GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines ? ?You?ll always be our hometown hero.?
This was the reaction of South Cotabato Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio, when asked about Manny Paquiao?s change of address.
The ring announcer during Pacquiao?s fight with British Ricky Hatton on Sunday, Michael Buffer, introduced him as a resident of Sarangani province.
In Pacquiao?s previous fights, he was introduced as a son of General Santos City.
Pacquiao, the new ?Ring Magazine? and International Boxing Organization (IBO) Junior Welterweight champion after knocking out Hatton in the second round of their title bout, transferred his voter?s registration to Malungon town, Sarangani, where his cock farm is located.
The Filipino boxing legend earlier declared his intention to run for the lone congressional district of Sarangani in the 2010 elections.
?We are happy and we unite with the people in celebrating Manny?s victory. I?d like to extend my congratulations and gratitude to Manny because of this new honor that he has given our country,? said Custodio, who defeated Pacquiao by a wide margin in the 2007 congressional race.
She said she understood his transfer to Sarangani but wished Pacquiao has been introduced as being from Sarangani and Gensan,? referring to what Buffer mentioned as Pacman?s residence.
Custodio assured that for her and the residents of this city, Pacquiao remained their hometown hero.
Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., Pacquiao?s wedding godfather, thanked the champion for bringing another honor to the country.
?I respect Manny?s decision as long as he?ll not renounce his Filipino citizenship,? Acharon said.
Doctor Tranquilino Ruiz, son of a pioneering settler in Glan town, Sarangani, expressed delight upon learning that Pacquiao recognized Sarangani as his hometown.
?He [Pacman] grew up in Tango village in Glan. It was there where he started his elementary. Maybe, he was able to realize where he really came from,? Ruiz said.
Pacquiao, Ruiz said, had, in fact, invested his fortune in Sarangani.
?He is a registered voter in Malungon. He has also bought a beach front property in scenic Gumasa village in Glan,? Ruiz revealed.
He said Pacquiao also bought a property in Kiamba town, hometown of his wife Jinky.
He believes that Pacquiao?s change of residence was not merely for politics.
?We should be broadminded. Even if he?s from Sarangani, he?s still a Filipino. And as such, we should be proud about his rare feat in the field of sports,? Ruiz said.
