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MANNY AND TEAM PACQUIAO RECEIVE BLESSINGS By Dr. Allan Recto PhilBoxing.com Tue, 02 Dec 2008  Los Angeles, CA (12-1-?08) - On Sunday, Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao attended the morning mass to receive a blessing from Pastor Rev. Antonio Cacciapuoti at the Christ the King church located at 624 N. Rossmore Avenue, before departing today to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will fight the golden boy Oscar De la Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Arena next Saturday December 6. During the mass, Manny sat in one of the last rows, prayed and sang along with the rest of the congregation, accompanied by his pregnant wife Jinkee, friends and members of the Team Pacquiao, who woke up early to be present and also receive the blessing. Among those present include Buboy and Claire Fernandez, Bobby Pacquiao, Wakee Salud, Dr. Nasser Cruz, Jojo Sta. Teresa, Joaquin Hagedorn, Jinkee Jamora?s siblings Haydee, Janet, Russell & Don-Don. During the mass, Manny and Jinkee did the offertory. The priest said he hoped Manny would win the fight as he usually does. He said he could not take sides and he wished nobody would get hurt. At the end of the mass, most of the congregation was waiting for the champion of the people to greet him, take pictures and have their souvenirs signed, which as always were granted by Manny. The champ then proceeded to his Palazzo apartment for a sumptuous breakfast. At night, before retiring to bed, Pacquiao led the rosary with a select group praying for his upcoming Dec. 6 match with De La Hoya. TEAM PACQUIAO - MUCH ?LIGHTER? and ?RICHER? TEAM After two weeks of dedication and effort, Team Pacquiao lost more than 350 pounds and is now ?in shape? for Christmas and ?The Dream Match.?. Two weeks ago, Manny decided that his team was out of shape and heavy, so he agreed to put everybody on exercise and diet regimen, and whoever lose 10 pounds would receive a $2,000 dollars bonus, if any body would lose 15 pounds or more, they would receive an additional thousand dollars compensation. Manny Pacquiao had to pay more than $70 thousand dollars in bonuses to the team, who made a great job losing weight. 29 members participated in the effort, 16 of them lost more than 15 pounds, 8 more than 10 lbs., 5 declined and interestingly, one-gained 3 pounds, a certain guy nicknamed ?Udoy.? Conditioning coach Alex Ariza was the biggest loser, after dropping 20 pounds, for which he got recognized. He showed in the scheduled weigh-in minutes before the 4 pm deadline and beat the scale. He also received an extra bonus of 10 thousand dollars for being the top weight loser. Buboy Fernandez, Manny?s Filipino Trainer lost a total of 16 pounds and was heavily cheered. His wife Claire was jumping for joy. Manny explained to all that he did this because he wanted Team Pacquiao to understand what a big sacrifice it is to be a boxer. ?The two weeks you have passed with a diet and trying to lose weight, we the boxers have to do it every time we?re preparing for a fight,? he said. ?Like the fight, it?s not easy,? he added. Although Manny lost some money, he was very pleased for the Team Pacquiao. Notes: HBO crew were present to record the event and this becomes a segment in their last episode of the 24/7 to be aired this coming Thursday, Dec. 4. Filipino journalists Nick Giongco (Manila Bulletin), Abac Cordero (Philippine Star), Francis Ochoa (Phil. Daily Inquirer) and Gerry Ramos (People?s Journal) covered the event. Manny jokingly labeled the dropouts ?Tamad? (Lazy). Jake Joson helped me supervise the weigh-in. Rob Peters said he could have done 15 lbs. but he didn?t want to be greedy. Winchell Campos said had he known there was a prize for being the biggest loser; he would have lost more weight. Joe Ramos was right on the money at 10 lbs. Noel Lautengco, who made the 15 lbs., said he wanted to be the first to be weighed because he could not take being dehydrated and hungry anymore. Miguel Salazar lost exactly 15 lbs. Jovy Halog made 13 lbs. on his first attempt then went to the sauna. After an hour, he lost 1 lb. when weigh-in with his birthday suit. He decided not to shoot for another pound as he found it was a very difficult task to do. Top photo: Pastor Cacciapuotti (L) including congregation pray over The PacMan (c) with Jinkee & Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez (R). 
Claire Fernandez (c) gives a bonus kiss to husband Buboy who made weight to the delight of the Team Pacquiao group. 
Manny Pacquiao (L) praises Alex Ariza (R) who received additional prize for being the top weight loser. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.  |
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