Paeng, Pacquiao pay last respects to Cory
| 08/04/2009 2:21 PM
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MANILA- The country’s top sportsmen were among the thousands who went to the wake of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.
International Bowling Hall of Famer Paeng Nepomuceno cited Aquino’s contribution to sports during her presidency.
“We hosted the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games in 1991 and we only lost (the) championship by one medal,” he told ABS-CBN News. “It goes to show how good we were during her time.”
The four-time World Cup of Bowling champion added, “President Cory was a symbol of democracy and moral leadership.”
No. 1 pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, meantime, lauded Aquino.
“Isang napakalaking responsibilidad ang magbigay ng parangal sa atin mga kababayan gaya ng ginawa ni dating Pangulong Aquino,” he said.
“Hindi na ‘ko nagulat sa dami ng tao dahil ako din ay isang malaking tagasuporta ni Pangulong Cory at ng kaniyang asawa na si Ninoy (the late Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr.).”
The Filipino boxing icon even said, “Kung hindi pa nga namatay si Pangulong Aquino ay mas magaling pa siya kay (United States President Barack) Obama.”
Aquino’s son-in-law, basketball superstar James Yap, revealed that Cory was a very supportive mother-in-law. Yap, who plays for the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants, is married to actress and television host Kris Aquino.
“Ma-mi-miss ko siya talaga kasi yung support niya sa akin… nanonood siya every game sa TV,” he told ABS-CBN News. Yap added that Cory even prayed the rosary for him.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) held a simple tribute for the former president on Sunday.
Those present at the PBA draft gave Aquino a warm applause before the draft proceedings, reported Nelson Beltran of The Philippine Star. With reports from Jam Alindogan and Alvin Elchico, ABS-CBN News
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