Category: Manny Pacquiao

Last Saturday, I sat inside the grand ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Beside me were Jasmin, my wife, plus four of our closest friends—doctors Ron Eullaran and Ronnie Medalle with their wives Raycia and Stephanie. We watched Pacquiao. No, it wasn’t Manny—he was readying for his trip to Los Angeles—but a lady named “PacMom.”

She’s like her son. Or rather, the son’s just like the mom. Nanay Dionisia is a superstar. On stage, she’s feisty and popular—just like her favorite son. During the Ai! Ai! Ganda! Mommy Dionisia! show three nights ago, she boogied, strutted, twisted, and whirled like an 18-year-old debutante with her red underwear visible as her blue dress swayed open.

Mommy Dionisia sang “Usahay.” Then, addressing the crowd in Bisaya, she belted out an Imelda Papin song which she confessed was her lullaby tune many years ago to baby Manny. Never mind if her voice was nowhere near the likes of Sinulog performers Pilita Corrales or Dulce, she thrilled us. For on stage was the mother of our planet’s most famous Filipino.

To me, the incredible part was midway through her dance routine when her partner gripped her arm and leg and catapulted Mommy Dionisia’s body around and around—as if she were a carousel floating and gliding on air. She’s 60 years old!

Wow. She wowed us. Now I understand why Manny is “ShowManny.” He’s a showman. Because she is. He’s his mom’s son. She brightens when the spotlight is shone—just like MP. She sings. He does. Her footwork—for a senior citizen—is astonishing, just like his. She’s forever-smiling. She’s full of overconfidence. She delights in standing ovations. Mommy is Manny. Pacquiao is Pacquiao.

The rest of the show? Steph, Raycia and Jasmin enjoyed it the most because of hunks first-named Derek and Jon. How about Ai-Ai? To us, she appeared unrehearsed as she often missed her singing lines and owned a voice that was too ear-piercing. The star of the night? He—or she—was Vice Ganda. He was brilliant, humorous, lively. But what made his hour-long comedic act rotten and distressing was how he’d randomly call up onstage members of the audience and would insult them. One embarrassed man, after over 10 minutes of relentless humiliation, stormed the stage and wacked the comedian’s hand to get back to his seat. Otherwise, the entire program—this type of comedy/celebrity show, a first for Jasmin and I—was fun and funny.

I love magazines. Time. Reader’s Digest. Fortune. Runner’s World. Newsweek. Men’s Health. Tennis. Outside. These are some I digest each month. My favorite? Wired. It’s a monthly for all things technie and gadgetry. Yesterday, I read another type. It’s glossy, gossipy, and is littered with 200 photos plus dozens of stories that are provocative and tantalizing.

YES! Yes, that’s the name. And, chances are, if you follow Kris Aquino or John Lloyd Cruz, you have a copy of YES! Well, I bought one. Not my wife Jasmin or mom Allen… but me. Buying YES! Yes.

The cover? JINKEE IN HER $2.3M HOME IN LOS ANGELES! What’s inside? Plenty. Full spreads of Pacquiao’s four-bedroom home in L.A. are on display. The living room. The master’s bedroom. The kitchen. The guest room where Mommy Dionisia sleeps. The rooms of the Pacquaio boys (Michael Stephen and Jimwell) and girls (Princess and Queenie) are all showcased in YES! The P100,000,000 house has a floor area of 4,500 sq. meters and sits on a 6,750-sq.m. property in the upscale neighborhood of Hancock Park.

Is the magazine worth buying? Absolutely. It illustrates plenty on our boxing hero: MP singing songs at the Mandalay Bay hours after his win over Miguel Cotto, him getting ready to file his certificate of candidacy for Congressman, MP showing off his newest tattoo on his left hand…. Will spare you further details. Get the Jan. 2010 issue!

While YES! is, I’m sure, a major hit in the newsstands, the movie that I expected to be a blockbuster has turned out to be a disaster.

