President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday honored boxing legend and former Senator Manny Pacquiao during a memorabilia handover ceremony at the National Sports Museum in Pasig City, calling him not only a sporting icon but a “champion of humanity.”
“What can I say about Manny Pacquiao and his boxing career that hasn’t been said before? Because lahat, all the superlatives that can possibly be used, all the praise that can possibly be had by an athlete have already been heaped upon him and well deserved,” Marcos said.
The President highlighted Pacquiao’s global recognition, likening him to Muhammad Ali, and praised his generosity in quietly supporting retired Filipino boxers.
“Lahat ‘yun tinulungan ni Manny… Nobody would know about it. Ganyan ang ugali, ganyan ang pagkatao ng ating Manny Pacquiao,” Marcos added.
He concluded his tribute by affirming Pacquiao’s enduring legacy:
“He is a champion as a Filipino. He is a champion as a man. And he is a champion in all our hearts and he will always be our champion. He will always be our Filipino champion.”
The event formally transferred Pacquiao’s championship belts, gloves, and memorabilia to the museum’s permanent collection, cementing his status as an eight-division world champion.
Pacquiao, who ran against Marcos in the 2022 presidential election, returned from retirement in July 2025, drawing with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.
He is scheduled for a highly anticipated rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 19, 2026, at The Sphere in Las Vegas, a globally streamed event on Netflix and the venue’s first professional boxing match.