by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Congressman Manny Pacquiao, the “Fighter of the Decade” deeply regrets he cannot visit the areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” because he is deep in training for his crucial battle for the WBO International welterweight title fight against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in Macau on November 24 .
In a text message to this reporter, Pacquiao said “I really feel very bad over what happened in the Visayas region where more than 10,000 people are believed to have lost their lives.”
He said “I really want to visit the area and personally do what I can to help our countrymen who have suffered so much in this terrible tragedy but I’m in deep training in General Santos City for a crucial fight so I regret I cannot go.“
However, Pacquiao said “I will send help to those who need it the most and I enjoin all of you to pray for our country and people in these trying times.”
Pacquiao is scheduled to fly to Macau on Monday. His opponent Rios, trainer Robert Garcia and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza left Los Angeles for Macau earlier Tuesday, Manila Time.
