MANILA, Philippines?While he agreed to be the country?s poster boy for tourism, Manny Pacquiao Monday bucked suggestions that he stage his next fight in Manila, but indicated that he would retire at 35.
The House of Representatives rolled out the red carpet for the boxing champ and honored him with a citation and a medal of distinction, and later, a dinner party.
Pacquiao, who captured his eighth title in as many divisions with his conquest of Mexican Antonio Margarito, said hosting and staging a boxing fight in Manila would cost the government millions of dollars.
?That?s possible. But you know if we stage it here, this will need a big budget. We?re talking about $100-million guarantee for the boxers, and that?s on top of the promotion cost. And we?re in dire straits; our country even needs to save,? he said in a joint briefing with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
On Friday, Pacquiao agreed to become the country?s poster boy for tourism during his call on President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday.
On Monday, the Sarangani lawmaker admitted that he had to plan what to do on his new role.
?Pacquiao Philippines. Just joking,? he suggested when asked about a tourism slogan for the country.
Later at the packed plenary hall, all lawmakers and House personnel stood up and applauded Pacquiao as he strode to the rostrum for the awarding of the citation and the Congressional Medal of Distinction.
When Belmonte handed him the citation and conferred the medal, the crowd erupted into another applause. ?This award is beautiful,? Pacquiao gushed in Filipino in a privilege speech.
He thanked his colleagues for their support. ?The victory over Margarito is not mine alone. It belongs to every Filipino,? he said.
Filipinos can excel on a ?world-class arena because of hard work, dedication and faith in the Almighty,? he said.
During the briefing, Pacquiao, 31, said he had convinced his mother Dionisia to let him fight once more, until the age of 35.
?I?ve talked to her, and told her that I?m still good to fight. It?s understandable that at her age she gets nervous about my fights. Parents hate seeing their children get hurt,? he said.
He said there?s nothing final about who he would fight next.
Pacquiao, who has been fighting in the ring since he was 15, doesn?t see any of his children, including two boys, following in his footsteps.
?I don?t want them to become boxers. You won?t see any boxing paraphernalia at home, not even fighting shoes or gloves. I don?t want them to take up boxing. Some people may think it?s easy, but it?s tough,? he said.
Pacquiao said he had entered into a deal in which he would endorse the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and its programs, and, in return, the agency would release ambulances to Sarangani, instead of paying him in cash.
