Tweet
Pacquiao tells some inside stories
Pacquiao regaled President Arroyo with inside stories on his dramatic victory against Oscar de la Hoya, including how the latter and other sports figures apologized for underestimating him after the fight that he said he knew he would win.
He paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Arroyo at the Malacañang Music Room a few hours after his arrival from Los Angeles.
Mrs. Arroyo gave Pacquiao a carrot cake shaped like a boxing glove, which was baked by Palace chefs. The icing on the cake read: “World’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer.”
He gave the President a replica of the World Boxing Council championship belt with his signature on it.
Pacquiao told the President that discipline and faith in God made him certain that he would win despite the overwhelming odds and analyses predicting otherwise.
“Nine weeks, for nine weeks I studied what I should do for my training and I made a lot of sacrifices and prayers,” Pacquiao told Mrs. Arroyo. “It was like David and Goliath.”
He said he told De la Hoya after the fight, “You’re still my idol even if I defeated you.” He said he was barely in his teens when he first watched De la Hoya win Olympic gold in Barcelona 1992.
“He’s (De la Hoya) really the most popular (boxer) in America,” Mrs. Arroyo remarked. “Although they were saying before the fight, you’re not that (much of) an underdog.”
After the fight, Pacquiao said De la Hoya apologized, saying “sorry Manny, we underestimated you.” It was later learned that sports channel ESPN called up Pacquiao and also apologized.
He told Mrs. Arroyo that David Diaz, whom he defeated last June and who had wagered on De la Hoya, called him up after the fight and asked him: “What kind of human are you?”
Pacquiao said despite the dire predictions against him, he knew he would win.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers unanimously commended Pacquiao for winning the fight.
Speaker Prospero Nograles along with other House officials gave him a plaque in recognition of his feat.
The Filipino boxing icon received the plaque at the Speaker’s rostrum and even gamely posed with General Santos City Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who defeated him in the May 2007 midterm elections.
The crowd at the jampacked gallery kept shouting “Manny, Manny, Manny!” Pacquiao also posed with reporters at the House Media Center, and downplayed reports he wanted to run again for a congressional seat.
“The unrelentless Pacquiao showed that Filipinos, armed with strong determination and the willingness to make sacrifices, can rise above any challenge,” read a portion of Resolution 268, signed by Nograles and secretary-general Marilyn Yap.
“In recognition of his achievements and in appreciation of his sacrifices to continue to inspire, bring honor to and unite the Filipino people, Pacquiao is deserving of this commendation,” the document stated further.
__________________________________________________ _____________
ESPN didn't have to apologize....they were the only ones who boldly predicted a KO win for Pac. No other big network/site did.
Pacquiao regaled President Arroyo with inside stories on his dramatic victory against Oscar de la Hoya, including how the latter and other sports figures apologized for underestimating him after the fight that he said he knew he would win.
He paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Arroyo at the Malacañang Music Room a few hours after his arrival from Los Angeles.
Mrs. Arroyo gave Pacquiao a carrot cake shaped like a boxing glove, which was baked by Palace chefs. The icing on the cake read: “World’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer.”
He gave the President a replica of the World Boxing Council championship belt with his signature on it.
Pacquiao told the President that discipline and faith in God made him certain that he would win despite the overwhelming odds and analyses predicting otherwise.
“Nine weeks, for nine weeks I studied what I should do for my training and I made a lot of sacrifices and prayers,” Pacquiao told Mrs. Arroyo. “It was like David and Goliath.”
He said he told De la Hoya after the fight, “You’re still my idol even if I defeated you.” He said he was barely in his teens when he first watched De la Hoya win Olympic gold in Barcelona 1992.
“He’s (De la Hoya) really the most popular (boxer) in America,” Mrs. Arroyo remarked. “Although they were saying before the fight, you’re not that (much of) an underdog.”
After the fight, Pacquiao said De la Hoya apologized, saying “sorry Manny, we underestimated you.” It was later learned that sports channel ESPN called up Pacquiao and also apologized.
He told Mrs. Arroyo that David Diaz, whom he defeated last June and who had wagered on De la Hoya, called him up after the fight and asked him: “What kind of human are you?”
Pacquiao said despite the dire predictions against him, he knew he would win.
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers unanimously commended Pacquiao for winning the fight.
Speaker Prospero Nograles along with other House officials gave him a plaque in recognition of his feat.
The Filipino boxing icon received the plaque at the Speaker’s rostrum and even gamely posed with General Santos City Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who defeated him in the May 2007 midterm elections.
The crowd at the jampacked gallery kept shouting “Manny, Manny, Manny!” Pacquiao also posed with reporters at the House Media Center, and downplayed reports he wanted to run again for a congressional seat.
“The unrelentless Pacquiao showed that Filipinos, armed with strong determination and the willingness to make sacrifices, can rise above any challenge,” read a portion of Resolution 268, signed by Nograles and secretary-general Marilyn Yap.
“In recognition of his achievements and in appreciation of his sacrifices to continue to inspire, bring honor to and unite the Filipino people, Pacquiao is deserving of this commendation,” the document stated further.
__________________________________________________ _____________
ESPN didn't have to apologize....they were the only ones who boldly predicted a KO win for Pac. No other big network/site did.
Comment