?Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.?
Conceivably, modern-day hero Manny Pacquiao learned so much from this age-old Filipino maxim by our national hero Jose P. Rizal.
And while the 26-year-old Pacquiao also keeps himself busy giving away complimentary tickets to so-called close supporters, he did not forget one person who was, if truth be told, his foremost genuine benefactor.
Days ago, Pacquiao, after a sweaty work out, decided to call his previous manager, construction entrepreneur Leopoldo ?Polding? Correa.
In an interview with Bulletin/Tempo, a blissful Correa related how a sincere Pacquiao offered him two complimentary tickets for his March 20 (Manila time) battle with Mexican idol Erik ?El Terrible? Morales.
“Maraming salamat naman at naalala pa niya ako. Natuwa naman ako at may dalawang ticket daw siyang naka-reserba para sa akin.” Disclosed Correa after his usual Saturday morning golf game at the Villamor golf course.
About 10 years ago, a then scrawny Pacquiao along with several other hopefuls approached Correa who was at that time in General Santos City attending to a power plant project.
“Alam nina Manny noon na mahilig ako sa boxing kaya lumapit sa akin ?yan. Ang ginawa ko noon, kinausap ko yung nanay ni Manny at sinabi ko na kukunin ko ang anak niya para dalhin sa gym ko sa Malabon,” narrated Correa.
Known to have a soft spot for striving youngsters, Correa initially took Pacquiao as one of his construction aides while at the same time teaching him the rudiments of the sport through his trainer, a certain ?Mang Eling? of Tugatog, Malabon.
After compiling a record of 19-1, 12 KO?s, Pacquiao annexed the Oriental flyweight belt in 1997 by stopping Thai boxer Chokchai Chockviat in the 5th round in Mandaluyong City.
Three fights after in Phuttamonthon, Thailand, Pacquiao took the WBC flyweight crown from Thai champion Chatchai Sasakul via 8th round stoppage.
Immediately after his failed second world title defense, Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario decided to try their luck with another manager.
That left Correa out in the cold, whose only fault was his contract with Pacquiao expired after that botched title defense in Thailand.
?Para ko nang anak si Manny kaya hindi sasama ang loob ko sa batang ?yan, lalo na ngayon na ang bansa natin ang binibigyan niya ng karangalan? revealed Correa.
Correa and his son are scheduled to leave for United States early next week to join hordes of Filipinos at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada to keep pace with Morales? own flock of Mexican supporters.
