Pacquiao urged to hold next fights in PHL

Manny Pacquiao’s colleagues in the House of Representatives want him to be the country’s poster boy for tourism and are even encouraging him to stage his next fights in the country, noting how it would rake in revenues. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said Pacquiao, who is also a House member representing Sarangani province, is not only a boxing icon but also a tourism magnet for the Philippines. Lagman said the recent outstanding ticket sales during the Pacquiao-Margarito fight that filled the Cowboys Stadium in Texas close to maximum capacity and record breaking pay-per-view sales speak volumes about the drawing power of Pacquiao. “It would therefore be a tremendous boost to Philippine tourism should Pacquiao decide to hold his next fights here in the country," he said. Zambales Rep. Ma Milagros Magsaysay said Pacquiao is beyond politics and should utilize his stature to sell the country. “He should be the poster boy for our country. He would be the best to endorse the Philippines as he represents all social classes and political leanings," she said. Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said with the Sarangani representative’s charisma, he could be an ambassador of goodwill. Loyal following Lagman noted that Pacquiao has a loyal foreign following who would not hesitate to come to Manila to see him fight and overseas Filipinos may also take the opportunity to come home. The local tourism will also improve because Pacquiao’s fans outside Metro Manila will not let this once-in-a-lifetime chance of seeing him fight live pass, said Lagman. Although Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, is encouraging him to retire from boxing, fans are eagerly waiting for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Lagman said holding Pacquiao’s fight in Manila will be similar to Singapore’s holding the Formula 1 in the city-state. “This is being marketed as an international event and foreign tourists flock to Singapore for this novel night race." Sports tourism He added that should Pacquiao decide to fight in the country, the Department of Tourism can make it the template for sports-adventure tourism in the country. “Adventure races, triathlons, marathons and other sporting events can be scheduled around the time of the fight. It is important to get tourists to stay in the Philippines beyond the fight, have a pleasant and memorable time and spend their dollars here," the lawmaker suggested. He further said this will be an effective tourism formula because the country will have: (1) the main attraction which is the Pacquiao fight; (2) sub-attractions like allied sports events and adventure tour packages and other regular tourist attractions; and (3) the facilities to support tourism such as ample hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment centers. He said the only other thing the country has to ensure for the event to be a foolproof formula is to guarantee the safety of the tourists. Lagman noted that holding Pacquiao’s fights in the Philippines may not be as profitable for the Filipino super boxing hero but “fighting here would mean that he would be giving back and showing his gratitude to his countrymen – his faithful fans and steadfast admirers." “It would certainly contribute to increased tourism receipts, more jobs and economic opportunities for Filipinos and will revitalize our tourism industry," Lagman said. - KBK, GMANews.TV