MANILA, Philippines?It was the victory party that boxing champ Manny Pacquiao almost missed.
GMA 7 threw an ?intimate? bash for Pacman to celebrate his triumph over Ricky Hatton on Friday night. Alas, the guest of honor was stranded in Mindanao.
According to event host Paolo Bediones, Pacquiao, who was a bit under the weather, had missed the morning and afternoon flights from General Santos City earlier.
Friend and politician Luis ?Chavit? Singson came to the rescue, lending his private jet plane to the boxer.
Though two hours late, Pacquiao arrived at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati?where 100 or so guests from the media, entertainment and advertising awaited him.
They call this ?intimate??
Among the celebrities at the party were JayR and Rochelle Pangilinan, Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez, Pia and Maxene Magalona, Paolo Contis and Lian Paz, Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto. Also Alfred Vargas and Dingdong Dantes, who both came date-less.
Claudine brought along a letter written by daughter Sabina who is Pacquiao?s godchild. It said: ?Ninong, you?re the best puncher in the world.?
Barretto told Inquirer Entertainment: ?Sabina talked to Manny on the phone. She told him: ?Ninong, Hatton is a loser, but you?re a winner!??
That same evening, Pacquiao signed a contract with GMA 7, represented by network bosses Felipe Gozon and Gilberto Duavit Jr. The GMA execs presented to Pacquiao a Ramon Orlina glass sculpture.
The boxer announced that he was set to do a sitcom with the network, co-starring songwriter Lito Camo and former Olympian Onyok Velasco.
Pacman capped the night, belting out ?Lahing Pinoy,? ?I Never Cry? and ?Bilog ang Mundo.? Now, that was a knockout.
