SENATE COMMENDS NONITO 'THE FLASH' DONAIRE

The Senate on Wednesday commended Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. for winning the WBA Featherweight title against South African Simpiwe "V12" Vetyeka in May, and once again, bringing pride, honor and glory to the country.

Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, one of the senators who filed a resolution commending Donaire, delivered a sponsorship speech acclaiming the boxing icon.

"Allow me to rise in this august chamber to pay homage once again to a man whose achievements are well-known, especially to a boxing-loving country like ours," said Angara, chair of the committee on games, amusement and sports.

In his resolution, Angara noted that despite suffering a cut above his left eye due to a brutal headbutt, Donaire "demonstrated his unwavering determination and heart of a champion when he instructed the referee not to stop the fight in the first round notwithstanding the steady stream of blood right above his left eye."

Donaire knocked down Vetyeka twice in the fourth round before the referee finally stopped the fight due to Donaire's cut. The Filipino Flash won via a unanimous technical decision with the judges' score of 49-46.

The neophyte senator also lauded Donaire in joining Manny Pacquiao for being the only Asians to hold world championship titles in five weight divisions.

"It is high time that we recognize and honor our champion, a world-class Filipino that we can all be proud of, Nonito Donaire Jr.," Angara said.