“Due recognition” awaits Pacquiao at Army headquarters

By Ronron
March 16, 2008

The Philippine Army is preparing “due recognition” for its reservist soldier, Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquaio, when he returns to the country with the title as new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion.

After Pacquiao’s victory against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night (Sunday noon, Manila time) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said “Army Master Sergeant Manny Pacquiao” deserves “due recognition for another mission excellently done.”

“The Philippine Army is one with the whole nation in jubilation for the international honor brought about by one of its outstanding reservists. We shall await with enthusiasm the homecoming of M/Sgt. Pacquiao,” Yano said in a statement.

The Army community watched the 48-minute, 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Marquez at the Army Gym in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City yesterday noon. Yano said there were “thousands” who witnessed the live telecast of the action-packed match.

Yano said that during the fight and upon Pacquiao’s victory, he sensed “once again that a genuine sense of nationalistic pride was generated” by the boxing champ among Filipinos – “the kind of pride that provides inspiration, unites the whole nation, and gives hope to everyone that greatness is possible amid enormous challenges.”

Pacquiao was accorded the Master Sergeant rank, the highest for enlisted personnel, in October last year after winning his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera.

After getting the two-rank promotion, he visited troops a month later in Basilan and Jolo to boost their morale as they continue the fight against enemies of the State.

Pacquaio was first conferred an Army reservist rank in April 2006 also because of his victory in the boxing ring. He became a sergeant then.

While he may not have a salary for getting a rank, Pacquiao is expected to serve in whatever means like civic actions and disaster response operations for at least 30 days a year.

But the Army leadership is not immediately aware how Pacquiao complies with the service requirement./DMS