Saturday, I was invited to a sumptuous Chinese dinner hosted by Gov. Chavit Singson for seven-division world champion Manny Pacquiao at the Jasmine in New World hotel hours before Pacquiao was to board a Philippine Air Lines flight bound for Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles, Pacquiao would have the chance to focus on training for his upcoming fight against Mexican-American Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight/junior middleweight title on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Over at Wild Card gym in LA, there would be no disruptions to the training regimen mapped out by Freddie Roach and strength trainer/conditioning coach Alex Ariza.
It was the first time we had been with Pacquiao since I accompanied the newly elected Sarangani congressman on his courtesy call on then President-elect Benigno C. Aquino III at the latter?s home in Quezon City before the June 30 oath-taking of the country?s 15th President.
The dinner invitation was for 6 p.m. but Pacquiao arrived after 8 p.m. with wife Jinkee. The champ came straight off a therapy session for his left foot on which is anchored his power leg.
With us in the table were businessman-sportsman Hermie Esguerra, godfather of one of Pacquiao?s daughters, Princess; former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza and his wife Beng; actress Sunshine Cruz; Pacquiao confidante, Eric Pineda; jeweler Mia Florencio (niece of former PBA star Danny) and, of course Jinkee who dutifully served husband Manny whose dinner was constantly interrupted by fans who sought him for autographs and photo opportunities.
Singson left earlier for Araneta Coliseum for the David Foster-Charice show. I too left right after the Jasmine dinner where I proudly watched our own Charice and other Filipino talents in the audience who were asked by the amiable Foster to sing: Arnel Pineda, Randy Santiago and Pilita Corrales.
It was clear that Pacquiao was excited to talk about his new job as Congressman of Sarangani, which is actually the home province of wife Jinkee. He talked of his one-hour meeting with President Aquino in Malaca?ang Friday and his plans to build a P200 million hospital in Sarangani
