House sets hero's welcome for Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - Colleagues of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the House of Representatives led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. are preparing a hero’s welcome for him when he reports for work in the chamber on Monday.

An Waray Rep. Florencio Noel, chairman of the House committee on accounts, said Belmonte instructed him and You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez to organize the event and involve all House members and employees of the chamber.

Pacquiao, representative of the lone district of Sarangani, would be conferred on Monday his second Congressional Medal of Distinction after the House approved Belmonte’s resolution giving the honor to the boxing icon.

“We are preparing a hero’s welcome for our people’s champion, a welcome that he deserves. It’s the first time that we have a colleague who is an eight-time world boxing champion,” Noel told reporters.

After the session, Belmonte will host a victory dinner at the spacious rear foyer of the main building of the Batasang Pambansa complex.

He said the House is not spending much as each lawmaker is contributing at least P1,000 to pay for the expenses. Some have contributed a higher amount while others also promised to bring lechon and other kinds of food.