LOS ANGELES—To say Manny Pacquiao is a head-turner is an understatement. Wherever he goes, whether the supermarket, restaurant, fastfood chain outlet, computer shop, sporting goods store, shopping mall, underground parking area, airport or the streets of Tinseltown, Pacquiao never fails to draw attention even from non-Filipinos.
Driving his Lincoln Navigator on Monday afternoon in Hollywood, a bemoustached Mexican parking lot attendant got the surprise of his life when the guy who rolled down the window of the SUV smiled at him upon receiving the ticket.
“Oh, you the Filipino boxer, Pacquiao!,” exclaimed the wide-eyed Mexican, who quickly told his fellow workers that he had just come face-to-face with the man boxers from his country totally despise.
The short fellow tagged along some buddies and even requested that Pacquiao sign an autograph.
Pacquiao, as always, gave in to the request then sped away with adviser Joe Ramos in tow.
“Manny’s famous not only to Filipinos, but to many Mexicans as well,” said Ramos. “You can’t say that to other boxers.”
Morales may be famous and well-loved in Mexico, but to Filipinos, the ring technician from Tijuana does not command the respect and admiration of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has become so revered in this city that he always draws crowds.
Pacquiao has posed for pictures with infants, toddlers, pre-teens, members of the hip-hop generation, yuppies and old-timers as well. He has never turned down a request for his signature although some of the signed articles end up on E-Bay.
The 26-year-old from General Santos City, himself said he never knew that his name would one day become a household name.
“Mahilig na talaga ako sa boksing kahit nung bata pa ako,” said Pacquiao from his two-bedroom apartment at the Palazzo. “Natatandaan ko pa na madalas akong manood ng boksing sa bahay ng tiyuhin ko at sinasabi ko pa sa kanya na gusto kong maging kasing sikat nina Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes at Sugar Ray Leonard.”
“Sinasabi pa nga sa akin ng tiyuhin ko na tama na raw ang aking panonood at hugasan ko na raw yung pinagkainan gaya ng plato at kutsara’t tinidor,” said Pacquiao.
“Ang pangarap ko lang dati ay magkaroon ng kotse na makikita ng aking mga kababayan sa GenSan habang minamaneho ko. Ganun lang,” said Pacquiao.
But cars are just a few items that Pacquiao has.
Besides the brawny Navigator he drives in LA, Pacquiao also owns a Mitsubishi Pajero which he uses while in Manila, a Ford Expedition in GenSan, Toyota pickup and a Honda CRV.
Arguably the richest Filipino athlete today, Pacquiao also owns a house in GenSan, Davao and Para?aque, where he also co-owns the Wild Card Gym on Presidents Ave. in BF Homes.
He is also into cockfighting and boasts of 600 birds of excellent lineage.
Despite the fame and fortune, Pacquiao insists he remains competitive at heart and this is the reason why he is not looking past Velazquez.
“Marami pa akong inaambisyon. Nariyan pa si (Erik) Morales at si (Marco Antonio) Barrera.”
Pacquiao is itching to get back at Morales, who dealt him a points loss the first time they squared off in Las Vegas five months ago.
In the event he exacts payback early next year, Pacquiao is training his sights on Barrera, who insists that on the night he lost to the Filipino southpaw in Nov. 2003 in San Antonio, Texas, his mind was elsewhere.
“Nasa isip ko silang pareho, pero isa-isa lang muna. Unahin muna natin si Velazquez,” added Pacquiao.
