MANILA, Philippines – Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao on Thursday returned to another hero’s welcome in General Santos City before proceeding to Sarangani Province, where a special celebration was prepared for him.
Pacquiao arrived in General Santos City on a Philippine Airlines flight from Manila, with his wife, Jinkee and mother Dionisia.
The boxing hero was welcomed by City Mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio, his former rival in the 2007 race for the congressional district of South Cotabato.
Pacquiao returned to General Santos City after winning the super welterweight championship fight against Mexican Antonio Margarito in Texas last Nov. 13 (Nov. 14 in Manila).
Pacquiao stepped onto a prepared float for the motorcade with his mother and the city mayor.
Pacquiao’s motorcade passed through General Santos City and proceeded to Sarangani Province, where he was welcomed by screaming fans.
‘Deprived of Pacquiao’
Meanwhile, some residents of General Santos City feel they lost a hero when Pacquiao won a seat in Congress, representing Sarangani province.
Pacquiao also has a house in Sarangani, which is the province of his wife, Jinkee.
Junrei Templa, a tricycle driver, said he is taking a whole day break to witness the motorcade of the boxing icon. Manny Pacquiao with his mother, Mommy Dionisia, while greeting his fans in Gensan.
He said he feels deprived of Pacquiao, who, instead of trying a second attempt to represent South Cotabato in Congress, decided to run for congressman in Sarangani province.
“Nanghihinayang ako kasi sa Sarangani na ang proyekto ni Pacquiao. Dapat dito sa GenSan, dapat dito ang sikat kaysa Sarangani,” Templa said.
Jay Carolino, a habal-habal driver, said that it does not matter what province Pacquiao is representing. He said that what matters is that the whole world knows the boxing hero was born in General Santos City.
Sarangani provincial officials said that they have prepared a huge party for their returning congressman.
“It will be sort of a funfare, welcoming activity,” said Joseph Aguilar, Sarangani congressional office’s administrative officer.
The hero’s welcome, meanwhile, was timed with the province’s week-long celebration of its 18th founding anniversary, which was declared by Malaca?ang as a non-working holiday. — Report from Jay Dayupay, ABS-CBN Soksargen
