PACQUIAO CONTINUES WITH SHOULDER REHAB, FOCUSES ON BIBLE AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 27 Jun 2015
A little less than two months after going under knife for his shoulder injury that was aggravated during his losing fight with undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr., eight-division world boxing champion Many Pacquiao is fast recovering under the rehabilitation program prescribed by his physician.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old Sarangani Congressman, in his small little way, through sports and religious undertakings, is even single-handedly succeeding in the process of uniting and promoting peace among his Christian and Muslim constituents.
Daily, for almost a month now, no less than a thousand Christian and Muslim highland residents along the town of Tinonto in Sarangani gather from Monday to Friday at the Paquiao-owned Pacman Beach Resort to engage in friendly competitions in a project the former World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-owner "Bring Me" program, close associates David Sisson and Benjamin "Choy" Garcia attested.
"The project is kind of a sports-religious affair with attendees, both Christians and Muslims, engaged themselves in several sporting competitions like basketball, volleyball, chess, billiards, darts and even scrabble, tug-of-war, palo sebo and several more everyday," Sisson, Pacquiaos's Man Friday, said in an interview Thursday.
"After the sports competitions, susundan ng Bible Study with both Christians and Muslims in attendance," Garcia, who is Pacquiao?s close in security, butted in.
"Napakaganda ng event kasi makikita mo ang ang akala ng marami ay magkakaaway na Muslim at Kristiyano ay sama-samang naglalaro," chief security Caloy Homo, for his part said. "At nagbabasa pa ng bibliya."
"Masaya lahat ng participants na umuuwi may premyo," Garcia added.
"Hindi lamang mga winner and may uwing gift package at cash." The daily affair, according to Sisson, is called "Bring Me" because attendees and participants are required to recite Bible verses and interpret them.
"The event, besides uniting our people and providing an opportunity to gain peace in the province, likewise, affords me a chance to dip into the sea water na nakakatulong sa madaling paggaling ng injury ko," Pacquiao himself told this writer in a separate interview at his posh Forbes Park residence in Makati City.
The "Fighter of the Decade" honoree of the Boxing Writers Association of America was operated on for torn rotator cuff by known bone and muscle specialist, Dr. Neil ElAttrache of the Kerlan Jobe Orthoaedic Cinic in Los Angeles days following his unanimous decision defeat to Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao suffered the injury weeks before what was dubbed s "Fight of the Century" while training at his trainer Freddie Roach-owned Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, recovered in the course of his preparations but recurred during wild exchanges in the fourth round of the encounter.
"It's healing, slowly and surely," Pacquiao said in the same interview a day after coaching Team Kia to an 88-85 win over Meralco, ending the Carnival's first season stint in the professionl Philippine Basketball Association.
"I have aleady removed the sling in my right arm three weeks ago and I can lift it na ng pakonti-konti. "I think mga two months pa, fully recovered na at puwede nang mag-ensayo muli, he said with a chuckle."
Pacquiao asserted though that there is no plan yet as to when he will return fighting, saying, "ang focus ko ngayon ay pagalingin ang balikat ko. When it is completely cured, saka na natin pagpasiyahan ang paglaban muli."
He also did not reveal his plans for next year's elections where he has been reported to be eyeing a senate post. "It's still too early for that. Marami pang dapat gawin sa kongreso na isa sa mga
pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ngayon."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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