World boxing champion Nonito "the Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. has reacquired his Filipino citizenship, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday, August 17.
Donaire took his Oath of Allegiance at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on August 16 before becoming a Filipino-American citizen.
He was accompanied by his wife and his two sons, who also became dual citizens.
"I am very proud and whole now that I have my Philippine citizenship. Being Bohol-born, for years I have tried to get my citizenship but I was always missing a paper," he said.
"With my mom's help, I was able to complete my package of requirements for me to get my Philippine citizenship here at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco," he added.
Donaire, 40, was born in Talibon, Bohol. His paternal grandfather was born in Hawaii, which gave him US citizenship through jus sanguinis.
Donaire said his newly-acquired Filipino citizenship will now allow him to stay in the Philippines longer and "create change and growth for Filipinos through economical sociological and environmental projects through action."
Donaire and his wife met with Deputy Consul General Raquel Solano, Consul Jed Llona, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil and Vice Consul Adrian Baccay during the ceremony, where they shared their social initiatives in the Philippines, including building typhoon-resilient homes, setting-up sustainable waste management systems, and installing water filtration systems in rural communities.