Philippines, 09 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Mandirigma - The Quiet Warrior


PhilBoxing.com




When the great Filipino boxing legend trains for his fights, one of the regimens that he likes to do is run early in the morning.

He runs around the streets close to his house in Makati or vicinities around. He runs the hills of Saranggani and the flat lands at the Pan Pacific Park in West Hollywood and the steep roads leading to the Griffith Park Observatory or the famed Hollywood Sign atop Mt. Hollywood in Los Angeles.

In the previous years when the Legend runs, one most conspicuously seen keeping up with him is Pacman the dog, a brown and white Jack Russell Terrier.

The four-legged friend was at one time tagged as the ?secret weapon? of Manny Pacquiao. Pacman the dog was pampered as he had a role to play during training, besides of course sneering and playfully attacking some of the guests that commonly populate the place wherever Pacquiao keeps residence while training, be it at his old hangout at the Palazzo Condos near the famed Farmer?s Market in West Hollywood or lately at the Mansion in the old Los Angeles Hancock Park. The dog has legal papers and he travels with Pacquiao to the US to be part of the training regimen.

But father time finally caught up with poor little pampered doggie. He is now about 13 years old and in terms of dog age, that is really old.

With the dog gone, people seemed to have lost focus on photos of Pacquiao running up the Hollywood Hills. Suddenly, it was just a routine.

But if one would focus on all the different photos of Pacquiao conquering the hills in Saranggani or Mount Hollywood, one face is often seen albeit not as conspicuous as one would like to be seen, running with Pacquiao because he oftentimes wears a hoodie.


Pacquiao and his running buddy, Mandirigma.

He is the only one that can consistently keep up with Pacquiao and eventually got to be his favorite running partner.

That quiet young man is AJ Angeles AKA Mandirigma. Contrary to a lot of the so-called ?Pacquiao Boys? who mostly speak Visayan and Tagalog, Mandirigma was born and raised at Angeles City in the gorgeous province of Pampanga.

Mandirigma once worked for the US Postal Service. But that?s not how he fell in love with the outdoors.

This quiet and unassuming young man did not know Manny Pacquiao from Adam. One day he happened to be at the Bahay Kubo, a popular spot for Filipinos in LA. Pacquiao was there as well. Seemingly attracted by the crowd, he mustered enough courage to approach the Legend and sought an autograph. Of course, Pacquiao readily and wholeheartedly complied. After all that is one of his main assets- he loves his fans.

Mandirigma at that moment decided to find more about Pacquiao. And, the more he did, the more he liked what he found.

In fact he said: ?Before the advent of the Pacquiao name in the USA, Filipinos were just folks in the community - just one of the groups of minorities in the sea of immigrants in the Southern California.?

?But when the Pacquiao name slowly and surely rose to fame, he carried the word 'Filipino' everywhere. Suddenly Filipinos where no longer just sitting in the back burner. We got to be known well at least in the boxing world,? Mandirigma told this writer.

So in his own way to show his gratitude to Pacquiao, he decided to slowly insert himself with the Pacquiao crowd, something that was not too easy to do.

Mandirigma started running with Pacquiao when the Legend was training for the Ricky Hatton fight. But he only did it sporadically. ?It wasn?t easy to keep up with him. He was in great condition and was on top of his career.? But with enough training and dedication, Mandirigma eventually got in top shape to keep up with the Legend.

When Pacquiao started training for Miguel Cotto, Mandirigma made it a full time job to run with him anywhere Pacquiao run. To date, he still runs with the Legend.

Mandirigma, unlike certain folks associated with the Pacquiao name, is different. He does not crave the attention most coveted. He just simply does his job. He runs and when that is done he stays behind the scene savoring his accomplishments for the day quietly to himself.

In fact, the only thing he has done to get some ?benefits? from his work was to ask Pacquiao for permission to market some t-shirts and hoodies that carry his brand name Mandirigma Clothing Co. and bears the name ?MP Training-Team Pacquiao?. It?s not a huge enterprise. He mostly catered to friends and close associates of Pacquiao who hang out at the training sites.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 5 May 2025: Inoue-Cardenas Saves Historic Boxing Weekend; Canelo-Scull Sets New Record for Fewest Punches Thrown
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Sampson Lewkowicz Congratulates Cardenas, Romero and Espinoza and Vows to Make Next Year's Cinco de Mayo Unforgettable, Highlighted by David Benavidez Facing the Winner of Bivol vs. Beterbiev
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Saving the Best for Last: GSW Upstages Raw Rockets
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Antonio, Bagamasbad face tough competition in Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Tournament on May 18
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Andres “Savage” Cortes Finishes Strong Training Camp Ahead of Crucial May 10 Clash Against Salvador Jimenez at Pechanga Arena San Diego
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS and ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT PRESENT HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • IBA embraces Bare Knuckle Boxing
    , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Monster Dynamite: Inoue Crushes Cardenas in Eight
    , Mon, 05 May 2025
  • "THE MONSTER" SURVIVES EARLY SCARE, DESTROYS CARDENAS IN THRILLING WAR TO RETAIN UNDISPUTED CROWN
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 05 May 2025
  • Dana White to Promote Canelo vs. Crawford: UFC Boss Set to Elevate Superfight to Historic Levels
    By T. Chin-Te, , Mon, 05 May 2025
  • Bata Reyes impressed with upcoming young players during exhibition in Libis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 05 May 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.