AFP to Pacquiao: ‘Bring home the tapa’

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, left, and WBO junior welterweight champion. Chris Algieri AP PHOTO/VINCENT YU

MANILA, Philippines—Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. wished boxing icon Manny Pacquiao good luck on his upcoming match on Sunday.

“As they say, bring home the bacon, but I said, bring home the tapa,” Catapang told reporters in jest on Friday.

The AFP chief localized his message to Pacquiao, who is an Army reservist. Tapa is a dried or cured beef usually served for breakfast with egg and fried rice.

“To our Lieutenant Colonel Manny Pacquiao, our congressman, our greatest fighter of all time. We wish you all the best, alam naman naming kayang-kaya mo yan (we know you can do it),” he added.

Pacquiao has an upcoming match with American Chris Algieri for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown at Cotai Arena of The Venetian Macao on Sunday.

Catapang said Pacquiao could win in four rounds.

The AFP chief said he might miss Pacquiao’s fight on Sunday because he would be in La Union province to visit the family of Second Lieutenant Jun Corpuz who was killed in Basilan early this month.