Ni Gilbert Espeña
BILANG pagkilala sa nagawa niyang pagpapalawig sa relasyong diplomatiko ng Pilipinas at South Korea, itinalaga ng Seoul Metropolitan Government si Senador Manny Pacquiao bilang pandaigdig na embahador ng kabiserang Seoul pagpasok ng taong 2018.
Inihayag sa Seoul ang ulat na ito sa pagtatalaga kay Pacquiao bilang Seoul global ambassador at nakatakdang bumisita ang Pinoy boxer sa kabisera ng South Korea para tanggapin kay Mayor Park Won-soon ang pormal na pagtatalaga.
“Seoul has made renowned foreign professionals global ambassadors as part of efforts to diversify and strengthen bilateral cooperation with key cities around the world,” ayon sa ulat ng Boxingscene.com. “In June, the city appointed Russian maestro and opera director Valery Gergiev as a global ambassador.”
“Pacquiao, 39, has won 11 major world titles in a career that began in 1995,” dagdag sa ulat. “He is the only fighter in the history of boxing to have won titles in eight weight divisions including flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and even junior middleweight.”
Kinumpirma naman ng Seoul City Hall na bibigyan ng lungsod ng gayong parangal si Pacquiao.
“Senator Pacquiao is the boxing legend of Asia,” sabi ng city government sa isang pahayag. “Coming from a childhood of limited means, he is also known as the king of donations for the fortune he contributes every year to help better the lives of the poor in his community.”