TOUCHING EPISODE IN CHICAGO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 May 2008
There was an unbelievably touching episode when Filipino ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao visited Chicago for a get-together with the media and a ?Pep Rally? at the Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago alongside WBC lightweight champion David Diaz on Wednesday.
One of the ardent fans of Pacquiao who somehow made it to the ?Pep Rally? was 78 year old Filipino Placido Dosdos who had undergone chemotherapy, radiation and surgery for colon cancer. Dosdos was formerly a Customs Appraiser/Examiner at the Mactan Airport in Cebu and has lived in Chicago for the past 15 years.
An email from Gigi Dosdos Jardine, the cancer victim?s daughter sent to Viva Sports special correspondent Romy Sajer, a former news anchor/reporter of NBN said her father was ?homebound after weeks in the hospital on a wheelchair? but determined to see Pacquiao, was able to ?walk with a cane, ride a blue line with his daughter and waited for one hour to get a glimpse of his No.1 idol Manny Pacquiao.?
Gigi said her father was ?proud of Manny representing the Philippines ? and according to him ?I am very proud of his victories.?
She said her father ?waited more than an hour to see his idol in cold weather despite a runny nose and feeling ?floaty? from his condition but this motivated him to get out of the house to see his idol.?
Gigi Dosdos Jardine concluded her email in caps ? ?MANNY P. CURED MY DAD. HE IS BACK TO HIS NORMAL SELF NOW.?
She thanked Sajer for talking to her dada and listening to her story. Gigi Jardine said she was a fan of Philippine Weekly, the community newspaper in Chicago
Top photo: Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (L) poses with 78-year-old Placido Dosdos during Pacquiao's PEP rally in Chicago.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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