Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said he is thrilled and honored that he is the first one World Champion Manny Pacquiao has endorsed for the 2007 elections.
Pacquiao told him he has so many friends like mayors, governors, congressmen and senators, but he is the only one he has endorsed so far, Leonardia said.
“I’m not ashamed of my friendship with him,” Leonardia said. He said Pacquiao had invited him to hold his championship belt during his recent fight with Mexican Oscar Larios and that he would never have presented himself to do so, as, for sure, that is something he will never do.
Leonardia said he believes his supporters and those who are neutral are also all out for Pacquiao as shown by their welcome for him in Bacolod last Tuesday. He said Pacquiao and his team were impressed since this is the first time they had a motorcade where the people continued to flood the streets despite a drizzle. According to Pacquiao, the crowd here doubled that which welcomed him in General Santos, his home city, he added.
“I think Pacquiao was so overwhelmed by the crowd that he is now thinking of building a house in Bacolod,” Leonardia said. His people say he is looking for business opportunities here because he feels it is his moral obligation to invest in Bacolod, he said.
Pacquiao is an adopted son of Bacolod City.
ONE MEAL A DAY
Leonardia said, Pacquaio has more brains than many people think, and ANC has reported he is worth P300 million by now. Pacquaio told him that there was a time in his life when he ate only once a day and only had rice, with salt for his viand, Leonardia said.
That will serve as an inspiration to others because it proves that if one strives, one has a chance for a better life, Leonardia said. Pacquaio had gone to Manila because he wanted to improve his life, he said.
READING BOOKS
Leonardia said Pacquiao informed him he only studied up to Grade 6 but he continued to read books because he could not afford to go to school. He said he noticed that teachers base their lessons on books, so he tried to read as many books as he could.
His business advisers said Pacquiao asks very intelligent questions when it comes to business and even when he talks about how he fights, Leonardia said. Pacquiao believes that in terms of muscles, preparations and training, his opponents may have them, but the difference lies in one’s brain, he said. “I think that is one of the major factors of his success – he uses his brains,” he added.
ANONYMOUS IN SAN CARLOS
Meanwhile, Leonardia said Pacquiao took the land trip to Cebu through Don Salvador Benedicto when he left Bacolod on Thursday. And since nobody knew he was coming, when he was in San Carlos City, people just stared at him because they were not sure, he said.
Leonardia said Pacquiao also told him that when he was on board the boat to Cebu, he fell asleep. He was awakened only when he heard noises because people were already having their pictures taken beside him while he was sleeping, he said.*CGS
