WHAT a day for Universiade silver medalist Jomar Balangui to cherish!
A visit to the Senate office of Manny Pacquiao, the world renowned athlete-turned-politician, where he was honored by the many-time, pound-for-pound boxing king of the world with a record eight championship belts in different divisions, for his stunning silver-medal finish in the 29th Summer Universiade in New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.
It could well be the highlight of the young sports career for the 19-year-old Balangui, a product of the University of Baguio and who secured a silver in men’s wushu sanda during the Taipei Universiade.
The Summer Universiade, also known as the World University Games in the past, is a biennial multi-sport competition that features the top university athletes from around the world, including those from the United States, Russian Federation, People’s Republic of China and Taipei Universiade overall medal winner Japan.
Along with the top officials of the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines, which is the sole national university sports federation in the country that is recognized by the International University Sports Federation, Balangui paid a courtesy call on Sen. Pacquiao in the halls of the Philippine Senate last Oct. 4.
Balangui was accompanied by University of Baguio president and FESSAP Cordillera Autonomous Regional Director, Dhanna Kerina Bautista-Rodas.
During the meet, Balangui presented the silver medal to Pacquiao, the third overall Universiade medal won by the Philippines, under the watch of the FESSAP.
Previous medalists were Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, who won a silver in men’s taekwondo during the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen, People’s republic of China; and Grandmaster Wesley So, who rewarded the country with its first-ever gold in Universiade history in the men’s chess competitions.
Also with Balangui in the trip to Pacquiao’s Senate office were his wushu teammates during the Taipei sojourn. They are Gladys Sia (team captain), Sean Elijah Siy, Eal Von Erick Pasno, Abigail Faniega, Czarina Hagos and Kelly Marcelo.
Officials from the FESSAP in attendance during the courtesy call were Honorary President David Ong, Executive Vice President Robert Milton Calo, Board Chair Alvin Tai Lian and Vice President Jedel Agron of SCUAA. Also present were the FESSAP Athletes’ Committee, led by Mapua University’s Ann Janeth Garcia and Gabriel Joshua Ancheta.
Ong presented to Pacquiao a video copy of the Taipei Universiade opening ceremony and informed him about the history of the Summer Universiade. He also briefed the Senator about the 30th Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy in July 2019.
For his silver-medal achievement during the Taipei Universiade, Pacquiao gifted Balangui with some money as a token of appreciation.