- Boxer calls for calm amid increasing anti-Nike protests in the Philippines
- He urges supporters to turn the other cheek with the sportswear company
- He tells them to pray for and love those who have been bashing him
MANILA, Philippines – Don’t fight fire with fire.
Amid a shoe-burning event held in Cebu City by his supporters to show their disgust with Nike over its termination of ties with him, Manny Pacquiao called for calm and urged his fans to turn the other cheek with the sportswear company.
Instead of burning their shoes, Pacquiao urged fans to respond instead with prayer and love.
“Maraming nagsunog ng Nike. Sabi ko, ‘wag kayo magtanim ng galit. Instead, pray for them. ‘Wag ‘yung anger pairalin ninyo sa puso n’yo. Instead, as Christian, love them,” GMA News quoted him as saying.
[Many have burned their Nike shoes. I said, don’t hold grudges. Instead pray for them. Don’t let anger stay in your heart. Instead, as a Christian, love them.]
Anti-Nike sentiments among fans who have stayed loyal to Pacquiao over his opposition to same-sex marriage have been brewing especially after the global apparel brand sacked him for his statement which it described as “abhorrent”.
The burning occurred in the aftermath of a weekend religious youth festival and was led by evangelical Pastor Oriel Ballano who said they support Pacquiao and won’t allow him to be treated so shabbily for standing by his belief.
“We love all the gays, all the lesbians but we don’t like their agenda. Burning these shoes is just one way that we Christians can also be loud. We will not keep quiet while they are laughing at us and being controlled by a few,” he said.
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