Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will extend assistance to the typhoon victims of Bacolod City .
The Bacole?os and Negrenses in America are also going to contribute to the victims of Typhoon Frank in Bacolod , while a Councilor of Carlson City in California also promised he and his colleagues will campaign for assistance, Leonardia said.
Pacquiao said yes when he asked him if he could give assistance to the typhoon victims in Bacolod , Leonardia said.
Pacquiao also promised that he will visit Bacolod , he added. This is definite but Pacquiao wants to finalize the schedule when he returns to the Philippines , he said.
Leonardia carried the belt of Pacquiao into the ring at the fight where the Filipino boxing icon knocked out Mexican-American David Diaz in the ninth round at Mandalay Bay , Las Vegas , Nevada .
?We will celebrate the victory of Pacqiuao (in Bacolod when he visits),? Leonardia said. Even the Filipino community in other countries celebrates Pacquiao’s victory, he said, as he is a uniting factor and is indeed a national treasure.
Leonardia said Pacquiao dedicated the fight to the typhoon victims. ?I think his victory was one moment the Filipino people were very proud of because his performance was even more outstanding than the usual,? he said.
That fight has immortalized Pacquiao since he is the first Filipino lightweight champion and the first Asian to win four titles in different weight classes, Leonardia said. Despite these achievements Pacquiao remains very humble, he said.
As shown on TV Pacquiao even tried to help Diaz get up, Leonardia said.
Meanwhile, Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson congratulated Pacquiao in behalf of the city ?for a very fantastic fight?. He said the boxing champ had a very convincing victory over Diaz.
?I think he is the only person who has united all of us. Everyone was glued to the TV set and rooted for Pacquiao,? he said.*CGS
