Pacquiao visits wounded soldiers before leaving for US training

MANILA, Philippines - World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Saturday visited wounded soldiers at the Armed Forces Medical Center in Quezon City before leaving for training in the United States, a GMA News report said. Dano Tingcungco reported on QTV’s Balitanghali that the boxing champ, who is a Marine reservist, toured the Heroes’ Ward of the military hospital to cheer up 66 soldiers mostly wounded in recent fighting in the southern Philippines. “Sa lahat ng mga wounded, kaya ninyo ‘yan. Magpagaling kayo agad. Laban ulit, balik ulit sa sinumpaang tungkulin. Ako'y nasa likod ninyo palagi (To all the wounded, you can do it. Get well soon. Fight again, go back to fulfilling your sworn duties)," said Pacquiao. Together with AFP Chief of Staff Gen.Alexander Yano, the man dubbed “Pambansang Kamao" or “national fist" distributed bags of goodies, appliances and hospital equipment to the soldiers. Yano said financial aid would also be provided by the AFP. Cellular phone loads were also awarded to the confined soldiers and Yano said soldiers in the field will also start receiving their monthly load allowances so that they can communicate with their loved ones. “Napakaganda ito na gesture, nakikita natin na hindi nag-iisa ang ating mga kasundaluhan. (This is a wonderful gesture, we see that the soldiers are not alone) They have been backed up and supported by the Filipino people themselves," said Yano. Yano took the occasion to award a wounded personnel medal to Private First Class Harold Garcia, who was wounded in an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front forces last month. While trying to cheer up the wounded soldiers, Pacquiao said he also sought inspiration from them as he prepared to leave on Sunday for the US to train for his fight with “Golden Boy" Oscar Dela Joya in December. According to the report, “Pacman," as Pacquiao is also called, was confident in his performance for the upcoming fight even if the trainer of Dela Joya is the same person who trained Juan Manuel Marquez whom he fought twice. “Wala namang problema, maganda ‘yan. Magaling din ‘yung coach niya so makakapagbigay kami ng magandang laban (There’s no problem, that’s great. His coach is good so we’ll be able to give a good fight)," he said. The boxing champ was also confident that their differences in weight and height will not affect their fight at all. “Siguro importante yung speed, ‘yun ang tututukan natin. (Maybe speed is important, we’ll focus on that.) Speed, footwork and head movement," said Pacquiao. He refused to divulge the strategy that he will use against Dela Joya ,but assured fans that he will win the December match. "Well of course I'm confident to win the fight." (even with the difference in their weight)- Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV