ShareThisJune 2, 2010 
Filipino boxing icon flying to US again for Fighter of the Year Award
SAN JUAN CITY (PilipinasNews) – All is well for world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. While still confined and recovering at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Greenhills, San Juan City, he is undergoing some briefings on his new role as congressman of the lone district of Sarangani. “I can’t wait to begin my new job as a congressman,” said Pacquiao at the hospital where he receives many well wishers.
As a congressman starting June 30, Pacquiao said he wants to spearhead a campaign for the Philippines to get its first Olympic gold medal. The best finish of a Filipino athlete in the Olympic Games is a silver medal in boxing by Anthony Villanueva.
The 31-year-old boxerturned- congressman said his priority is to put up a hospital and a college in Sarangani to attend to the needs of his poor and needy constitutents who still have to travel many kilometers to nearby General Santos City in South Cotabato for medical treatment.
This developed as Pacquiao gets ready to fly again to the United States to receive another prestigious award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). The Fighter of the Year Award will be the third trophy from BWAA for Pacquiao.
The Filipino boxer is scheduled to fly to New York on June 1. The BWAA award ceremonies will be on June 4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. After the BWAA ceremonies, Pacquiao will be at the ringside when Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, whom he has defeated, fight American Yuri Foreman at the Yankee Stadium.
It was gathered that Pacquiao will have also a much-needed vacation in the US, especially in Los Angeles where he has a big house. It was not immediately known if his wife Jinkee and other members of his family will join him in US. Pacquiao was rushed to the hospital for stomach ache, possibly ulcer, but his spokesmen led by Jake Joson, his chief of staff, immediately assured that it was a minor ailment and that he was immediately in good condition.
Pacquiao’s confinement to the hospital came as he disclosed that he was giving in to a pre-fight blood testing at least 14 days before the fight, in what appeared to be a concession with American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“The ball is now on Mayweather and his camp,” said Bob Arum, the Filipino champ’s promoter. The megafight of Pacquiao and Mayweather maybe held in November if both teams agree to the terms of the fight.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were to fight in Las Vegas, but the fight was cancelled due to Mayweather’s insistence on Olympic style of blood testing for the Filipino hero.
on photo – Congressman Manny Pacquiao