On the first day of the two-week-long Metro Manila Film Festival, nine movies were shown. Guess which movie came in first? Not Wapakman. It didn’t even score No. 3 or 5 or 7. It grossed P750,000 on its first day—for the last place among nine movies. Ha-ha-ha. What a comedy. And a debacle. While movies like “Ang Panday” and “Ang Darling Kong Aswang” and “Shake” each grossed over P16 million on those first 24 hours, Pacquiao’s much-hyped movie could not earn over one million. It was knocked out.

In the Phil. Daily Inquirer article “Pacman flick knocked out on first day” by Bayani San Diego Jr. last Dec. 26, the noted director Jose Javier Reyes was asked why the fiasco with the movie starring our most popular countryman.

“Filipinos adore him as a prizefighter… as an athlete, but apparently not as an actor, singer… not even as a politician,” he said. “People will stop their lives to watch him fight in the ring, but it seems they will not go out of their way to watch him goof around in a movie. He is a real-life hero; not a superhero.”

Perfectly-said. This movie disaster is not Pacman’s first. Two years ago in “Anak ng Kumander,” it was another flop. That movie—with Ara Mina (remember her?)—grossed a measly P2 million. And while we all thought that Manny’s alleged romance with co-star Krista Ranillo will lure moviegoers to the movie, “now we know,” as MP himself would say. Now we know the answer is No. “There is a disconnect, publicity-wise. That’s possible,” said Reyes. “But in Pinoy macho society, there’s nothing too scandalous, shocking or salacious about the gossip regarding Manny and Krista anyway.”

Hearing it straight from Manny himself, he was quoted in an earlier interview as saying, “Sana panoorin ng mga intrigero ang pelikula namin. Sayang naman ’yong intriga pag hindi kumita ang pelikula? (I hope the intrigue-mongers watch our movie. What’s the use of the intrigues if our movie doesn’t make money?)”

Ha-ha. Funny. Still, blockbuster or not, I hope to watch the movie soon!

Today, we greet an ordinary man turned extraordinary superman. He started poor. Dirt poor. Because, literally, it was dirt and ashes and sand and gravel that he carried and shoveled when he first worked in construction as a teenager. He could barely feed himself then. One meal a day. Two meals a day. Very often, unlike some of us who have the luxury of gorging on three unlimited platefuls per 24 hours plus cups of coffee and slices of toasted bread in between, he could not afford the same. Yet, it was this same bedrock, this same painful and gritty upbringing that fabricated his mettle.

Today, long after he climbed past the mountain called poverty and millions of minutes after he’d spent sweating inside the boxing gym to pound on punching bags and skip on skipping ropes, he has become our warrior. Our Philippine eagle.

If Sweden had a Bjorn Borg in the 1970s to catapult tennis to smashing heights, if U.S.A. had Jesse Owens in the 1930s to embarrass Adolf Hitler, if Brazil had Pele in the 1960s to proclaim that they owned the most powerful football kick on earth—we have our own version.

He looks like us. Has a mustache like many of us. He’s not tall. He eats tinolang manok. He speaks Bisaya, converses in Tagalog. He’s brown-skinned, black-haired, just like us.

Yet, unlike us, he has become the lone sunlight amidst the Philippine darkness. In this land where corruption is ingrained in the ladders of government, where natural calamities like Ondoy and Pepeng have destroyed our habitat, where our sports delegation to an international meet like the SEA Games is not one but two squads—as if there existed two different Philippines—he soars alone as our Philippine eagle.

He has inspired us. He has made the forgotten name “Filipino” into a much-talked about word when we visit Europe or America or Australia. For, in those continents, when we say we’re from the Philippines, they smile, shake our hand and not say, “Oh, you’re from the same country as Gloria Arroyo!” They say… “You come from the land of today’s Bruce Lee.”

Think about this Filipino. Boxers, we know, are no cowards. For who coward will allow himself to get stabbed by an uppercut or to bleed from the nostrils? But this Filipino boxer is much more than a boxer. Because, unlike some who evade the most robust of opponents, he’s undaunted by whoever famous name stands before him.

