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THE last time Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao had a major fight
abroad, many Manila residents complained that his fight was not
shown in the city’s sports stadiums, unlike when Lito Atienza was
still the city mayor.
This time, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is trying to
make sure his constituents are able to watch Pacquiao’s latest
fight on Sunday against super featherweight champion Manuel Marquez.
Lim yesterday ordered City Administrator Jesus
Mari Marzan and Parks and Recreation Bureau Chief Deng Manimbo to
work on the necessary preparations for the free showing, via live
telecast, of the much-awaited rematch of Pacquiao and Marquez in the
various sports complexes and satellite offices of Manila.
Marzan said the live telecast of the fight will
be shown in the following sports centers located in six districts of
the city: Tondo Sports Complex in District I; Patricia playground in
District II; RASAC playground in District III; Dapitan Sports
Complex in District IV; San Andres Sports Complex in District V; and
Sacramento Basketball Court in Teresa Street, District VI.
He added that in each of these facilities, large
digital screens measuring 16” x 24” will be put up.
The Tondo Sports Complex can accommodate 1,500
viewers; Patricia playground, 1,500; RASAC playground, 1,000;
Dapitan Sports Complex, 2,000; San Andres Sports Complex, 5,000; and
Sacramento Basketball Court, 1,000 viewers.
The mayor said that the city’s poor residents
cannot afford to watch the fight in movie theaters, which charges
from P300 per patron.
That is why, he said, the admission to the
complexes and satellite offices will be free, but will be on a
first-come, first-served basis.
“We know that all Filipinos want to watch
Pacquiao’s fight live. We somehow found a way to give that
opportunity to the city’s poor residents,” Lim said.
De Guzman and Marzan said marshals will be
assigned to man the entrance of the sports complexes to ensure that
there will be no overcrowding.
Marzan also said that the mayor has already made
representations with Solar Sports Entertainment’s Wilson Tieng, so
the Paquiao-Marquez rematch entitled “Unfinished Business” may
be shown live for free to the public.
Lim said Pacquiao remains the city’s adopted
son.
-- Rommel C. Lontayao
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