GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A grand hero’s welcome awaits new World Boxing Council (WBC) international super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao the moment he comes home from a successful campaign in Los Angeles.
Rey Golingan, chair of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) local chapter here, made the announcement after a staff of the City Mayor’s Office came to him to relay a message from Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.
Golingan said Acharon has directed Myrna Trumata, one of the mayor’s executive assistants, to meet him and discuss details of the ceremony at the airport.
“Manny Pacquiao deserves another hero’s welcome for lifting the spirit and moral of the Filipino people”, Golingan told Sun.Star Superbalita.
Goligan said Pacquiao’s victory and that of Rey Bautista and Brian Villoria brought joy to a nation rocked by dissention and political crisis.
“The three ring fighters gave us a break from the drudgery of a never-ending political bickering”, Golingan said.
Pacquiao scored a sixth-round TKO over Hector Velazquez Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California to become `King of the Ring’ anew.
It may be recalled that when Pacquiao lost to Erik Morales last March, the people of GenSan still accorded him a hero’s welcome.
This time, the ceremony is expected to be more grandiose as Pacquiao will be coming home a victor.
The 26-year-old Pacquiao lives in Barangay Labangal here.
