Pacquiao visits Pangasinan

Sunday, January 29, 2012

BINMALEY -- Sarangani Representative Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao visited this town Saturday to inaugurate several infrastructure projects and to grace the town's Sigay Festival celebration.

Pacquiao, who arrived in town at 10:30 a.m., went straight to the church and led the inauguration of the Centennial Park, Estacion Triangle Park and the Municipal Museum.

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He was joined by his colleague Pangasinan Representative Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd district), Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., and Mayor Lorenzo Cerezo.

Pacquiao stopped by the auditorium upon the request of Cenezo where a short program was prepared for him. The champion boxer entertained the crowd with his signature song "Para sa 'yo ang laban na ito" before he proceeded to his next stop.

The Sarangani lawmaker thanked the mayor and Bataoil for inviting him to Binmaley and to the province of Pangasinan. He said that since the main livelihood of the people Binmaley is fishing, similar to his province, he and Bataoil could work out projects focusing on the exchange of knowledge and technology to help the people involved in the fishing industry.

Pacquaio's short visit was capped by a tour inside the Provincial Government building, where he was received by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and some capitol employees and students.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Calimlim verbally extended the province's invitation to Pacquiao to the upcoming Palarong Pambansa 2012, which will be hosted by Pangasinan.

The national sports event will be held in May, a week after the province's grand festival, the Pista’y Dayat. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)