MikeLigalig.com

By Salven Lagumbay
philboxing.com

IBF and IBO flyweight king Nonito Donaire Jr breezed into Tagbilaran City, Bohol yesterday and was warmly welcomed with a drum-and-bugle ensemble befitting a conquering hero coming home after a difficult battle.

Donaire was accompanied in his trip by his father Nonito Sr, and was immediately met at the airport by Mark Monton, the executive assistant to Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim.

The young champion, who flew in from Manila, then paid a courtesy call on Lim before heading to the Bohol provincial capitol where he was mobbed like an icon.

Donaire, however, is visiting Bohol not for its world-famous beaches and white sands.

The young world champion is visiting a grandfather in Talibon, Bohol whom he had not seen for years prior to his world title attempt.

"I will always remember my grandfather because as a young boy, he was the one who encouraged us to take up boxing as he would always listen to boxing events on the radio," Donaire explained, teary-eyed.

Prior to his visit to the old man, Donaire dropped by a local church where he prayed alongside a priest-relative teary-eyed. (July 25, 2007)

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=2889.0