Pinoys win Pacquiao-Cotto fight

GMA joins nation in rejoicing over Pacquiao's latest victory
(The Philippine Star) Updated November 16, 2009 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=523854&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo joined the entire nation yesterday in rejoicing over the latest victory of Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto, saying it would inspire the Filipino youth that “there is no limit for our capacity for success.”

“Once again, Filipino grit and determination triumphed over great odds. May this serve as inspiration to the entire Filipino nation, especially to the youth, that there is no limit for our capacity for success for as long as we work hard, put our hearts and our minds to achieve our goals,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.

“Manny trained long and hard, imposed stringent self discipline, persevered, and above all, has always placed himself in the hands of God. I hope we all learn from his example so that, together, we can also move forward as a nation,” she said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Pacquiao is “living proof that the Filipino can prevail over any challenge and conquer adversity.”

“Manny is most definitely the finest athlete the boxing world has ever seen and he is the pride of the Philippines,” Fajardo said.


“The Palace commends his indomitable spirit and triumphant legacy, his gift to all Filipinos and the world,” she said.

Pacquiao has won the world championships in the flyweight (112 pounds), super bantamweight (122 lb), featherweight (126 lb), super featherweight (130 lb), lightweight (135 lb), and light welterweight (140 lb).

Reports said no boxer has ever won seven world titles in seven weight divisions, and only four boxers have won six – Oscar de la Hoya, Thomas Hearns, Hector Camacho, and James Toney.

Politics set aside

Senators also temporarily set aside politics as they joined in the celebration of the technical knockout (TKO) victory of Pacquiao.

Senators Manuel Villar Jr., Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero and majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri congratulated Pacquiao for his seventh world title, the World Boxing Office (WBO) welterweight title.

“Congratulations on your astounding win over Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto. Today as you set a new world record, you inspired our people to keep trying to make the impossible happen,” Villar said.

He cited Pacquiao’s perseverance and hard work in training for the fight.

“When you stepped into the ring, there was no doubt in our mind that this fight will bring glory to our country. We have seen how hard you trained for this fight and no other man is more ready and more deserving of the seven world titles that you carry now on your shoulders,” he said.

Zubiri said Pacquiao once again showed the world the Filipino spirit of perseverance while fighting opponents much larger that himself.

“He trounced Cotto like he was playing with the former champ, showing all of us Manny’s world class skills that no one in the boxing world can seem to match.

“Manny Pacquiao is truly a Philippine treasure that we should all emulate,” Zubiri said.

Escudero said Pacquiao once again made Filipinos feel great to be a Filipino.

“Manny is a fine example of how determination and discipline can propel one from the depths of deprivation to the pinnacle of power, and yet still remain humble,” Escudero said.

He said Pacquiao’s “continued success should inspire those of us who are often easily disheartened by difficult challenges and setbacks in daily life. Mabuhay ka Manny!”

Cayetano hailed the sensational 12th round TKO victory of Pacquiao.

“Manny Pacquiao has proven to be the Ironman of the boxing world. With his hard work, discipline and deep faith in God, Manny has secured an exclusive spot in ring history by being the only boxer to win a world title in seven different weight divisions,” Cayetano said.

“His victory brings fresh hope to a people badly in need of inspiration after being battered by two cyclones. He is truly the sport’s pound for pound king,” said the lady senator, who is also a tri-athlete and sports enthusiast.

Congressmen congratulate Pacquiao

Speaker Prospero Nograles said “Pacman from Mindanao showed to the entire world that we in the Philippines are really capable of overcoming anything through hard work and prayers.”

“We should learn from the guy two principles: One is, no fear; the other is, grit against all odds. We can do it. We can break all the records if we all just unite as one people.”

Nograles is one of several congressmen who flew to Las Vegas to watch the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said Pacman’s “historic and smartly fought victory” enabled Filipinos to forget about their problems even for just a while.

“Once again, he has united and inspired the Filipino people. A masterful and truly historic performance for Manny,” he said.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon said Pacquiao’s win “is something Filipinos can be proud of.”

“One win by one man, but a victory for millions of Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Edgardo Angara is working on the creation of a national university for sports.

The Philippine Sports University will offer higher learning, promote research, and foster leadership and innovation in the country’s sports.

Angara has filed Senate Bill 3481which seeks to create the Philippine Sports University geared towards practical and scientific training methods and improvement of athletic performance to produce sports leaders and Olympians.

“Filipinos are natural athletes. Skill, endurance and competition are innate to us. We must nurture and develop Filipino athletic talent and create opportunities for our athletes to realize their potential to become the next Manny Pacquiao. If we pay more attention and pour in more resources to sports development, we will excel in many other fields. The Philippines can become a veritable sports power,” he said.

Angara said the upcoming South East Asian Games would be an ideal venue for Filipinos to be recognized for their athleticism. However, he said that while we have gained countless medals in the SEA Games, the country has won very few in the Olympics.

