Duterte extols Pacquiao: FILIPINO BOXING ICON MODEL FOR THE YOUTH
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 Apr 2015
Duterte.
Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao's rise from poverty to world-wide fame is a story which should serve as an inspiration for the country's youth, Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte said last night.
"Here is a story of a boy who survived gathering and selling empty bottles, who sometimes slept in the plaza but who, through his God given talent, his sacrifice and perseverance is now hailed as one of the greatest athletes of all times," Duterte said.
Duterte, however, warned that while Pacquiao's rags-to-riches story serves as an inspiration to the Filipino youth, it should also remind the country's leaders of the many other skilled and talented kids who were lost to drugs and criminality.
"How many other Manny Pacquiaos and many other brilliant and skilled young Filipinos have we lost because of drugs?," Duterte, who is known for his iron-fist policy against drugs and criminality in Davao City, asked.
Duterte, who is now one of the front-runners in the survey for Presidential prospects for 2016, said that while he believes in diplomacy and negotiations when dealing with rebels and revolutionaries, he will always adopt a hard-line policy against drug dealers and criminals.
"I will not allow drug dealers and criminals to ruin the youth of my city or for that matter the Filipino youth," he said.
Duterte, in his many campaign sorties pushing for a shift from Presidential Unitary form of government to Parliamentary Federal, has always included a pitch against the effects of drugs on the youth.
"Once your child gets hooked on drugs, you have lost him forever," Duterte said.
Duterte said Paquiao should be extolled by the Filipinos because he is not only a model for the Filipino youth but also because he has brought pride and honor to the country.
"Many of us are taking Pacquiao's achievements for granted but we all should be thankful to God for giving us a Manny Paquiao in our generation who serves as a proof that poverty and deprivation should not stop us from chasing our dreams," Duterte said.
Duterte was involved in the promotion of Pacquiao's defense of the IBF World Superbantamweigth title in Davao City on Oct. 26, 2002 against Thailand's Frakhaporb Rakkiatgym.
The fight ended in a devastating first round knockout victory for Pacquiao.
Duterte and Pacquiao have been friends ever since.
On May 2, Pacquiao, also known as Kid Kulafu in his younger boxing days, will take on undefeated American champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A win over the thrash-talking Mayweather would install Pacquiao as the greatest boxer of all times, aside from the distinction as the only boxer to win world titles in eight weight categories.
"I am praying for Manny Pacquiao's victory. HIs success means a lot to the Filipinos," Duterte said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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