The House of Representatives’ committee on justice has approved the bill granting Filipino citizenship to Spanish-born Bienvenido Marañon, one of the leading football players in the country.
The committee, during its virtual meeting Wednesday, unanimously approved House Bill (HB) 7427 authored by Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez.
According to Lopez, Marañon, 34, resided to the Philippines in 2015 and joined Ceres Football Club.
Marañon, Lopez said, played for the Ceres-Negros Team in the Asian Football Club Confederation (AFC) Championship League.
The star football player is the leading goal scorer of the Philippine Football League and the all-time top scorer in the AFC Cup after scoring his 35th goal in Ceres-Negros’s 4-0 win against Bali United on March 11, 2020.
“If granted the opportunity to play for the Philippines, Marañon will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to the national football team, the Azkals and bring pride and honor to the country,” said Lopez
Marañon, for his part, expressed his desire to become a Filipino after attending the hearing via Zoom.
“For me, I will like to become Filipino because I love the country, I love the people. I feel much love from the people. And I would like to give them the love that I received,” said Marañon.
Marañon added that he wanted to be part of the Azkals and help them reach the World Cup.
Marañon now resides in Bacolod.
