* Pacman takes back promise to stay away from cockfighting
MANNY “Pacman” Pacquiao takes on a different arena Wednesday.
The Philippines’ current favorite hero is in Bacolod Wednesday for two things: to receive his accolade as an adopted son of the city at the 67th Charter Day ceremony, and to join in one of the country’s biggest derbies.
Only last month after he won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Super Featherweight championship over Mexican boxer Hector Velasquez in Los Angeles, California, the Pacman made a public promise: He will stay away from smoking, gambling, liquor and cockfighting.
But he is taking back the last promise.
He has registered his stag, Super Pacman, in the nine-day, eight-cock derby being held at the Negros Coliseum. The derby, sponsored by the Gamefowl Breeders Association of Negros (GFBAN), is one of the biggest and most prestigious derbies in the country. This year’s top prize is P6 million. Registration fee alone is P23,000.
Whether Super Pacman will give the same fighting spirit his breeder shows in all his matches remains to be seen.
Pacquiao has registered in tandem with a certain Mr. Wong.
But the boxing champ’s presence at the Negros Coliseum is seen by some as a security risk.
Nevertheless, his presence at the derby further boosts its prestige.
As an adopted son of Bacolod City, Pacquiao will be accorded the honor and courtesy befitting his stature, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.
His IBF title has won him the admiration and respect of the Filipinos and has united, albeit momentarily, the nation in cheering for him, Leonardia said in Executive Order 22 that declares Pacquiao as an adopted son of the city.
Leonardia said that Bacolod, being a boxing-friendly city, has facilities for boxing matches as shown in its her hosting of the Mayor’s Cup, an international boxing competition in 1998.
Bacolod plays host to the boxing event of the Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.
Many Bacole?os consider boxing champions as heroes, especially if they are from Bacolod or Negros Occidental. Among these heroes are Pancho Villa, Olympic medalists Leopoldo Servantes and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco of Bago City.
Pacquiao led Tuesday night’s countdown to the Charter Day at the Fountain of Justice in front of the Bacolod City Hall.
At the Charter Day celebration at 9 a.m. at the BAYS Center, he will be joined on stage by Senator Richard Gordon.
A holy mass at San Sebastian Cathedral precedes the government ceremonies.
