Pacquiao pays Noy a visit

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Aquino at Malacañang, more than a week after he beat American Timothy Bradley in their rematch at Las Vegas.  

Pacquiao, the representative of Sarangani province, shook hands with Aquino at the Music Room of the Palace. They also shared stories on how the boxing icon regained his WBO welterweight title, among others.  

“They exchanged pleasantries for about 40 minutes,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters.  

Coloma, who was present during the courtesy call, said Pacquiao also discussed concerns on the delayed construction of farm-to-market roads in Sarangani borne out of the attacks by lawless elements who went to the “extent of burning road construction equipment.”  

“The President said he will instruct law enforcement authorities to take action on this matter,” Coloma said.  

Pacquiao also vowed to help in the government’s campaign to raise awareness on MERS-coronavirus among overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East and to convince them to observe preventive measures being implemented by the Department of Health. 

On the lighter side, the boxing icon talked about his excitement on welcoming the newest member of his family. His wife Jinkee, the vice governor of Sarangani, is expected to give birth to their fifth child – to be named Israel – anytime this week. 

“They then exchanged notes on the prevailing cold weather in Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The President reminisced about his family’s winter experience during his father’s medical furlough in Boston, Massachusetts,” Coloma recounted.