De La Hoya? Marquez? Cotto? Barrera? Hatton? Morales? All these fighters, almost surely, will land in the Hall of Fame. And our Filipino was never intimidated to face the finest of the best. Unlike Money, The Weather-Weather.

Money? The Cash? The Gen-San native has lots. While, when he started fighting, the prize money amounted to only hundreds of pesos, now it’s in the hundreds of thousands. No, millions. Computed in pesos, billions. And just as Bob Arum is almost never wrong, our birthday celebrant today will receive, in his coming fight, the biggest prize money in all of boxing. More than Ali. More than ODLH. More than Hagler or Hearns or Evander or Sugar Ray L.

But, to me, what distinguishes our countryman more than any other is his passion for life. Be it singing in front of thousands at the Mall of Asia concert grounds or singing while his ears are bloodied and his face swollen hours after he TKO’d Miguel Cotto, this we know of him: he enjoys life.

He loves cock-fighting. He loves to place a gamble in casinos. He plays basketball as often as he wants—like he did against us Cebuano sportswriters two years ago in a series of every-Sunday games. In those games, he drives down the lane and attempts a Michael Jordan-like leap. Never mind if this endangers millions of dollars if he injures his ankle or knee.

He’s an actor. He’s Wapakman. He’s a billiards marksman. He’s a darts marksman. Congressman?

Above all, we see a man who relishes each second of each hour of each week of his life. God bless our Philippine eagle.

Four short months. If the March 13 “Super Fight Of The Century” pushes through between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr., it will only be exactly 120 days between fights for our Filipino champ. Is that enough time for Manny to recover and recharge before inflicting Money’s first-ever defeat?

I think so. I hope so. Because while Manny had six months of rest before facing Miguel Cotto and five months between Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, he’ll have less recovery time against Money. Still, I believe that’s sufficient.

For here’s what Manny’s schedule will look like: This December, he’ll relax and recuperate. He’ll finish shooting “Wapakman” and, come Christmas, he’ll be merry and, on New Year’s, he’ll be happy. Then, when the clock strikes “2010,” he’ll focus on boxing.

Bob Arum has targeted New York and the date, Jan. 11, for the formal introduction of Manny vs. Money. “It’s one press conference, in the Big Apple, and that is it,” said Arum. So, my guess is, after that NYC visit, Manny returns to Manila, drives up to Baguio City and begins training. In all, he’ll have eight weeks. And, hasn’t Manny repeatedly trained, in his own words, for “no more, no less than eight weeks?”

True. And eight weeks prior to the super fight is Jan. 17. That’s over a month from now. By then, Manny’s injured right eardrum should have healed.

His candidacy for Congressman? Oh. We almost forgot that. But Manny hasn’t. And my guess is he’ll fly to Sarangani on Sundays. But here’s the good news: Manny hardly needs to campaign. No, I’m not saying Manny’s a shoo-in to win. But who doesn’t know him in Sarangani? Who doesn’t idolize the hero? And so, for January and February, he’ll run and run… for boxing. Then, after March 13—with two months left—he’ll run and run… for public office.

Perfect, right? Manny beats Money, earns P2,000,000,000.00, retires from boxing, and wins the elections as Congressman Pacquiao? Knowing how astute and brilliant Manny is, this is the story line he’s dreaming of: A happy ending for boxing, a new beginning in politics.

What does Freddie Roach think? “We’re happy it could be happening, but I’m surprised it’s happened so quick,” he said. “We will have to start training right after New Year’s Day so that we get our customary 10 weeks in. I guess we will have a month in the Phils. followed by the remainder at my (Wild Card) gym. I really like it when Manny stays so active, when there is not much down time. He stays sharp and that is good.

“We see flaws in Mayweather. Sure, he is great defensively but we see some flaws which we can exploit. Whether it’s those shoulder rolls or anything else, defense does not win fights completely. We know what we can do against Mayweather. I know Manny can’t be hurt by Mayweather… Manny can walk right through anything Mayweather throws.

