By Hannah Torregoza
Senators on Sunday congratulated their colleague Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao for his victory over American boxer Keith Thurman, saying they were proud that he once again demonstrated the true Filipino athlete’s strength, might and perseverance.
Manny Pacquiao (L) and Keith Thurman pose as they hold their final press conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on July 17, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada, ahead of their July 20th WBA welterweight fight. (JOHN GURZINSKI / AFP / MANILA BULLETIN)
“One solid win by Pacman, one giant celebration for his countrymen,” Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said in a statement.
“This vintage Pacquiao win shows why his people love him to the moon and back,” Angara pointed out.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Pacquiao’s win has proven true the adage that “age doesn’t matter.”
“Napagakanda, magandang regalo sa ating mga kababayan, magandang regalo ni Manny uli for being the pride of the Philippines,” Sotto said.
“Kaya sabi ko nga the statement of the day is age doesn’t matter,” Sotto added.
Sen. Richard Gordon, likewise, said Pacquiao’s victory “serves as an inspiration for great skill earned through constant hard work, great humility and magnanimity for all Filipinos.”
“Indeed, age does not matter and that if, anything we aspire for is to be, it must be up to us. Congrats to the greatness of the Filipino!” Gordon said.
Other senators who congratulated Pacquiao included Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Cynthia Villar and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
“I thank him for continuously giving honor and glory to our country and for being a constant source of inspiration of our kababayans,” Villar said.
“A Pacquiao fight smells of glory and country, not blood, not money. Sen. Manny Pacquiao fought well and hard. Our Pambansang Kamao deserves every applause at the MGM Arena and around the world,” Zubiri said.
“He is a fighter’s fighter. Boxers dream of fighting like him ever since his younger days in Mindanao. We are all familiar how he punched his way and collected belts under different weight divisions and boxing councils. Through victories and defeats, Manny became the boxing idol. All countries wants to raise their own Pacquiaos,” noted Zubiri.
Zubiri said Paccquiao could fill “boxing books with his distinct winning strategies and style.”
“Manny has age-defying fighting spirit and wallops just as quick and powerful as his younger opponents.”
“The boxing world has repeatedly acclaimed his skill. He hauled Sportsman of the Year titles again and again as his career went better and better. But the world saw it was not just his fists that brought him victories; it was intelligence, fairness and nobility,” he added.
As their colleague in the Senate, the senators said they were eager to help Pacquiao continue his fight against poverty.
“Sa pagbabalik mo, pagtulung-tulungan naman nating i-knockout ang mga problemang kinakaharap ng mga Pilipino (Upon your return, we will help in knocking out the problems that Filipinos face),” Pangilinan said.
“Expect him to bring the same spunk he had shown in boxing to this unfinished fight of his life,” the senator said.