ORMOC CITY,
Leyte, June 11 (PNA) – All’s well that ends well following the dismay expressed
by boxing champion Johnriel “Cuatro Alas” Casimero for not receiving a hero’s
welcome in his hometown after winning a major match in China.
The
professional fighter from Ormoc paid a courtesy call to Mayor Edward C. Codilla
on Friday.
Casimero won
the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Flyweight championship in Beijing on
May 25 after defeating via technical knockout Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng.
He came home
on May 30 expecting a welcome party, but was discouraged after setting foot at
the Ormoc port without seeing even a congratulatory tarpaulin.
Casimero
lamented that in his past fights, he was always given a hero’s welcome win or
lose. “I was wondering why there was no one to welcome me. As an Ormocanon who
brought honor to my city, there should have been a welcoming committee at
least.”
City sports
coordinator Alberto Aberca blamed miscommunication for missing Casimero’s
arrival. The champion’s mother Linda gave information of her son’s arrival to a
City Hall employee who kept the information to herself.
But the
minor misunderstanding seemed to have dissipated when the mayor received the
boxer in his office.
The city
council passed a resolution extending its warmest congratulations to Casimero.
It also
extended a Php 30,000 financial incentive for his exemplary performance, to be
sourced from the budget of the mayor’s office. The champion will also lead the
Independence Day parade on June 12.
Casimero’s
career began during his high school days when he won medals at the Eastern
Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet.
RMA/SQM/FNC
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