WARRING politicians set aside their bickering yesterday as they lavishly praised Manny Pacquiao, calling him a “warrior,” a “hero,” “Asia’s greatest fighter” and the “pride” of the Malay race.
“With this fabulous victory, Pacquiao has raised the morale of the Filipino people and made the nation proud of one of its greatest sons,” House Speaker Jose de Venecia said moments after Pacquiao finished off Mexico’s Erik Morales in 10 rounds.
The Speaker said Pacquiao came from a “great line of Filipino ring fighters,” from Pancho Villa to Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
“This is what makes us Filipinos proud of ourselves. Taas noo kahit kanino (Our heads held high before all). This is (what) Manny taught us today,” said Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella, former chair of the House committee on youth and sports.
Administration Representative Jesli Lapus of Tarlac, chair of the House ways and means committee, said Pacquiao’s win augured well for the country’s future on the global stage.
Albay Representative Joey Salceda, a staunch administration ally, said: “Like Pacman (Pacquiao), with her stamina, President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo will outlast her opponents till (2010) by knockout.”
This prompted Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano to say: “Everything went well until Ms Arroyo called up to congratulate Pacquiao. Her voice resembled that of the female voice in the ‘Hello Garci’ audio tapes.”
Cibac party-list Representative Joel Villanueva said Pacquiao exemplified what the Filipino could do given the right support and encouragement.
“We have a lot of Pacquiao’s out there — in the field of information technology, education, maritime industry, architecture, the arts; you name it, there’s a Pinoy or Pinay excelling in us.
“They all need the support similar to what ‘Pacman’ is now getting,” he said.
