TAGBILARAN CITY — The rise of Boholano boxer Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo to ring stardom has fuelled the dream of Tagbilaran to have its own astrodome.
Tagbilaran Mayor John Geesnell Yap on Monday vowed that once the city government is done with the basic infrastructure requirement, an astrodome (a large domed sports stadium) would follow.
He said the city has already showed to be at the stage of becoming the sports capital of the province.
However, the road improvement projects and the establishment of drainage system should first be completed before embarking on an Astrodome project, added Yap.
“We still need to have our own infrastructures. We have to prioritize our roads first, drainage system, before we put up our own Astrodome. So eventually, before my term ends we can have an Astrodome,” Yap said during the pre-Pinoy Pride 43 fight press conference last Thursday.
The mayor was referring to his perceived third term, if given a chance to be elected as mayor again in the next elections, as the timetable for the project.
The mayor added that being an athlete himself, support for athletes is one aspect that he injects in his administration.
Yap added that the hosting of Pinoy Pride 43 on Saturday did not only “showcase a fully-developed Tagbilaran but also the province of Bohol.”
He also explained that even without an Astrodome at this time, Tagbilaran managed to provide a venue that is “good enough” for the event.
The mayor also thanked Magsayo for bringing the name of Tagbilaran and Bohol in his past fights and wherever he would be climbing the ring in the future.
He also said the city government markets Tagbilaran and Bohol through sports.
“Magsayo inspires Boholanos. Just like how Manny Pacquiao inspired Magsayo, Magsayo also inspires other athletes, not only those from Bohol but also those from other places who had heard of him,” according to Yap.
Magsayo defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) International featherweight title for the third time against Japan’s Shota Hayashi in last Saturday’s Pinoy Pride 43.
After his win, experts said Magsayo has the potential to become another Filipino boxing hero but still has to prove to promoters that he could survive more challenging matches ahead.(Angeline Valencia/PNA)