“By integrating the values of sportsmanship and academic excellence, we will be able to produce outstanding sport leaders, elite athletes and coaches of world-class caliber,” he said.

Bishops rejoice, too

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also joined the nation in rejoicing over the victory of Pacquiao.

“Mabuhay si Pacquiao. He is the pride of the Philippines,” said outgoing CBCP president Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, adding that Filipinos’ prayers, especially of Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, have contributed much to his victory.

Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said Pacquiao’s recent victory would help improve the country’s tourism industry.

“We rejoice with Manny’s victory. It has given us a special place in history and with it our tourism industry will improve. Philippines will become known and Filipinos have something to be proud of. We now have ‘face-value,’” Jumoad told the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Fr. Anton Pascual, president of Radio Veritas and executive director Caritas Manila, said Pacquiao’s victory is also the victory of the Philippines.

“We see that Pacquiao has a strong fist which can be likened to a strong love of God for the people,” Pascual said.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez, chairman of the CBCP’s Committee on Public Affairs, said Pacquiao once again united the Filipinos.

“We rejoice at this victory of a fellow Filipino,” Iniguez said.

MILF, gov’t troops ceasefire

DAVAO CITY,Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) expressed solidarity with the rest of the nation in the unmistakable pride that Pacquiao brought when he defeated Cotto in Las Vegas, Nevada yesterday.

“Of course, we are proud of him. We are proud of the honor he brought to the country,” MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told The STAR.

Kabalu said yesterday’s fight could have ended earlier had Cotto faced Pacquiao squarely.

“Cotto was always running away. It could have ended very early,” the MILF spokesman said.

The duel between Pacquiao and Cotto also became an effective ceasefire mechanism as both government troops and MILF forces were glued to their television screens to watch the bout.

While most military camps can avail of the satellite broadcast of the fight, uninterrupted by commercials, the MILF rebels reportedly had to get by with the delayed broadcast of GMA7.

Kabalu said that unlike in urban centers where satellite cable services are available, the MILF forces were situated in areas that could not be reached by such cable providers.

Meanwhile, the Southern Mindanao region also virtually stood still yesterday as Pacquiao gave Cotto only his second taste of boxing defeat.

“It was generally peaceful in the region while the Pacquiao-Cotto fight was going on. There was no report of any crime. I understand everybody must have also been watching the fight,” Region XI police director Chief Superintendent Pedro Tango said. – Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, James Mananghaya, Helen Flores, Edith Regalado




Solons pick Pacquiao live feed with constituents
By Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:19:00 11/15/2009
http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20091115-236454/Solons-pick-Pacquiao-live-feed-with-constituents

Filed Under: News, Sport, Boxing, Pacquiao, Government
MANILA, Philippines -- Instead of joining their peers in a widely criticized junket to Las Vegas for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout, some politicians settled for the pay-per-view broadcast in the cozy company of their constituents.

After years of catching Pacquiao fights in the United States, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said he just decided to sponsor a public viewing of Pacquiao’s latest ring conquest, to which he invited barangay officials, youth leaders and political supporters, including victims of a recent fire.

The Visayan congressman earlier said he was skipping the Vegas trip in the wake of a massive fire that killed 17 people in a boarding house and destroyed some 50 homes in his city on Nov. 2.

Puentevella said Sunday’s viewing, which was held at his congressional office in Bacolod, added cheer to the birthday celebration of his son, Monico Jr.

And although he was nowhere near ringside at the MGM Grand Arena, the lawmaker said he still managed to “cover” the fight for a local radio station.

The congressman, who concurrently chairs the Philippine Olympic Committee, said he gave blow-by-blow accounts of what he saw on TV via phone patch over Radyo Bombo.

Since he has always been part of Pacquiao’s cheering squad in his previous fights in the United States, Puentevella said he personally had to explain to the Filipino ring icon why he could not join him on Sunday.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, who last week announced plans to run for the Senate, said he saw the fight at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, where the live broadcast was opened to the public free of charge.

Sharing the crowd’s jubilation over Pacquiao’s 12-round demolition of his Puerto Rican foe, Ocampo said the victory could easily earn votes for the boxing hero should he reenter politics.

Pacquiao lost in the congressional race in South Cotabato in 2007. The hugely popular athlete, who now has a thriving show biz career on the side, reportedly plans to take another crack at a House seat to represent Sarangani province in the May elections next year.

“Yes, such superb performance can easily get the votes for Pacquiao if he runs for public office,” Ocampo said. “But that does not necessarily mean he should run, or that it would make him a good legislator or public executive.”

Ocampo and Puentevella were, therefore, not among the targets of militant groups who assailed top government officials and legislators who flew to Las Vegas to watch the blockbuster fight.

Antonio Tinio, national chair of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), said “it would have been better if they had just donated the small fortunes they spent traveling to Las Vegas to victims of ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng,’ the killer storms that ravaged the country over the last two months.

