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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 2) – Spanish forward Bienvenido Marañón is on his way to becoming a Filipino after the House Justice Committee approved a measure granting him citizenship on Wednesday.
The representative of the first district of Manila, Manny López, author of bill no. 7427 of the House of Representatives, emphasized that the 34-year-old athlete is one of the most important soccer players in the country and that his naturalization will be of great help in the campaign of the Azkals of the Philippines.
“If given the opportunity to play for the Philippines, Marañón will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the national soccer team, the Azkals, and will bring pride and honor to our country,” Lopez said in his explanatory note on the project. Of law.
Marañón told congressmen that his five years in the Philippines, playing for soccer clubs Ceres Negros and United City, led to his desire to become a Filipino.
“I would like to be Filipino because I love the country, I love its people, and I love its people too much,” he said. “I would like to give you that love that I received.”
The four-time champion of the Philippine Football League (PFL) hopes to catch up with the Azkals once his candidacy for naturalization becomes law.
“I would like to play with Azkals, for the national team, because I feel like a Filipino since I came to the Philippines,” he said. “I would like to help them try to get to the World Cup and play the Asian Cup again and try to win the Suzuki Cup.”
The congressmen will now address the bill for the naturalization of the Marañón in full, where it will go through a second and third reading. Senator Miguel Zubiri presented the counterpart bill in the Upper House last March.
During the final PFL season, Marañón took home the Golden Boot award. He was also the all-time top scorer in the Asian Confederation of Soccer Cup, a prestigious continental club competition.
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