SORSOGON CITY, Philippines — A grand welcome awaits Michael Fari?as, Sorsogon’s boxing sensation who posted a decisive win over Arturo Valenzuela in the undercard fight during the Will to Win duel between Marco Antonio Barrera and people’s champ Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada last Sunday.
Governor Sally Lee said the provincial government arranged for a motorcade for Fari?as upon his return from the US.
Lee said although the fight was not a championship bout, it was nonetheless an honor for Sorsoganons to have a provincemate win in a fight televised worldwide.
Lee said it would be just fitting to take pride in Fari?as’ win especially because he used Gubat, Sorsogon as his address in the player?s profile.
Fari?as — a native of the village of Carriedo, Gubat, Sorsogon — stopped Valenzuela in the second round of their fight.
A resolution giving honor to Fari?as was also passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan despite strong opposition from two board members from Fari?as’ district.
Board members Bong Hao and Edwin Garcia said Fari?as should not be accorded such honor as it would only entail expenses for the government.
The contention of the two board members, however, drew sharp rebuke from their colleagues and from the public.
Some SP members said Hao and Garcia should instead forego with their planned travels so the provincial government could save if they were really worried about the finances.
Meanwhile, the Fari?as family in the village of Carriedo were so happy about the provincial government’s move to honor the boxer.
Maria Fari?as, Michael’s grandmother, said her grandson?s victory was a great pride for them.
The 76-year-old Fari?as said although she felt nervous whenever Michael had a fight, she has become used to it by now, noting that his career would assure him of a better future.
The matriarch served as Michael’s guardian since he was six years old until he graduated in high school and started to train.
The elder Fari?as said Michael, the third among nine siblings whom she described as kind and helpful, started to train under the tutelage of one Cardo Pioleno, a relative who was also a boxing enthusiast.
She said the young Fari?as was later recruited by an Army officer to train until he ended up in the stable of Gerry Pe?alosa, another world boxing champion.
But Michael was not the lone boxer in the family, Maria said.
She claimed her husband Daniel was also a boxer and so was Daniel’s father, Juan, and one of her sons, Domingo, who is now in the Philippine Army.
Johna, Fari?as? wife, said Michael might not be able to come home until December as he was still preparing for another fight possibly in November.
Johna, who is seven months into family way, said Michael’s win last Sunday was a blessing for their soon-to-be-born son.
