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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Rendition of PH anthem, outstanding football skills earn Spaniard a Senate assurance of becoming Filipino

Rendition of PH anthem, outstanding football skills earn Spaniard a Senate assurance of becoming Filipino

Published Feb 24, 2021 04:39 pm

Spanish Bienvenido “Bienve” Maranon-Morejon’s rendition of the Philippine National Anthem may have impressed senators when his application for naturalization via congressional action was taken up in the Senate.

(ALI VICOY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

But this is not the sole reason why senators gave assurance that Maranon-Morejon will be granted Filipino citizenship.

The Spaniard and Ivory Coast student Angelo “Ange” Kouame,  are expected to suit up as Philippine national team players who will boost the country’s chances of emerging victors in scheduled. international sports competition.

Maranon-Marajon is a professional football player from Spain who had made Philippines his home.  

On the other hand, Kouame is a skilled frontcourt basketball player who  gave the Ateneo Blue Eagles championship trophies in successive UAAP tournaments.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said this after Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice and human rights committee, conducted this morning a public hearing on bills seeking the naturalization of the two foreign nationals.

Senator Juan Edgardo ‘’Sonny’’ M. Angara reminded his colleagues that the House of Representatives passed the naturalization bills of Kouame Coast, and Morejon last week.

Senators Angara and Imee R .Marcos endorsed the naturalization of the two athletes.

Angara thanked Gordon for acting swiftly on the naturalization bills of the two.

During the hearing, Gordon had Morejon sing the Philippine national anthem.

Angara recalled that the last naturalization bill the Senate passed for the Philippine national team Gilas was in 2013 or 2014 was for Andre Blatche.

Government agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Bureau of Immigration and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) had no objection to the naturalization of Kouame and Morejon.

Angara said that for football, he is in full support of the Zubiri Bill regarding Morejon.

‘’Tama po si Majority Leader (Zubiri is right). It’s not the height, or it’s not the physical capacities – it’s really more of skill. He mentioned Maradona and Messi is only 5’7”, the lead scorer in the British premier league is only 5’9” and that’s Mo Salah – so really, we welcome – we’re lucky that there is such a skilled player who wishes to – may call the Philippines his home. So, we fully support that bill, Mr. chairman,’’ he added.

A highly-skilled footballer, Maranon moved to the Philippines in 2015 and joined the Ceres Football Club.  He played for the Ceres-Negros Team in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.

He is reportedly the leading goal scorer of the Philippines Football League and the all-time top scorer in the AFC Cup, scoring his 35th goal during a Ceres-Negros win against Indonesia’s Bali United on March 11, 2020.

Better known as Ange Kouame, Kakou Ange Franck Williams Kouame  became the first ever foreign student-athlete to win the Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was instrumental in the 16-0 sweep of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 82nd Season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

The 6-foot-10 center from the Ivory Coast averaged 12.5 points, 11.79 rebounds, and 3.86 blocks in the last UAAP championship.

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