By Rey Danseco

Three well-known Filipino boxers get more inspiration to be proud of their country and heritage when yesterday, President Gloria Arroyo treated them like high dignitaries at the Malacanang Palace.

After a tiring motorcade on a hot Monday morning around the 21 major streets in Manila with Mayor Lito Atienza, newly crowned WBC International super featherweight king Manny Pacquiao, WBC light flyweight boss Brian Viloria and unbeaten WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight ruler Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista walked a red carpet that is usually rolled off for state visit rites.

The President, in her message, said the country took pride from the very impressive victories of the three RP ring stars at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sept. 10.

Arroyo also cited the championship of Isabela-born Alex Pagulayan in the US Open 9-
Ball championship in Chesapeake, Virginia on Sept. 25 and Taguig City’s Precious Lara Quigaman’s victory as 2005 Miss International in Tokyo, Japan on Sept 26.

"Kayong lima, binigyan ninyo ng panibagong dahilan upang maging taas-noo ang Filipino sa buong mundo. [The five of you have given new reasons for Filipinos to face the world with their heads held high]," Arroyo said in her brief speech at the Kalayaan Ground of the Palace.

Pacquiao, the pride of General Santos City, captured his second WBC International title and a chance for a return bout with his previous tormentor, Erik Morales of Mexico, on January 21 in Las Vegas with his 6th round TKO win over another Mexican, Hector Velazquez, in the main event.

The 24-year old Viloria, who insisted he’s 100 percent Filipino despite born and raised in Hawaii, dethroned Eric Ortiz, another Mexican, with a vicious first round knockout win.

While Bautista, the 19-year old native of Candijay town in Bohol, stopped the older Colombian Felix Flores Murillo in 1:12 seconds of the third round of their eight-round encounter to improve his win-loss record to 17-0 with 13 knockouts.

The President also thanked Viloria for draping the Philippine flag after his victory. She also gave a moniker “Filipino Punch” to Viloria, who call himself “Hawaiian Punch” in tribute to his idol and fellow Ilocos-native but resident of Hawaii Jesus Salud, a former WBA super bantam champ.