Milby, entitled Mary, Marry Me came out on December 25, 2018.
ボクシング界のレジェンド、マニー・パッキャオが自ら命を絶つことを考えていたことを、トニ・ゴンザガ氏とのインタビューで明かしました。
4度のウェルター級チャンピオンに輝いた彼は、2022年のフィリピン大統領選への出馬を表明したわずか1日後に、これまでの精神面での苦悩を打ち明けました。
パッキャオ（42歳）は自称クリスチャンで、過去に信仰に反する習慣に悩まされ、自殺を考えたこともあると言います。
「私は『目的を持った人生』という本を読んでいて、聖書も読んでいました」とパッキャオは言います。「そのときは、自分の罪を悔い改めていたので、人生を終わらせたいと思いました。私は自分の部屋に一人でいて、抑えきれずに泣いていました。どうしたらいいのかと自問自答しました。「主よ......私は価値がないのでしょうか？時間を戻して、あなたに対して行ったことをすべて元に戻すことができれば」。
パッキャオは、アルコールやギャンブルなどの依存症に苦しみ、自らを女たらしと呼んでいたことも認めています。しかし、宗教に傾倒したことで、それらの習慣から回復し、自分自身を受け入れることができました。
「自分が小さく思えた。私は自分が小さいと感じていました。一人でひざまづいて、地面に顔をつけていました」とパッキャオは言います。"神の言葉を聞くと、とても幸せな気分になるんだ。"
パッキャオの問題を抱えた過去は、フィリピンのキバウェでの幼少期にさかのぼります。彼の家族は町全体で最も貧しいとみなされていたため、貧しい生活を送っていました。自叙伝「Pacman: My Story of Hope, Resilience, and Never-Say-Never Determination（パックマン：希望と回復力、そして絶対に負けない決意の物語）」の抜粋によると、彼は1日1回しか食事を摂らず、家庭内暴力にさらされ、街中で地元の人々とよく殴り合いをしていたそうです。
パッキャオは16歳のとき、家族を捨ててマニラ行きの船に乗り込み、ボクサーとしてのトレーニングを積み、キャリアをスタートさせた。
パッキャオは、8つの異なる部門で世界タイトルを獲得した唯一の男となりました。
しかし、現在は政治家としてのキャリアに全精力を傾け、自国の大統領選に出馬しているようです。
「私のボクシングのキャリアはすでに終わっている」と彼はゴンザガに語った。私のボクシングキャリアはすでに終わっている」とゴンザガに語った。「長い間ボクシングを続けてきたから終わったのであって、家族はそれで十分だと言う。私はこのスポーツに情熱を持っているので続けただけです。またチャンピオンが誕生するように、他のボクサーをサポートしていきたいと思います」と語っています。
パッキャオの最後の試合は、8月にヨルデニス・ウガスに満場一致の判定で敗れました。
