Philippine Daily Inquirer

MP’s ‘Blow by Blow’ rolls on the road

- Recah Trinidad

NOT that he didn’t give a damn about his promoter, but Manny Pacquiao has made mention of the country’s next President, instead of his next opponent.

In his birthday celebratio­n in General Santos City on Thursday, Pacquiao was overheard naming Vice President Jejomar Binay as “the next President.”

Yesterday, by the way, marked the third week since veteran promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao would announce his foe in what’s supposed to be his final fight in Las Vegas on April 9.

The announceme­nt did not happen. Arum would explain that Pacquiao has not madeup his mind.

Nothing has so far been heard from Pacquiao, while Arum continued his bewilderme­nt over Pacquiao’s strange silence.

Has Pacquiao chosen to “stare at the skies” (as one pundit put it) while bothered Mr. Arumseethe­s?

Not really. Pacquiao, in fact, made it a joy-

ful and memorable Christmas for his constituen­ts by giving away presents, cash and assorted goodies during his 37th birthday celebratio­n.

Pacquiao has also stayed concerned, very close to the sport of boxing.

In the Blow by Blow boxing presentati­on on television last Sunday, Pacquiao in gleaming blue shirt, was a picture of complete serenity as he delivered a closing inspiratio­nal message to aspirant boxers. He asked them to always be in tip-top shape and be fully prepared for their matches.

Blow by Blow, presented by Manny Pacquiao and hosted by sportsman Manny Piñol, is a revival of the TV program in the ’ 80s where the Filipino boxing superhero was discovered.

There were minor glitches in last Sunday’s televised episode, like a murky main floor and poor camera focus, but show director Bebs Alvarez said these will all be corrected in succeeding presentati­ons.

Will Blow by Blow be transfixed in Davao?

Alvarez said there are plans for the promotion to go nationwide ina firm bid to root out future champions from the countrysid­e.

In fact, the next promotion has been scheduled in Cebu City, with a third one being planned in the Luzon area.

It was unclear if the transfer of better technical skills to unskilled aspirants would also be part of the revived boxing program.

What has come through was that “Manny Pacquiao is the next Senator” as announced by Mr. Binay during Manny’s birthday.

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