President Arroyo presents to WBC lightweight champ Manny Pacquiao his appointment as special envoy to the Biejing Olympics during a courtesy call at Malacanang Friday.
MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday named reigning World Boxing Council lightweight champion Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao as the country's special envoy to the 2008 Beijing Olympics scheduled in August.
President Arroyo made the announcement following Pacquiao's courtesy call in Malacañang hours after arriving in the country earlier in the day.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Pacquiao will carry the Philippine flag in the Beijing Olympics.
In a radio interview, Pacquiao said he was honored with the appoinment.
"Katatapos lang naman ng fight ko. Wala naman akong ginagawa, so siguro puwede akong pumunta (I just came from a fight and I am not doing anything these days, so maybe I can go)," Pacquiao said.
"Karangalan ko rin na magdala ng flag sa Olympics (It’s also an honor to carry the Philippine flag at the Olympics)," he added.
Ermita said no honorarium will be given Pacquiao with such designation.
At Pacquiao's courtesy call, the radio report said President Arroyo even mimicked the boxing sensation's blows that brought down former champion David Diaz during their fight Sunday morning (Manila time) in Las Vegas.
Mrs Arroyo also presented Pacquiao with a cake resembling that of a globe, with the boxer's figure holding the latest addition to his belts on top and his three other belts at the bottom.
It took the Palace’s in-house chef three days to make the cake, the radio report said.
Before leaving Malacañang, Mrs Arroyo also gave Pacquio and another Filipino boxer - Dennis Laurente - their certificates of recognition for excellence in boxing.
Laurente triumphed over Steve Quiñones of the United States in a bout before the main fight between Pacquio and Diaz.
With Pacquiao during the courtesy call was his wife Jinky, members of Team Pacquio, and friends from the government, the report said. - with a report from Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
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