GENERAL Santos City — Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is scheduled to grace the opening ceremony of the 2006 Kalilangan Festival Invitational Amateur Boxing Championships on Thursday at the Oval Plaza covered court here.

Mr. Adriano “Rey” Golingan, Jr., president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) General Santos City Chapter that spearheaded the 13-team tournament, said that he already invited Pacquiao to attend the opening rites at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The Gensan-based Pacquiao is expected to fly in anytime before Thursday from the United States where he acted as a ringside commentator for the Philippine-beamed satellite television coverage of the Viloria-Aguirre fight Sunday.

Pacquiao, along with Golingan and City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., is scheduled to deliver an inspirational message before the formal opening of the tournament.

Earlier, Pacquiao committed to donate at least P78,000 in additional cash prizes for the 124 boxers from the Visayas and Mindanao who are slated to rumble in 10 categories.

No less than ABAP Secretary-General Rogelio M. Fortaleza would act as tournament director. He would be assisted by two new Mindanao-based international referee-judges Ramon Vicente and Dodong Rebamonte and 10 national, regional and local referee-judges.

Golingan presided a meeting with local ABAP officers and ring officials early Monday evening to thresh out the preparations for the four-day competition.

Vicente, also ABAP RJ Commissioner for Region 11, City Boxing Coordinator Osorio Gubaton and ABAP-Gensan Chapter Vice President and Dadiangas West Barangay Captain George “Bobby” Acharon were present during the conference.

The participating teams are the hosts General Santos City and Metro Dadiangas, Bacolod City, Misamis Oriental, Sindangan-Zamboanga del Sur, Panabo-Davao del Norte, Davao City, North Cotabato, Tres de Mayo-Holiday Bus, Surallah-South Cotabato, Koronadal City, Sarangani, and Maasim.

The tournament would be held in celebration of the 67th Foundation Anniversary of the city and the 7th Kalilangan Festival.

The SouthPhil Arts and Sports Promotion would carry live radio coverage of the tournament over RGMA DXBB Super Radyo Gensan with the support of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Holiday Bus and other companies and individuals. (Press release)

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