Fil-Am group honors Pacquiao as ‘Sportsman of the Year’

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao continues to reap accolades after a Fil-Am group based in Los Angeles named him its “Sportsman of the Year" recently. The Fil-Am Service Group Inc. (FASGI), a non-profit neighborhood-based health and humanitarian care provider, feted the 30-year-old Pacquiao during its 2nd Annual HOPE (Happiness, Opportunity, Progress and Equality) Gala. Pacquiao was busy with his training for his upcoming showdown with Ricky “Hitman" Hatton so he sent his associate Michael Koncz to receive the award on his behalf. Joining Pacquiao in the FASGI’s honor roll were Greg Macabenta (Community Service Leader of the Year Award); Jess Espanola (American Dream Award); Seafood City (Entrepreneur of the Year Award); Honorable Xavier Becerra (Leader of the Year Award) and Honorable Quentin L. Kopp from California High Speed Rail Authority (Corporate Visionary Leader of the Year Award). The FASGI plum was the latest in a string of achievements bestowed upon the Filipino ring sensation. Just recently, the Boxing Writers Association of America accorded to the fighter from General Santos City its “Fighter of the Year" honor for his dominating performance in 2008, especially against Oscar De La Hoya. Prestigious publication TIME Magazine has also named Pacquiao as one of the 203 finalists for its 2009 100 Most Influential People of the World listing. The only Filipino and boxer in the list, Pacquiao has already breached the Top 10 of the online poll, getting more votes than such powerful personalities like US President Barack Obama, Pope Benedict XVI and a host of sports stars, including Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant. Pacquiao, the consensus P4P kingpin, is penciled to mix it up with Hatton on May 2 for the latter’s Ring Magazine and International Boxing Organization (IBO) world junior welterweight title. –GMANews.TV