THE statue of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will finally leave Bacolod City for General Santos City. It was set to be brought to the boxing champion’s hometown via SuperFerry at 5 a.m. Thursday, according to Negros Basketball Association (NBA) president Oscar “Dodong” Bascon.
The sculpture, which was displayed at the lobby of Bascon Hotel in Bacolod City, was made by Himamaylan City sculptor Herminio Aurelio way back in 1994. He gave it as a gift to Pacquiao during the boxer’s visit to Bacolod City immediately after he won his second fight with Mexican Erik Morales.
Since 1994 until early this year the sculptor was displayed at Aurelio’s residence fronting the main highway in Himamaylan City.
Bascon said Pacquiao had requested him to let the statue remain at Bascon Hotel until the time when he decides to have it brought to General Santos City where he plans to have it permanently displayed later in a boxing museum that he plans to build.
“The statue enabled many of Manny’s boxing fans to remember him every time they pass by and get a glimpse of his statue displayed at the hotel lobby. Somehow it helped many of his fans not to forget him,” Bascon said,
Pacquiao recently cemented his place in boxing history after he knocked out and defeated Morales in the third round of their third and final clash billed as the finale of a boxing trilogy.
American boxing promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions has announced that Pacquiao will be fighting next in Macau although rival promoter Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions is still trying to bring the matter to court claiming promotional rights over the Filipino boxing superstar.
