GENERAL SANTOS CITY: World boxing champion Emmanuel ?PacMan? Pacquiao was conferred the title of a B?laan tribe datu in Sarangani shortly after his arrival from Manila.
The confirmation was made after PacMan earmarked a P30-million donation for the construction of farm-to-market access roads in Malungon town, a source said.
Pacquiao arrived at the General Santos City International Airport around 9:15 a.m. Top city officials joined the newly crowned World Boxing Council Superfeatherweight champion in a motorcade in the city.
?It?s nice to watch them reunited,? Romeo Gonzales, a barangay official said as PacMan gleefully conversed with Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. and South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio during the press briefing. ?We are happy to see the champ and our government officials put aside politics,? he added.
Pacquiao was met with a convoy of about five hundred motorcycles as he entered Malu?ngon town in Sarangani, where he owns a four-hectare cock farm in Barangay Banahaw.
?It?s really nice to feel they care for me,? said Pacquiao as he watched the crowd that lined the street to the municipal gymnasium where he was later conferred the title of ? Datu Damfel Banwe? (which translates to great warrior and messenger of peace) by Edmund Pangilan, the municipal tribal chieftain and Malungon Mayor Reynaldo ?Bong? Constantino.
PacMan, who is likewise the local tourism council chairman of Malungon, an isolated place occupied by tribal minorities, committed some P30 million for the concreting of the 8-kilometer Poblacion-Sitio Kalunbarak farm-to-market road.
Barangay Captain Miguel B. Baculna told reporters Pacquiao gave the budget from his personal fund.
?It is now set. We are only waiting for the arrival of the equipment for the road project,? Baculna said, thanking the favorite son of General Santos for his generous contribution that will no doubt benefit the less fortunate.
