CHICAGO —He was already a world champ when I first met him in Memphis in June of 2002. And though wildly popular in the Philippines, he was neglected by the rest of the world.
The earth has orbited a few times since those distant four years, and like everything else around us, Manny Pacquiao has changed so magically.
He has become rage and ferocity in short pants, a poem with two leather gloves.
He isn’t just a champ anymore, he’s an icon nestled near the top of boxing’s sacred pound-for-pound list.
He is loved by every Filipino man, woman or child, adored for his generosity and killer charm. And the non-Pinoy boxing fans who had forsaken him once have now embraced him as their own, turning Pacman into a global star, a bankable box-office attraction.
He wears branded clothes these days, looks at time with a nicer watch. And two of his ritzy cars are named Porsche and Mercedes. But despite all the fame and money that followed his celebrity, he is still the Manny Pacquiao I know, a friendly guy willing to fill a reporter’s pad with good stories.
And that’s exactly what I got when I called Manny in Los Angeles last Monday morning. Though getting more hectic everyday as his Grand Finale with Erik Morales nears, Manny kindly took the time to open his heart to Sun.Star Cebu.
I started our Q and A on a light tone, asking him about fatherhood as his wife Jinky just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. With three kids now and life moving so fast and furious, I wondered if Manny sometimes feels as old as the song Moon River.
“No, I don’t” he replied determinedly. “In fact I’m more energized and more inspired. I can’t thank the Lord enough for our newborn child. ‘Malaking blessing ‘to’ and that’s why we named her Mary Grace Divine.”
Talk about politics came next, but Manny deflected it the way he deflects a hostile jab. “Sa ngayon, ang focus ko ay sa laban lang,” he said. Pressing without annoying, I asked whether becoming a senator, a position where he can help more constituents, was written in his colorful life script. He countered with a crisp “no comment.”
We then drifted to his private life, a life that has been doggedly covered by the media, sometimes in a not-so flattering light. I zeroed in on his gambling and his penchant for billiards.
“It’s a hobby and a business,” he explained the countless trips to cockfighting derbies. He admits gambling on those feathered gladiators, but it’s only recreational and not done in wretched excess.
The billiards, Manny insists, “is just exercise.” Sure, money is being thrown around the pool table, but the bets are not that excessive, just friendly wagers that help put more fire behind the cue stick.
I went malling with Manny at the Grove in LA last January and I saw first hand the mammoth crowd that he drew. Manny can’t take a few steps without being asked for an autograph or a photo-op and cell phones were shoved in his mouth, begging him to talk to stunned strangers on the other end of the line.
“Do you ever get tired of all that? Do you sometimes wish you’d be just another ordinary guy going shopping and having a meal without being badgered?” I probed.
“No,” he replied swiftly. “I’m grateful for what I’ve become. I’ll never get tired of celebrity, it’s part of success. I love my fans very much. I hope they continue to support me this Nov. 18 and beyond.”
Manny just bought a brand new Mercedes Benz SL 550 and I asked him about the gorgeous ride that fits well in trendy, star-ladden LA.
“I’ve always liked cars. Fast cars,” he said. The operative word here is fast, because it reflects Manny’s ring exploits, the now-you-see, now-you-don’t quickness that has bedazzled everyone who has a pair of eyes.
I’ve interviewed Manny infinitely over the years and I’ve noticed that as he has matured, so has his sense of articulation. His answers are now brief, but full of meat. His English is very good, one that manifests a confident command.
“Did you take English classes, or had a coach helped you tackle the art of the interview? I pried. “No,” he says shyly. “I just learned from experience. I read when I can and I’m not reluctant to ask for some guidance from my friends when I need it.”
Lastly, we talked about Erik Morales. “I have a healthy respect for him. I think he’ll make weight. But I’m ready for him and I’m determined to win,” Manny declared.
Just how ready is Manny, conditioning-wise?
“9.5 out of 10,” he said.
Manny’s nap time was inching closer, so we ended the interview. But he promised to be available for Sun.Star Cebu in the days leading to the Grand Finale. I’m not surprised he’d say that. He was just being Manny.
P.S. I’d like to thank Winchell Campos, Manny’s close friend and adviser, whom I’ve stalked night and day. A former sportswriter, Winchell arranged my chat with Manny as well as other media-related requests in the past. Maraming salamat po!
In Friday’s column, I’ll take you to a day in Manny’s life in training. Don’t miss it.
