Pacquiao returning to a hero's welcome
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 18 Nov 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA ? (via Pera Padala) ? Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, fresh from collecting a record eight world championships in as many weight divisions flies back to Manila Thursday (Friday Philippine Time).
Pacquiao, who last Saturday demolished Mexican Antonio Margarito to capture the World Boxing Council super-welterweight title at the massive Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, leaves on board Philippine Airlines flight 103 with wife Jinkee and the rest of Team Pacquiao.
The Pacquiao party is expected to arrive Manila at 6:15 a.m. Sunday after a brief stopover in Guam.
A hero?s welcome awaits Pacquiao when he set foot at the Ninoy Aquino Centennial 2 International Airport.
Pacquiao had been staying in Los Angeles since enplaning here Sunday night and had gone and passed physical checkup to determine the damage inflicted on his body by the power-punching Margarito. In fact, he pushed through his scheduled concert last Tuesday at Lake Tahoe after receiving a clean bill of health from his physicians.
Pacquiao, an elected Congressman in his wife Jinkee?s province in Sarangani said he is eager resume his tasks as a lawmaker in the service of his constituents.
?Matapos kong mapaglingkurang muli ang ating bansa and mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagiging boksingero ko ay balik naman ako sa pagse-serbisyo ko sa aking mga kalalawigan sa Sarangani bilang kinatawan nila sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso,? Pacquiao said in a brief telephone conversation Wednesday night.
?I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all our countrymen who continued praying for my success in what I consider as the toughest fight in my boxing career,? he said.
?But, most of all, I thank God for, again, taking care of me. For giving me strength to beat my very strong opponent and endurance to avoid getting serious injury despite the punishment I got from Margarito,? he added.
?Thank God, too, that despite the bruising 12 rounds of fighting and despite the injuries that caused him to be hospitalized, the surgery he underwent proved to be successful,? Pacquiao said.
(Eddie G. Alinea is the sports editor for sportsmanila.net)
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