No Mention of World Champs Donaire and Condes in Pres. Arroyo’s SONA
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Jul 2007
Boxing fans in the country waited in vain as Pres. Arroyo failed to mention in her nearly one-hour State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the joint sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City July 23 the global success of the country’s two newest boxing sensations-- International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and IBF miniflyweight kingpin Florentino “The Little Pacquiao” Condes.
Unlike when “People’s Champion” Manny Pacquiao annexed the WBC “international” superfeatherweight crown by toppling Erik Morales in their rematch last year where the President personally requested Pacquiao’s presence during her SONA, the names of Donaire and Condes, both legitimate world boxing champions, were not even included in the list of invited guests.
Pres. Arroyo acknowledged only the medals won by several science high school students in international math and science competition
“In the International Math and Science Olympiad 2006 in Jakarta, Robert Buendia of Cavite Central School and Wilson Alba of San Beda Alabang won the gold. Congratulations, guys,” she declared.
Pres. Added: “Six Filipinos bagged the awards at the Intel Young Scientists Competition in New Mexico last May: Ivy Ventura, Mara Villaverde, Hester Mana Umayam and Janine Santiago of Philippine Science High; Melvin Barroa of Capiz National High, congratulations, Melvin; and Luigi John Suarez of Benedicto National High. Congratulations naman. Last week Filipino students topbilled by Amiel Sy of the Philippine Science High dominated the Mathematics World Contest in Hong Kong. Congratulations, Amiel. Congratulations Philippine Science High School. Earlier this month Diona Aquino of the Presidential Management Staff won with her team from UP the Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance in Shanghai.”
In her SONA last year, Pres. Arroyo lauded the feat of the first Mount Everest Expedition Team. “We are a great people. We have honest students and honest cops. We have scaled the heights of Mount Everest, dominated the Southeast Asian games, we have won international beauty titles, and of course punched our way to triumph in the boxing world,” she declared last year.
Both pugilists were in the country during Pres. Arroyo’s SONA.
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