TOKYO Olympics boxing bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial received a lot of surprises from Chooks-to-Go during his homecoming on Tuesday in Barangay Lunzuran, Zamboanga City.
Marcial, along with his fiancée Princess Galarpe, were invited to Bounty Agro Ventures Inc.’s Business Center along MCLL Hi-Way in Divisoria in the same city.
There, Marcial was awarded his own Chooks-to-Go store by Atlanta 1996 Olympics silver medalist Onyok Velasco.
But that was not just the incentives received by the 25-year-old Zamboangueño.
It had always been Marcial’s dream to have a grassroots boxing program for his provinces—wanting to help identify, groom and develop the next Marcial or next Manny Pacquiao. With this dream, Chooks-to-Go President Ronald Mascariñas also pledged to fund Marcial’s program.
“We all know the story of our boxers like Onyok, Manny, and Eumir—all stories of dreamers who grew up in poverty and were able to achieve their dreams through boxing,” Mascariñas said.
“Now that Eumir is in the position he is in, he wants to give back by not just inspiring Zamboanga’s youth but also giving them a path to achieve their dreams. And we are here to support his cause and find the next great Filipino boxer,” the amiable sportsman said.
Marcial couldn’t hold his tears upon knowing this as his dream got a huge infusion to get going.
“Firt of all, I want to thank God Almighty for these blessings,” Marcial said. “And I want to thank Sir Ronald for being God’s vehicle to accomplish my dreams.”
Marcial and Velasco went on to give a talk to a select group of aspiring boxers later in the afternoon. Mascariñas also vowed to support Marcial’s professional career.
“With our support for his professional career, Marcial will no longer have to worry about anything else besides to train hard and put on a show during fight night,” Mascariñas said.
“I’m surprised. I didn’t see this coming,” Marcial, in tears, said.