by Noel Baguio
Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario compared the victory of his son Congressman Anthony Del Rosario over his bout with cancer with the achievement of Filipino boxing hero and now 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Much as Manny has the heart of a true champion in dominating over Antonio Margarito during their November 14 fight in Arlington, Texas, USA, the governor said the representative of the First District of Davao del Norte is also a real champion for successfully beating his lymphoma.
“Totoong champion din si AGR (Cong AGR is a real champion),” del Rosario said, when members of the media ask about his son after the free-viewing of the historic Pacquaio-Margarito fight at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan.
He revealed the representative’s treatment in America was very successful as he has been declared cured by his doctors at the Stanford Hospital in California.
However, he said it is unfortunate that Cong. Anthony cannot make it home just yet since his doctors ordered him to take it easy and relax for a couple of months in order to fully recover.
Besides, he is only allowed to travel by land, as his doctors prevented him from taking long international flights.
“It would take a couple of months more for him to stay before being allowed to come home as his doctors told him to take it easy and relax first.” Gov. del Rosario said, adding in jest, “It is unfortunately, AGR cannot travel by land all the way from America just to get home.”
The governor joined AGR in the US when the latter underwent stem cell transplant a month ago, immediately after his successful three-month chemotherapy treatment.
He said his son was isolated for 20 days after the stem cell treatment since the procedure weakened his immunity.
By the time he left the U.S. on November 7, he said the congressman is already back in his apartment in Palo Alto, California.
The local chief executive bared he plans to leave to the U.S. before Christmas and to return back immediately after New Year in order to celebrate the Yuletide season with his son.
He is optimistic that the representative will be able to travel home by February, basing on AGR’s medical record where his recovery from the battery of treatments was always way ahead of time.
He asked AGR’s constituents in the first district to understand the situation.
“I really want him to be back already. I know his constituents are already waiting for him,” he said.
