Friday, May 13, 2011
THE House of Representatives is readying its welcome party for eight division boxing champion, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, who successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Shane Mosley last week.
"We'll have the usual welcome party for him pero supposed this guy wins three times a year, anong gagawin natin dito?" House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. quipped, admitting they have run out of awards to give the pound-for-pound king.
Just last year, the House of Representatives conferred the "Congressional Medal of Distinction" on Pacquiao for his victory against Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito.
"We want to honor him but I just want to figure out (what award we'll give him) without looking silly," Belmonte added.
The Speaker also defended Pacquiao for the latter's absence in the House committee hearings and plenary sessions to train for his boxing matches.
Pacquiao had already missed voting on crucial bills, including the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the impeachment of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
"Kung absent ka dahil may date ka, hindi okay iyun. Kung absent ka dahil you uphold the dignity of the country, walang problema doon," Belmonte told reporters.
After Pacquiao returns to work as lone district representative of Sarangani, Belmonte intends to get him as a vice-chairman of the Committee on Games and Amusements.
"Boxing is one of those sports na talagang nag-e-excel tayo eh and we want to promote sports as well. He might as well be an icon of sports for everybody," he added.
Pacquiao is expected to return to the country from his win in Las Vegas on Sunday, which is also the birthday of his mother, Dionisia.