NOYNOY TO MANNY: BRING HONOR TO COUNTRY; SUNNY DAY TODAY IN MANILA
[Photo at left - Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Antonio Margarito of Mexico pose with the championship belt during the weigh-in ceremony for their boxing match. AP |YOKOHAMA ]
YPKPHAMA, JAPAN, NOVEMBER 14, 2010 (STAR) By Aurea Calica – President Aquino will lead the nation in rooting for Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC super welterweight crown today.
"Of course we are hoping that he will be able to bring honor to the Philippines. He knows that our fellowmen are expecting him to give it his best shot," Mr. Aquino told reporters here on the side of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit that began here yesterday.
"We witnessed his speed and ability and with the training he got from (coach) Freddie Roach, we are optimistic that he will bring home a beautiful gift for the country. I want to let him know that we are part of those praying for his victory," he added.
However, the President will not be able to watch the bout because he will be busy attending meetings here with the other world leaders.
But Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said the Filipino officials here would try to catch the fight on television if their schedules would permit.
"When the country's biggest sports hero climbs into the ring on Sunday (Manila time) in his quest for a record eighth world boxing title, President Aquino will be keeping an ear on the happenings in Dallas, Texas while attending to his duties at the APEC Summit in Tokyo," Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. said in a statement.
"The President and members of his lean traveling team will most likely follow the fight from Japan, where they're attending the APEC meeting," he added.
Ochoa said no Cabinet secretary has requested for authority to travel to watch Pacquiao's fight.
"Unlike in Pacquiao's past fights when politicians, public officials and members of Congress were fixtures at ringside, no member of the Aquino Cabinet is expected to attend the fight at Cowboys Stadium," he said, adding that most Cabinet members will be watching the boxing match from Manila.
The executive secretary said he would love to see Pacquiao fight live had his schedule allowed him to do so.
"When Rep. Pacquiao visited us here in Malacañang during a courtesy call last month, he asked me if I would be watching it live, and I told him that though I would love to, there's too big a stack of papers that need my signature so I can't," Ochoa said.
Malacañang also expressed confidence that Pacquiao would bring honor to the country after his fight.
"We're confident that the Filipino would excel again in boxing because of Congressman Pacquiao. Criminality in the Philippines will again stop because of his fight. We send our sincere prayers and wishes to Congressman Pacquiao," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
All silent on the war front
In the meantime, soldiers and known enemies of the state are expected to take a very much needed break to watch the much anticipated fight.
"Just like in the past, we are expecting a highly improved security environment even in the inner and remotest villages," Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said.
In fact, Burgos said the AFP is once again sponsoring a free live viewing of the fight in its key military camps and other battalion and company command posts.
However, he said the military is not lowering its guards and will continue to be vigilant and ready to respond to any eventuality that may arise.
"Based on our assessment, just like in the past, it seems we will have an undeclared one-day ceasefire. It will be very peaceful in the entire country as we expect that our known enemies will also see the match live on the widescreen or on their television sets," Burgos said.
He said Pacquiao's fight is a big boost to the soldiers' morale, not only as their hero, but also as a colleague in the service.
Pacquiao, who in his early days wanted to be a soldier, is a reservist with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant of the Philippine Army's 15th Ready Reserve Division.
"The AFP wishes him victory. He perfectly embodies the spirit of a true Filipino warrior and he is a role model of what can be achieved through determination and hard work," Burgos said, adding that the men and women of the AFP salute the Filipino champion for his dedication, endurance and strong drive for excellence.
The AFP has been hosting Pacquiao's live boxing fights on its key camps since 2008, the last one on March 14 when the Filipino boxing idol handily defeated Joshua Clottey.
In Metro Manila, military personnel and their dependents can watch the fight free at the AFP's Wellness Center at Camp Aguinaldo, Multi-Purpose Hall at the headquarters of the Philippine Navy, grandstand of the Philippine Air Force at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, and at the Philippine Army Gym at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Soldiers on the frontlines, even those in Mindanao, can also view the fight live via a satellite feed coming from key military camps in Metro Manila.
Combat casualties confined at the military hospital at V. Luna in Quezon City can also see the fight on a wide screen that would be set up this morning at the hospital's auditorium.
The Philippine Navy, on the other hand, will be video teleconferencing the fight in all its operational commands nationwide.
Sunny Sunday
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it would be a sunny Sunday with isolated rainshowers in the afternoon in Metro Manila, just enough to allow Filipinos to watch the awaited Pacquiao-Margarito fight.
PAGASA forecaster Juanito Galang yesterday said that the weather in Metro Manila today would be sunny with incidents of isolated rainshowers in the afternoon. It might be sudden heavy rains that would not last long.
Since there is a possibility of rain, Galang suggested that those who would be going to shopping malls and bars to watch the bout between the two remarkable pugilists should bring their umbrellas.
"Even if it does not rain in the place where you are going, the umbrella would still be useful protection against the sun," he added.
In its 5 p.m. public weather forecast, PAGASA said that a cold front would be affecting the extreme Northern Luzon area.
Extreme Northern Luzon would experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country would be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds that would be blowing from the northeast would prevail over extreme Northern Luzon and its coastal waters would be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, winds would be light to moderate coming from the southeast and northeast with slight to moderate seas. – Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Evelyn Macairan, Edith Regalado
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