UC Bestows Champ Award for Pacquiao

Not even his recent setback against Floyd Mayweather has deterred Filipinos in giving accolades and praises for Manny Pacquiao.

This time, the renowned biggest private university in the Visayas and Mindanao, University of Cebu has decided to bestow him, U-CHAMP award, which means, University of Cebu Heroes Award for Manny Pacquiao.

“He deserve it, our school will be most glad in giving to him the award,” UC Pres. Augusto Go said when told of the proposal of the Filipino-Cebu Business Club, Inc. (FilCeb) headed by Libagon, Southern Leyte Vice Mayor Rey Calooy, a distinguished alumnus of the school, which also got enrollees from the Asia-Pacific region, aside from its reputation of being the biggest private university in the Vis-Min area.

Go said he has no second thoughts of giving the U-CHAMP recognition to Pacquiao because the Filipino boxing icon has brought honor and pride for the Filipino nation.

Go even commented that if Pacquiao would pursue his senatorial bid in the 2016 national elections, he foresees that the world known boxing star would top the senatorial race.

” I believe he (Pacquiao) will be number one. He is a good man, please tell him that,” Go told Calooy and this writer in a meeting in his office at the UC main campus along Sanciangko St. here last Friday purposely to seek Go’s approval on the U-CHAMP award for Pacquiao who is also a Philippine congressman representing the lone Province of Sarangani.

FilCeb officers and members agreed in its annual summer get together and special meeting earlier on the U-CHAMP award and decided to partner with UC on the undertaking.

Another suggestion was brought up, giving of additional honorary doctoral degree for Pacquiao but was shelved at the last minute as it would appear redundant as the Southwestern University has already conferred the Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) to Pacquiao in 2009.

Calooy for his part explained that Pacquiao deserved the award as the lawmaker-boxer is an epitome of dedication and resiliency, somebody who came from dire straits and became successful.

“He is hero because he has inspired us many. Such traits of his should be emulated really, not only to us businessmen but all Filipinos alike,” he said in mixed of English and Cebuano, recalling how he himself had started from scratch, selling rags in the streets and being a working student at UC.

The Libagon Vice Mayor who also has stint as radio reporter is now Pres. and CEO of an international trading firm and has diversified into several other businesses ranging from noodles manufacturing, product repacking, agri-business and real estate.

UC student affairs director Joseph Subong who was also present in the meeting said the U-CHAMP award to Pacquiao will be given in September which other school sources revealed would also coincide with a very important event of the university, the birthday of UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy, the only child of Augusto.

Candice’s birthday falls on September 4 which is also being made as the opening of its annual school intramural.

The event is being held for several years already in the Cebu City Sports Center, Subong said, adding, many would come if Pacquiao would be present.

“I am sure because Manny is an attraction by himself, more students will be coming over,” Subong confidently said. He said last year alone, 40, 000 converged for the opening day.

Aside from the Sanciangko main campus, UC also has its campuses in Banilad, Mandaue and Lapulapu City, where its enrollees during the last semester reached 48,000.

Even after his unanimous decision defeat to Mayweather last May 2 in Las Vegas, USA, Pacquiao was still given a heroes welcome when he returned to the country, which culminated in a courtesy call with Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino lll in Malacañang.

When he returned to his home province, he was also given a heroes welcome.

In its school’s website UC is being described as a world-class university in Asia Pacific recognized by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commision on Accreditation (PACUCOA) as a learning institution with the most accredited programs.

UC have a distinction of producing a lot of topnotcher in different fields of study (i.e. law, engineering, accounting, nautical, nursing, education, etc.).

In sports it also produced the likes of PBA superstars Donaldo Hontiveros of Alaska Aces and June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beermen, incidentally players rivaling Pacquiao’s KIA carnivals where the boxing icon is also its playing-coach in the country’s premier basketball league.