GENERAL SANTOS CITY–Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao yesterday threw what is arguably the grandest birthday bash in his life, as well as the most attended baptism of his daughter and a major victory party amid speculations on his next move concerning the promotional tug-of-war between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank.
Boxing certainly was farthest from his mind when Pacquiao led his relatives and friends for the baptismal of his only daughter Mary Divine Grace ‘Princess’ Pacquiao at the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage church in this city starting at 1O:30 AM.
A mammoth throng of fans trooped to the church to join Pacquiao and his lovely wife Jinkee, as well as the Pacquiao clan in welcoming the cherub-faced baby to Christianity.
Eleven other babies were fortunate enough to share the altar with Pacquiao’s daughter, as they were also baptized at the same time by Fr. Vicente Supranes-CP, in what is arguably the most well attended baptism in recent memory.
The babies who were also baptized yesterday together with Pacquiao’s daughter were Lanz Christian Maghari, Mark Jade Agang, Francisco Cordero III, Brine Nee Belgira, Benedict Purla, Andrew Obusan, Allen Clyde Sales, Cassandra Gale Dondiego, Real Nadua, Danica Jane Lamirez, and Francisco Civera III.
Policemen and the military were commissioned to cordon off the road leading to Pioneer Street where the church is located, and a star-studded line-up of celebrities joined the ceremony as godparents.
Among those who stood as godparents to Pacquiao’s daughter were billionaire Gabby Lopez of ABS-CBN, Gov. Chavit Singson, Ali Atienza (son of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza), Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz, Ms Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia, comedian Bayani Agbayani, San Miguel Corporation’s Ramon Ang, actor Rudy Fernandez, Congressman Miles Roces, Wilson Tieng of Solar Sports, Benjie Lim, Tony Antonio, Jeffrey Mangali, Emily Uy, Angelie Reyes, Janet Jamora, and Ms. Rose Flaminiano, Jayke Joson, Jeng Gacal, Salvador Dumago Jr. and Mon Dizon.
After the mass, a grand reception was held at the upscale Rosewood Restaurant, where Pacquiao threw a lavish reception for his guests.
The house blessing of Pacquiao’s 35-Million ($700,000) mansion then took place at 4PM, with star-studded friends from the business and entertainment world in attendance. Prior to the program, Pacquiao took part in a live television interview with television giant ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz” program.
While all these activities were going on, the opening day of the Manny Pacquiao Cup, a tournament for the country’s rising amateur fighters, also took place at the city’s plaza.
In the evening, some of the country’s biggest entertainment stars belonging to the ABS-CBN network held a musical extravaganza for Pacquiao at the city’s Lagao Gym.
Meanwhile, those who flew in from the United States to grace the event were Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and assistant Billy Hussein, as well as Pacquiao’s manager Shelly Finkel. The group is reportedly lobbying for Pacquiao to choose Marco Antonio Barrera as his next opponent, and honor the earlier 7-fight contract he signed with Oscar De la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
“We are going to meet with Manny again. I think we are close to that,” Roach told this writer when asked about the status of Pacquiao’s possible choice of Golden Boy as promoter. Roach, however, remains vigilant as he cited certain people who might be feeding wrong information on the fighter.
Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud, whom Roach said is now with his camp, was also present at yesterday’s events which cost Pacquiao a whopping P6 Million to hold.
US-based Canadian Michael Koncz, who represents Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, has been in the country since Pacquiao arrived following his third-round demolition of Erik Morales.
Koncz has also been lobbying for Pacquiao to side with Top Rank, although there have been a tremendous clamor from fans for the Filipino boxing hero to choose De la Hoya as promoter and Barrera as his next foe.
A source close to the Pacquiao camp has indicated that De la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions seems to have the upper hand as far as the legal aspect of the contract is concerned, although Arum surprised everyone when he announced in the post-fight conference that Pacquiao and his MP Promotions have signed a four-year deal with the Las Vegas-based outfit.
