Jubilant Negrenses
cheer as Pacquiao makes history
BY NIDA BUENAFE

The crowd of about 4,000 inside the BAYS Center in Bacolod City roared in jubilation, while the about 1,500 at the St. La Salle Coliseum got on their feet and cheered for more than a minute yesterday as Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao knocked out David Diaz in the ninth round of their World Boxing Council lightweight fight in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The solid left-hand punch from Pacquiao that found the chin of the wobbly Diaz with 36 seconds left in the ninth of their scheduled 12-round bout, sealed the fight that was clearly dominated by the Filipino boxing champ as early as the opening bell.

Pacquiao’s display of speed and power inside the ring was so impressive that all three judges – Gary Meritt, C.J. Ross, and Paul Smith – awarded him 10 points in every round until the lethal knockdown in the ninth that sent the bloodied Diaz, face-first to the canvass.

Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao said a prayer for the victims of Typhoon Frank and the M/V Princess of the Stars at a mass at his suite before dethroning David Diaz in a World Boxing Council lightweight bout at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.

Leonardia, who carried the belt of Pacquiao into the ring at the start of the fight in Las Vegas, said Pacquiao despite his success continues to show humility and kindheartedness.

After the fight Pacquiao hugged Diaz twice, once near the ring and in an accidental meeting near the dressing room, the mayor said.

A total of 5,250 workers in Western Visayas displaced by Typhoon Frank will avail of an employment assistance program from the Department of Labor and Employment, the agency said yesterday.

The DOLE adjustment measures program will be activated to fund the emergency employment and livelihood program for affected workers who lost their jobs and livelihood.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said in a statement agency personnel in Western Visayas have been mobilized to identify target beneficiaries in coordination with local government units and other inter-agency groups.