WASHINGTON ? Eight division champion Manny Pacquiao arrived here Tuesday wearing two hats.
(To see how rubberneck Manny affected Washington traffic, see Sports Page.)
As Sarangani congressman, Pacquiao called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to push for Save the Textile Act?S. 3170 in the Senate and H.R. 3039 in the House.
As boxing champ, he was welcomed at the White House by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Vice President Joe Biden was also present at the closed-door photo opportunity.
Last November, Pacquiao campaigned for Reid, Democrat from Nevada. A former boxer, Reid narrowly won re-election in what the media here called the greatest fight of his career.
Reid warmly welcomed Pacquiao on a chilly, windy day. The two exchanged flags from their countries at a press conference Tuesday morning.
Reid has been a staunch Philippine supporter.
In 2008, he and Senate appropriations chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D, Hawaii) insured the inclusion, against all odds, of the equity pension amendment for Filipino World War II veterans in the must-pass budget bill.
The textile bill seeks to provide the Philippines with American fabric, which it will turn into garments to be eventually exported to the US. If approved, the bill would save and generate up to 200,000 jobs in the Philippines and some 3,000 in the US.
Consul General Domingo Nolasco led a Philippine embassy delegation that called on Pacquiao early Tuesday at the Hay-Adams Hotel.
Nolasco, in an interview, said he urged Pacquiao, “Please do not forget to bat for Save the Textile Act when you meet Senator Reid.”
“We need more co-sponsors for the bill,” he told the popular world champ. Nolasco said that earlier, the Philippine embassy had provided Pacquiao?s chief of staff with “talking points” for his meeting with Reid.
Nolasco added, “That?s in his agenda. He had co-sponsored a counterpart textile bill in the Philippine Congress. Early this year, Pacquiao also filmed a video for the Filipino American community explaining why passage of the bill is very important, he said.
With the 112th US Congress facing a tight legislative agenda, sources say the Save the Textile Act bill “faces an uphill climb.”
In Manila, President Aquino said the meeting between Obama and Pacquiao is a recognition of the Filipino boxing champ?s talent and worth.
According to Pacquiao?s publicist Fred Sternburg, Pacquiao and wife Jinkee met Obama at the Oval Office where they talked about boxing, basketball and “a bit of business.”
Aquino said the meeting highlights that “we have an outstanding athlete worthy of being talked to by arguably one of the most powerful men in the world.”
“So there is a recognition that here in the Philippines, we also have parang talented and worthwhile individuals,” he added. ? With Jocelyn Montemayor
