It’s official!
Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon of the United City Football Club (former Negros-Ceres) is now a Filipino citizen.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed his naturalization bill. He only needs to take an oath of allegiance to the Philippines, after which the Bureau of Immigration will issue a Certificate of Naturalization.
According to Marañon, it’s his dream to be a Filipino citizen. “To be a Filipino citizen is a dream that I have had since my second year in the country due to the love and respect they show me along the way. I’m sure I will make them proud to have me one of them,” he added.
After completing the process, he will be eligible to play for the Philippine Azkals. “I would like to be part of the Azkals,” the 35-year-old Marañon said. “I would like to help them in their campaign along as much as I can and be part of Philippine football’s development.”
To recall, Marañon has previously suited up for the defunct Ceres-Negros Football Club since 2015. He steered the club as it reached the ASEAN Zonal Final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2017 and 2018.
He also helped the squad obtain the grand slam title in the Philippines Football League (PFL) from 2017 to 2019 and added another for the United City FC in the 2020 PFL season.IMT
