Sibulan was in a festive mood when it welcomed Monday Filipino champion boxer Jemuel Divino, alias Jimrex Jaca, who hails from Brgy. Boloc-boloc in the town, in time for its 96th Charter anniversary.

Jaca, 22, received a hero's welcome from his family, friends and relatives, Oriental Negros Gov. George Arnaiz, Mayor Antonio Renacia and other town officials.

From the Sibulan port, a motorcade was held for Jaca around the streets of Sibulan and Dumaguete City.

Jaca received a plaque of recognition Monday evening.

Asked about his undercard fight victory at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada during the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight on Jan. 22, Jaca said he was told by his trainer to take it easy on his opponent, Geronimo Hernandez from Mexico.

He said it was his "jackpot punch" that sent Hernandez to the canvas.

The Mexican pug was knocked down twice by Jaca in the few minutes of the first round.

Jaca said that, if given the chance, he will fight Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez, who was defeated by Pacquaio in a previous bout.

At Pacquaio's press conference at the Manila City Hall upon his return from the United States, where Jaca was reportedly not allowed entry, the Negrense pug said he voluntarily got out of the presscon because the place was too crowded.

He said it was normal for an undercard boxer like him not to be given too much attention, unlike Pacquiao who is already considered a legend.

Filomena Divino, his mother, recalled that she had not consented to the boxing activities of his son and that prompted Jimrex to run away from their home several years ago.

She said she gets to know about the victories of her son only on television, starting when he first appeared in the Blow-by-blow program.

Filomena said she was even more surprised when she saw Jimrex on television during his Las Vegas fight.

Jaca advised Sibulan children to finish their studies first, before going into boxing. He said he doesn't want them to follow his footsteps, considering that he only reached second year in high school.

Meanwhile, Sibulan municipal employees attended a values formation seminar Monday on the theme "Public Service for Progress and Development" given by the Civil Service Commission.

Renacia said the seminar was a must for every Sibulanon.*

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