The farming town of M’lang in North Cotabato welcomed International Boxing Organization (IBO) Jr. Bantamweight titlist Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong with a motorcade and Municipal Council Resolution honoring its first world boxing champion today.
The 27-year-old Dapudong, a farmer’s son from Barangay Pag-asa, knocked out South African Gideon Buthelezi in the first round of their championship bout in Johannesburg, South Africa last Saturday to win the title.
Arriving in the municipal hall of M’lang today, Dapudong called on Mayor Joselito Pinol who later brought him to the Sangguniang Bayan where Vice Mayor Russel Abonado suspended the session to introduce the new world champion.
The new world champion, who represented M’lang as a young boxer in the Batang Pinoy competitions, was presented a resolution by the Sangguniang Bayan which extolled his exploits as a sports hero of the town.
In the message I gave before the Sangguniang Bayan, I explained that Dapudong’s accomplishment is a product of a focused and visionary grassroots sports program started in 1998 when I was still Governor of North Cotabato.
I emphasized that the honor earned by the Province of North Cotabato today would not have been possible had the sports program implemented during my term was tied to my political term limit of nine years.
It took 15 years before the Paboksing sa Masa, the grassroots boxing program, produced its first world champion.
Vice Mayor Abonado, addressing the members of the Sangguniang Bayan, urged the members of the council to give focus to sports programs for the youth so that the town will be able to produce more sports heroes.
Tonight, the townsfolk gathered at the Public Terminal to view the fights of Dapudong.
(Photo caption: World champion Edrin “The STing” Dapudong is flanked by Mayor Lito Pinol (left) and Vice Mayor Russel Abonado (right) with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan.)
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