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House readies welcome party for Pacquiao


The House of Representatives is preparing a welcome party for eight-division world champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao after his victory over American boxer Shane Mosley last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada (Sunday in Manila). “We’ll have the usual welcome party for him... We will of course have a reception for him when he arrives," Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said at a press briefing Thursday. Belmonte, however, added that the chamber is still “figuring out" a “reasonable" way to honor Pacquiao when the boxing champ returns to the halls of Congress next week. “We want to honor him, but we are still figuring out [what to give him], without looking silly. I wish we can think of something else to do aside from the usual," he said. Pacquiao successfully defended the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Mosley via a unanimous decision. Belmonte likewise said that he will offer Pacquiao the vice-chairmanship of the House Committee on Games and Amusements once the Filipino boxing icon returns to Congress. “Boxing is one of those sports na nag-eexcel tayo and we want to promote [that] as well. He might as well be an icon for sports for everybody," he said. Pacquiao, a neophyte congressman, has so far authored seven House bills based on Congress records. He is currently vice-chairperson of two House panels: the Committee on Youth and Sports Development and the Committee on Millennium Development Goals. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

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