Man behind #DropPacman petition ashamed of Pacquiao's influential voice

Reaction was swift to boxer and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao's declaration in a TV interview Tuesday that gay people were worse than animals. In the US, one Filipino-American came up with a petition and a hashtag to hit PacMan where it hurts: in the wallet.

New Yorker Aries Dela Cruz's petition on change.org asked Nike to drop Pacquiao from its roster of superstar endorsers.

"Pacquiao's expressions of homophobia and bigotry disqualifies him from being honored, endorsed and sponsored by one of the world's largest publicly-traded and owned athletic companies, particularly one that is celebrated and well-known for their promotion of sportsmanship and excellence," Dela Cruz urged Nike VP for Global Merchandising Tim Hershey in his petition "Tell Nike It's Time To #DropPacMan."

Less than 24 hours after it was created, with the hashtag trending and the petition still shy of the 5,000 signatures it was originally asking for, Nike dropped Pacquiao.

"We find Manny Pacquiao's comments abhorrent," a Nike statement said. "Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community.

"We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao, which is accurate."

"This is your victory," Dela Cruz told the petition's signatories in an updated message.

Dela Cruz was born in Manila and raised in Bacolod until the age of seven, when he and his family emigrated to New York. He is currently a doctoral student at Rutgers University in New Jersey in the Department of Anthropology, studying social dynamics in the Philippines.

Before this, he studied anthropology at Columbia University, where he also served on the prestigious Ivy League's Queer Alliance Board.

Dela Cruz believes that the petition and hashtag's virality shows that "there is worldwide concern and attention to the plight of LGBT people in the Philippines."

"I started the petition because of how divisive his remarks were and how it was hurtful for Filipinos to hear this from one of our politicians," he told GMA News Online.

"I am tired of hearing Cong. Pacquiao's apologies and ashamed that he has such an influential voice," he added. "I believe apologies mean nothing without actions and consequences, and a plan for addressing how the contrite person will make things right with those he hurt. 

"Nike and other sponsors of Cong. Pacquiao should know that by standing behind the congressman, they are sending a message that they can receive money from consumers who support their LGBT friends and neighbors on one hand while using their other hand to line Cong. Pacquiao's pockets to provide him with a platform for hate."

Even with the success of the petition, for Dela Cruz the fight is not over yet. On the change.org petition, he added a challenge to Pacquiao to "[m]eet with us and many other Filipino activists at or near his home in Los Angeles or in the Philippines to have a conversation about the future of the Philippines and its LGBT community. If Cong. Pacquiao does not respond by noon Friday, PST, we will be targeting FOOT LOCKER for the #DropPacman campaign." — Barbara Marchadesch/AT, GMA News