“They should be aware that there will be a huge public backlash against politicians who will try to bask in Manny’s limelight,” Tinio warned.

Among those who flew to Las Vegas for the fight were Vice President Noli de Castro and a number of lawmakers led by Speaker Prospero Nograles, the group noted.

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition chair Benjo Basas criticized lawmakers “who left their posts and the stacks of legislative work undone supposedly to give moral support to Manny whose fights have become national events.”

“We ask these supposedly honorable men to get back to work immediately after the bout and pass social legislation that would boost the morale of the Filipino people, including both boxers and nonboxers,” Basas told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Other militant groups like the League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan and the National Union of Students of the Philippines earlier protested the so-called “pleasure trips” taken by the lawmakers.

With a report from Jerry E. Esplanada




Soldiers, Zamboangueños cheer Pacquiao win
by Queenie Casimiro, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga | 11/15/2009 4:16 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/15/09/soldiers-zamboangue%C3%B1os-cheer-pacquiao-win

Residents of Zamboanga City, as well as soldiers in the southern Philippine city, joined the whole country in cheering for boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao, as he showered his opponent Miguel Cotto with heavy punches.

Free public viewing of the fight was set up in several gymnasiums in the city, where boxing enthusiasts flocked.

Officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) also gathered at the military gym , tagging along their wives and kids, who also rose to their feet in excitement everytime “Pacman” brought Cotto down. Cotto went down during the third and fourth rounds.

Maj Gen Benjamin Dolorfino, WesMinCom, said that once again Pacquiao brought honor to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to his countrymen.

Edgar Araojo, Akbayan partylist group regional secretary general, meanwhile said, "Pacquiao is the only good thing that has happened to the Philippines in 8 years." by Queenie Casimiro, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga




Everybody loves a winner
http://www.malaya.com.ph/11162009/news9.html
PRESIDENT Arroyo asked the people to emulate the grit and determination of the acknowledged pound for pound champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.

"Once again, Filipino grit and determination triumphed over great odds. May this serve as inspiration to the nation especially the youth that there is no limit to our capacity for success for as long as we work hard, put our hearts and focus our minds to achieve our goals," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said, quoting Arroyo.

Remonde said the President failed to watch the bout due to her tight schedule at the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Singapore.

"I hope we all learn from his example so that, together, we can also move forward as a nation," she added.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Pacquiao is living proof that the Filipino can prevail over any challenges and conquer any adversity.
Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Malacañang "has exhausted all possible honors and awards that could possibly be heaped on Manny because of his many victories."

Aside from Champion for Life, Pacquiao is also President Arroyo’s special peace envoy to rebels.

Olivar said it is up to the administration leadership if it wants to draft Pacquiao in its senatorial line-up to boost the chances of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the 2010 elections.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and Armed Forces chief Victor Ibrado joined thousands of soldiers in cheering for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is a sergeant major of the Army’s reserve force and holds the rank of senior master sergeant.

Teodoro, who predicted that Pacquiao would win by a third round knockout, said he admires the boxing icon’s tenacity in the ring.

He said the Pacquiao-Cotto match was not only watched in Metro Manila including in Mindanao where he said the fighting "natural(ly)" stopped temporarily.
Ibrado said Pacquiao has accomplished a mean feat.

"Nag-set siya ng record sa buong mundo ng boxing na nakuha nya yung ikapitong world title, no one has ever done that yet, si Manny Pacquiao lang," he said.
Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, AFP public affairs office chief, said the rank and file congratulate Pacquiao who displayed the courage and determination of a true Filipino warrior.
"His victory showed us how we can be united as a people. May this spirit of oneness continue so that lasting peace and development in our country can be achieved soon," said Brawner.
At Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit led thousands of officers and civilians at the Army gym to watch the bout.

"The Philippine Army has been supporting Manny, we had this kind of free viewing because Manny Pacquiao is not only a national icon but also a reservist of the Philippine Army," said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said Pacquiao will always remain as the country’s pride.

Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, chair of the CBCP-Committee on Public Affairs, said Pacquiao once again unified the country.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said watching Pacquiao beat Cotto made him proud to be a Filipino.

"We should learn from the guy two principles: one is no fear and the other is grit against all the odds. We can do it. We can break all the records if we all just united as one people," he said.

Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) said Pacquiao "has reached demigod status in the world of boxing."

Sen. Manuel Villar said Pacquiao continues to inspire his countrymen "to keep trying to make the impossible happen."

"Thank you Manny, for giving this nation who have been battered by back-to-back calamities, a reason to celebrate."

Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Pacquiao once again showed the world the Filipino spirit of perseverance while fighting opponents much larger that himself.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva said Pacquiao was gentlemanly yet ferocious and humble though a champ. - Jocelyn Montemayor, Regina Bengco, Victor Reyes, Gerard Naval and Wendell Vigilia