“I do think it helps that the election campaign goes on after this key fight. We can have as good if not a better training camp than we had for the last fight.”

Want another analysis? Here’s one of the best, courtesy of boxing trainer Nazim Richardson: “From Floyd’s perspective: the minute you start talking about how small Pacquiao is, you’re beat. I told Shane, ‘If you fight him, if anybody in the camp calls you bigger than Pacquiao, I’ll put them out of the camp.’

“Because that’s just media s#!&. Every time they mention Pacquiao they mention he started at 106 lbs. Well, hot damn, all of us at one time were under 25lbs! I got up to be over 300 lbs, but one time I was under 25 lbs. Why do they talk like that, ‘You know he started his career at 106.’

“But they keep bringing it up and I told them the same thing; the greatest trick the devil ever did was convince the world he didn’t exist. The greatest trick that Pacquiao ever did was convince you all that he was a small man! And he’s going to keep beating the s@%! out of people who keep thinking he’s a small man. At 147 lbs., Pacquiao is a small man like Mike Tyson was a small heavyweight!”

No Filipino athlete, female or male, has ever earned one billion pesos in total prize money in her or his entire career. And here comes a former construction worker who could barely feed himself two meals a day, who finished only his elementary education, who started boxing to lift himself from poverty at the age of 16…. go on to harvest P1 billion pesos. Not in his career. Not in two months or one year. But in 33 minutes, 55 seconds. Computed per minute, that’s P29.42 million. Computed per tick, that’s P491,000 per second.

Half a million pesos per second! Can you believe that? Usain Bolt doesn’t earn that much. Same with Federer or Nadal or Michael Phelps. Even Shaq or Ronaldinho or Alex Rodriguez doesn’t earn that much. But Manny Pacquiao does. He just did.

Can you imagine how much a fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will earn Pacman? Compared to the $22 million he grossed against Miguel Cotto, they say he’ll earn as much as $35 million. Some say $40-M. Others predict he’ll fetch as high as $50 million. Choosing the mid-range $40 million figure, that’s about P2,000,000,000. For one fight that lasts, at the maximum, 36 minutes. About the same time you or I shower, get dressed, brush our teeth, comb our hair, get ready for work or school… 36 minutes. P2,000,000,000.

According to Forbes magazine in their July 17, 2009 article entitled, “The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes,” a total of 17 athletes were listed—and only those who earned $30 million or more were admitted to the exclusive list. “Our list of the highest-paid athletes looks at earnings derived from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income between June 2008 and June 2009 and does not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees,” said the magazine. “Overall the top 20 earned $789 million, down 1% from last year.”

Tiger Woods, as expected, stood at No. 1. Recently, there were reports saying that he’s the world’s first-ever billionaire. And that’s in dollars—not in pesos. In one year’s time, Tiger was said to have earned a whopping $110 million.

Second on the list is—again no surprise—Kobe Bryant. He raked in $45 million for 12 months. Tying him in that second spot was the man KB24 idolized, Michael Jordan. “MJ retired as a player for the third and presumably final time six years ago, but he is still the most famous athlete in the United States,” said Forbes. “The Jordan Brand is approaching $1 billion in sales for Nike which turned Jordan into a marketing phenomenon.” One final athlete tied the two ballplayers in No.2, Kimi Raikonnen. He also grossed $40 million.

David Beckham sits in No. 5 with earnings of $42 million. “Beckham is far from the best player on the pitch, but he is still the most famous which is why companies like Adidas, Giorgio Armani and Motorola pay him millions for his endorsement,” said Forbes.

Finally, we reach the sixth placers: LeBron James, Phil Mickelson and…. drum roll, please…. our very own, MP. “The highest-ranking of the four newcomers to the list is boxer Manny Pacquiao who earned $40 million over the last year, tied for the sixth most Pacquiao cemented his claim as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter with convincing knockouts of Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton in May. The two blockbuster fights garnered more than 2 million pay-per-view buys in the U.S. and earned Pac-Man $30 million combined,” said Forbes.

