Pacquiao leads opening of nat'l boxing tilt
BACOLOD CITY -- World renowned boxing icon Manny Pacquiao led the opening ceremony last Saturday of the 2009 Smart National Open Youth and Women's Amateur Boxing Championship at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (NOMPAC) here.
Pacquiao along with former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson arrived last Saturday past 12 noon at the New Bacolod-Silay International Airport and welcomed by Bacolod City Lone District Representative Monico O. Puentevella and Silay City Mayor Jose "Oti" Montelibano.
Puentevella organized a motorcade from Sta. Clara Subdivision Mandalagan to the major city streets before meeting with his media friends in the city. Pacquiao was given a warm welcome and he thanked all amateur boxing officials for this big event participated by different boxing organizations nationwide led by Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) along with the Philippine Sports Commission.
"Narito ako para suportahan ang event na ito lalong lalo na sa mga amateur boxers na nangangarap din maging katulad ko," Pacquiao said. He thanked Manny Pangilinan as one of the major sponsors and Rep. Puentevella for making the affair a big success.
Pacquiao said that it is through prayer and dedication for the boxers to attain this dream. About 93 medals are at stake in five-age-classification groups and 16 weight categories for the 2009 Smart National Open Youth and Women's Amateur Boxing Championship that started last Saturday until January 24, 2009 at the NOMPAC. The different age classification are Kids over 11 years old but under 12, School Boys over 13 years old, Junior Boys over 15, Junior Girls over 15, Youth Boys over 17, Elite Men over 19, Youth girls over 17, Elite Women over 19.
This tournament is conceptualized and designed to establish a solid structure of camaraderie and closer brotherhood among different boxing organizations nationwide following the guidelines of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.
Representative Puentevella said that the objective of the tournament is to identify and recruit potential talented boxers who will be trained to become highly competitive athletes ripe for competition not only in the country but internationally.
Among the teams that participated the boxing tournament came are from General Santos City, Cebu, Samar, Bacolod, Zamboangga and other provinces in the Philippines.