LUCENA CITY, Quezon — An avid Pacquiao fan here has found new use for the cards that the National Food Authority issued him to purchase cheap rice — use them as wagers for his idol boxer in Sunday?s fight.
Vender Ronnie Solis offered the two NFA cards as his bets to anyone who would accept his challenge.
?I?m betting my two NFA cards in favor of my idol Manny. Should he win, and there?s no doubt about that, I?m willing to settle for only one card as my winning. Two cards against one,? Solis told the INQUIRER as he was making the rounds of his neighborhood in the squatter?s area of Barangay (village) Cotta looking for any takers.
?But there are no takers, they are all also rooting for Manny. He will not be the ?pambansang kamao (nation?s fist)? for nothing,? he said.
When reminded that his family faces the prospect of getting hungry should he lose his bet, Solis let out a guffaw: ?Getting hungry is an everyday experience for my family. Besides, even if we have the cards, I still don?t have the money to pay for the rice once the rationing starts Sunday afternoon.?
He said if no one accepts his wager, he plans to sell the two cards for a couple of cigarette sticks to the owner of the neighborhood store.
?Should anyone accept my bet and I win, I will have three cards which I can easily exchange for a pack of noodles in the store,? he said.
Solis said the store owner will be the one to buy the NFA rice.
?The store owner will mix the NFA rice with the commercial rice for a higher price,? he said.
He said he will watch the fight in a big TV screen inside the multipurpose hall in the village.
The city government has prepared at least six venues for the live telecast of Pacquiao?s fight today.