“Pacquiao’s massive popularity in his native Philippines is why companies like Nike and San Miguel beer have signed him to endorse their products. Pacquiao intends to use that popularity to run for political office when his ring career is over.”

Let’s hope our Filipino hero—just like his counterpart, the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida—lives up to his name as a true Filipino role model and doesn’t squander his billions on gambling, cockfighting, electioneering, politicking or, with KR, iring-iring.

Text messages I received…

Isolde Amante: MP a hero? If a hero is one who overcomes difficult circumstances, develops his potentials to the fullest and inspires others to do the same, then yes. But this refers only to Pacquiao as an athlete. 🙂

Bro. Carlo Bacalla: Pacquiao is special because 1) He has d heart of a winner.
2) He is disciplined.

Alex Baguio: He will beat mayweather. He has a unique rhythm. He attacks from every imaginable angle; his speed and power will provide unbearable pressure.

Jonel Borromeo: Pacman will beat mayweather because he can move in and out fast. Second, its good for the nation to keep on hoping; after all its that hope that keeps us going.

Raycia Eullaran: He’s a hero coz he has proven that Filipinos can rise up in adversity. With faith and hard work, we can conquer the world.

(Photo: AFP)

Councilor Jack Jakosalem: Floyd wil be tougher than cotto coz of his better defensive tactics and quicker hands/footwork. He was once, if you recall, regarded as the most boring champion. But everyone’s looking forward to a bloodied and battered floyd by fight’s end. Manny by UD or late TKO. But then again, it took him 12 rounds to beat oscar, when pacman only needed 8, and 10 rounds to KO hatton while MP did it in 2.

Rene Kintanar: His biggest impact is on the Filipino psyche. He has awakened a sense of pride of a people who has been disparaged owing to underachievement.

Councilor Edgar Labella: Pacquiao never misses to express his overflowing gratitude to God everytime he wins. He epitomizes humility in the midst of success and glory.

Ted Locson: He is humble and has mastered the art of self discipline. He’s able to use his God-given talents.

Neil Montesclaros: Greatest? I don’t have an authoritative opinion. All I know is that because of Pacman, I saw boxing as an art mixing strength, intelligence, endurance, speed and skill.

Dustin Morada: MP wil win (against Floyd). He’s fighting 4 a greater purpose, 4 God nd country, nt 4 money. That spells d difference.

Cherry Muntuerto: What makes Pacquiao special? His strong faith in God which he readily articulates and demonstrates, his humility as seen in how he deals with his opponents outside the ring and his zest for learning.

Georgia Osmeña: Manny is my hero! He is persistent, determined, disciplined and has remained humble all throughout his successes.

Ray Patuasi: The best Asian boxer of all time. A man who can briefly unify a divided nation and momentarily cut the incidence of crime.

Joy Polloso: Beyond giving honor and inspiration among Filipinos, Pacquiao neutralizes the Eco-class in the country and continues to stir economic activities.

Jingle Polotan: His work ethic and humility. He knows how to focus on the things that needs to be done, but still treats his opponent with respect.

Babylyn Roa: Of course, his smile, which exudes confidence. And his mental toughness and focus aside frm all his other strengths. Also his ‘kolokoy’ (entertaining) personality.

Donald Ruiz: His strong belief in God and love of country.

Bernard Sia: His humility, preparation and doing his best then trusting God.

Emma Siao: Gracing the cover of TIME & earning billions is no ordinary feat. But even at the helm of his deafening success, PACMAN never forgets to bow down and acknowledge our Almighty Father for all His blessings!

Dodong Sulatre: Pacquiao wil surely win over mayweather becoz pacquiao’s foot and hand speed and power cud not be equaled.

Chris Tio: I have stopped doubting the pacman, as long as he stays focused, disciplined, confident and out of politics!

Boy Tiukinhoy: Definitely, Pacquiao will win. After what Pacquiao did to Cotto, Mayweather will be psychologically and mentally stressed.

