Pacquiao year’s top pug in GAB confab

People’s champ Manny Pacquiao will be declared "Boxer of the Year" during the first GAB Philippine Annual Boxing Convention tonight at the Hotel Hyatt and Casino Manila.

Pacquiao will grace the "Gala Night and Awarding Ceremonies" together with other Filipino world boxing champions from the generation of Pancho Villa in 1929 down to the time of the great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde in the 60’s and to the "Pacman" era today.

No less than President Arroyo will bestow the national awards to our world boxing champions during this presidential event organized by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) under chairman Eric Buhain, together with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor.  

With the theme "Building the Nation’s Champions Towards Global Recognition," the objective of the four-day convention ending on Saturday is geared towards the enrichment of professional boxing in the country.

"This is history in the making for our pro sporting industry in the country, much more in pro boxing," said Buhain.

According to Buhain, for the first time since the establishment of the GAB as an agency tasked to regulate and supervise the conduct of all professional sports in the country, the launching of this presidential priority program is aimed at creating sound policies and avenues for the common welfare and protection of Filipino fighters and future generations of aspiring pro boxers.

A special boxing event will also take place at the Rajah Sulaiman in Malate on April 21 dubbed as the "Rumble at the Bay."

About 200 local and foreign delegates, including leaders of local boxing communities, international executives of the GAB’s global counterparts, top government officials, and local executives and sports coordinators, are expected to participate in the convention.