WARM WELCOME FOR HOMETOWN HERO ALBERT PAGARA IN MAASIN CITY FIESTA
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Aug 2015
About a hundred thousand people lined up the streets during the hero's welcome for International Boxing Federation intercontinental superbantamweight champion Prince Albert Pagara. It was August 15, 2015 the fiesta of Our Lady of Assumption, Patroness of the Diocese of Maasin.
It also coincided with the Ajonay Festival streetdancing as the pickup vehicle carrying the Maasin City favorite boxer and this writer slowly moved with the flow of the festival dancing.
Pagara received the loudest cheers from the audience on the streets. Some shouting "Idol!" and "Mabuhay Pagara!" and "Congrats!"
Hundreds took selfie and gruopie shots every time our car stopped as the dancers presented their numbers to a group of spectators.
We stopped momentarily at the residence of our provincial leaders where he shook hands and slapped high fives with Congressman Damian Mercado, Governor Roger Mercado and Liga ng mga Barangay President Nikko Mercado, my heir-apparent.
Candle-selling relatives and friends of the rising ALA Gym star from Barangay Lib-og shouted and jumped with joy especially when we passed by the Maasin Cathedral. Candle-making is the most common cottage industry of his village where he was born and learned the fundamentals of boxing.
During the program at the over-flowing City Gym before the start of the showdown, we gave the younger Pagara a plaque of appreciation and cash incentive. He was grateful for our never-ending support during his response.
He announced his next fight scheduled on October 17, 2015 in Carson City, California against either a Mexican or Tanzanian. After a victory, a world title fight awaits the undefeated fighter.
Albert squeezed into the Maasin hero's welcome inspite of his very hectic TV guesting schedule in Manila. An ABS-CBN TV crew followed his motorcade and honoring.
His timely KO win over Mexican Jesus Chito Rios in the very first round cemented our Charter Day theme on August 10, 2015 Maasin@15: Celebrate the City of Champions."
Maasin City and Southern Leyte are so proud of our young fighter whom many considered as "the next Manny Pacquiao."
Photo: Prince Albert Pagara with Mayor Maloney Samaco during the Maasin City Fiesta motorcade taken by Melody Banalo Combate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
21-year-old Filipino wins at Germany rapid chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025