REPRESENTING Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, prizefighters Brian Viloria, Rey Bautista and Manny Pacquiao, all dressed in chic Barong Tagalog, took time out from their hectic schedules and showed up at Malaca?ang yesterday to cheer up President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Over a lunch of beef stew with stir-fried vegetables and steamed rice, pineapple with glazed brown sugar and tea, the Chief Executive first welcomed her VIP guests at the Kalayaan grounds just before noon where some 200 flag-waving fans turned up to see the ring heroes in the flesh.
Bautista was the first to be introduced and the boyish Bohol-born, Cebu-based ringster carried along his World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight title-belt and walked through the red carpet with head held up high.
Accompanying Bautista were his chief handler Tony Aldeguer, trainer Edito Villamor and promoter Sammy Gello-ani.
Then came Viloria, who spent the first six years of his life in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, holding the World Boxing Council light-fly title belt. The Honolulu-born Viloria was joined by his father Ben and American manager Gary Gittelsohn.
But the biggest cheers were, of course, reserved for Pacquiao, the main man from General Santos City, who capped a glorious day for Philippine boxing last Sept. 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where he repulsed Hector Velazquez of Mexico.
After the brief presentation at the Palace grounds, the President invited the boxers and their handlers and a few boxing personalities for a closed-door lunch where Pacquiao, Viloria and Bautista were able to provide more details about their lives outside the ring.
Pacquiao’s much-anticipated rematch against Erik Morales was the main topic of discussion and Mrs. Arroyo elicited a hearty laugh from those in attendance including press secretary Ignacio Bunye and Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita when she advised Pacquiao not to divulge his gameplan for Morales on Jan. 21, 2006 in Las Vegas.
“We don’t mind knowing it as long as you know what to do,” said the President, who had Pacquiao on her right and Viloria on her left. Bautista was also near Mrs. Arroyo.
Bautista’s age did not escape the eyes of some of the officials and when the dark-skinned banger revealed that he is still 18 years old, almost everyone on the long table heaved that the stalwart of the ALA Boxing Club of Cebu City has lots of boxing years ahead of him.
“He’s just a baby,” blurted out Viloria, who sparred a few times with Bautista at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
The President said she first met Viloria during a state dinner tendered by President George Bush at the White House during her recent state visit.
“President Bush invited many prominent Fil-Americans and one of them was Viloria who was seated at the presidential table,” recalled Mrs. Arroyo.