Nick Torres: Hand speed. Foot speed. Power in both hands (even off balance). Stamina. No fear. Focus. Commitment. Weird attack angles. Defense. The greatest trainer. Humility. Always learning. Always improving. And now, a granite chin and Kevlar belly. Where’s the chink in the Pacman’s armor?

Roy Trani: MP is gifted and trains hard. He does this not only for himself but also for the Filipino people!

Adjectives like “unbelievable” and “astonishing” and “stunning” are no longer befitting the task of describing Manny Pacquiao. And so, I propose that Webster Dictionary add a new adjective to its vocabulary: Wapakman.

Never before have we witnessed such a man. What Pacman has done, no other Pinoy has done. Not in the past. Not in 55 years. He has united us. He has rekindled our pride in the RP flag—which he proudly waved seconds after victory. He has elicited joyful tears in our eyes. He has stopped crime. He has stopped traffic during his fight. And, he stopped the welterweight champion of the world.

Wapakman. Wow, Pakman!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSbavrjVGE[/youtube]

Recalling the clash, weren’t we anxious in Round 1? Didn’t our usually-combative boxer just lean against the ropes, covering his chest with both arms like it were a shield, inviting Miguel Cotto to pound on him? Didn’t Manny look doubtful? Not the usual aggressor? Not, as Freddie Roach predicted, a Round 1 knockout?

True. But that lasted three minutes. Because after feeling the pummels of MC’s left jab, MP’s internal engine revved up to score those knockdowns in rounds 3 and 4. From then on, Manny was on a rampage. Never looking tired the entire bout, Manny pursued Miguel like a dog would a cat. The funniest part came when, exasperated with Miguel’s escaping, Manny stopped and, as if placing his hands on his hips, sighed, “Mo away ka or di?”

Wapakman. The movie itself will be shown nationwide on Dec. 25. “Wapakman” is a reel story—while Pacman’s performance two days ago was a real story. For the real Manny has special powers. He’s a true-to-life superhero. His punches fly like Superman flies, his legs strut like Spiderman’s climbs, his muscles flex to reveal the six-pack of Batman. He’s Superman, Spiderman and Batman bundled into one… Wapakman.

Here’s another inconceivable act: Imagine doing a concert after the fight? What confidence. Imagine if his face looked like Cotto’s at fight’s end? He’d have looked pitiful. But Manny knew. As the Nike shirt says, “Pac Man Knows.” He knew that he’d win. He knew that his face wouldn’t be bloodied. He knew that he’d be world champ and would have enough energy to not only last 12 rounds—but to sing songs with his MP Band at the Mandalay Resort party. As one story put it, “Pacquiao belts Cotto… then belts out songs.”

What’s next for our Filipino Idol? A much-deserved vacation. More singing. A promotional tour for his movie which, I’m sure, will be the highest-grossing film of all time. Then, finally, he’ll announce his candidacy for Congressman of Sarangani.

Wapakman? No. It’s… Wala Pakman. Think about it: Manny ran during the 2007 elections. Had he won, do you think he’d have trained with single-minded focus and won against his next five opponents… Marquez, Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto? Because while Manny moved up in weight to take on heavier opponents, against Darlene Antonino-Custodio (who weighs, in my estimate, less than 90 lbs.), the lightest-ever “enemy” he’s faced—he was embarrassed. Wa’ Pakman unta if Manny won.

The question is: When Manny runs for congress this May, will voters elect him? Maybe, maybe not. But there’s a good chance he’ll win this time. MP lost in ‘007 because of two reasons: Darlene Custodio and the public’s clamor for Pacquiao to continue as a boxer and not turn politician. That was then. Now, having beaten all other boxers, he can stop running on the road and run for public office. His new name… Congressman Wapakman.

But, wait. Isn’t there one final hurdle for his quest to be named, Greatest Of All Time? Against the man who’s won 40 times and lost none? I hope this happens. Money Mayweather vs. Money Pacquiao will not only be the richest event in the sport’s history, it will be the Super Bowl of boxing.