Colleagues in Senate hail Pacquiao win

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Philippine government officials hailed their colleague Senator Manny Pacquiao after he regained the WBO welterweight title on Sunday, November 6. 

Pacquiao, who is turning 38 in December, dethroned 27-year-old Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision. His win comes after a brief retirement to run for a Senate seat during the May 2016 elections. (READ: Pacquiao pounds Vargas to win WBO welterweight title)

The Filipino boxing icon, who juggled his training with duties as a legislator, also dealt Vargas his first knockdown in his young pro career. (IN PHOTOS: Pacquiao champ again after beating Vargas)

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III highlighted what he described as Pacquiao’s hard work both in politics and in sports.

“In the session hall of the Senate and in the boxing ring, he never wavers and always gives his all,” he said. “He is a true champion worthy of emulation by all Filipinos. His success is the product of his discipline, hard work, and development of his skills and God-given talents.”

World boxing history, Pimentel added, will “never be complete” without mentioning Pacquiao’s achievements.

The boxer-turned-senator is a member of Pimentel’s PDP-Laban.

International honor and respect for the country

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said Pacquiao’s win against Vargas is the latest addition to the “international honor and respect” he has brought to the Philippines.

Pacquiao’s victory, Angara added, is ultimately for the Filipino people “to cherish and celebrate.”

“May he continue to inspire all of us, especially the young ones, not only through the legacy that he created in the history of boxing, but more importantly of his rags-to-riches story which he accomplished through hard work and perseverance,” Angara said in a statement.

Senators Cynthia Villar, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Leila de Lima echoed Angara’s sentiment that Pacquiao has once again showed to the world what Filipinos can offer. 

“I am so proud of Manny for bringing home yet another championship,” Gatchalian said. “Because of Manny, the Philippines is once again on top of the world today.” 

“Nagdala ka na naman ng karangalan sa sambayanang Pilipino (Pacquiao has once again brought pride to the Filipino people),” Villar said.

De Lima also said, “Sa pagbabalik ni Manny sa boksing, muli niyang ipinamalas ang lakas at gilas ng Pilipino sa nasabing larangan, pinahanga ang marami nating kababayan, at nagdala ng karangalan sa ating bayan.”

(As Manny returned to boxing, he again showed Filipinos’ excellence in the sport, wowed many of our countrymen, and brought honor to our nation.)

Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, lauded Pacquiao’s win as an inspiration to Filipinos.

“Ang tagumpay ni Senator Manny Pacquiao ay isang inspirasyon para sa lahat ng Pilipinong higit na lumalalim ang pagpapahalaga sa ating lahi sa gitna ng kadakilaang ating nakamit,” she said in a Facebook post.

(The success of Senator Manny Pacquiao is an inspiration to all Filipinos to deepen their appreciation of our race in the middle of the greatness we have achieved.)

The same hardworking senator 

Senator Nancy Binay, meanwhile, compared the hardworking boxer to the senator she works with in the Senate.  

“I have seen how Senator Manny works in the Senate, on how dedicated he is to serve our country,” she said. “I believe that this is the same fire that fuels him in boxing and it is very much alive.” 

With his latest win, Pacquiao again proved all his detractors wrong, added Binay.

“Pinatuyan ni Manny na kaya pa niyang lumaban, na kaya pa niyang manalo (Manny proved that he can still fight and win),” she said. – Rappler.com