It isn?t easy being Manny Pacquiao. The world?s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter is like a magnet, attracting people from all walks of life, from everywhere, to bask in his air space.
Right now, Pacquiao is money, power and glamor personified. He?s a legend in his own time and what he has become is unprecedented in the history of Philippine sports. More than anything else, Pacquiao is a national treasure, probably the single element that unifies the fractious Philippine society.
But Pacquiao is only human. He?s not perfect. At 30 and coming from humble beginnings, the life of a celebrity is an incredibly new experience for him ? as is setting priorities.
Last Friday morning, Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee, lawyer Jeng Gacal and Canadian adviser Michael Koncz took a Northwest Airlines flight from Manila that eventually brought them to New York City. They landed at around 3 p.m., US time, and had about four hours of settling down before showing up at the Boxing Writers Association of America Awards Night at the Capitale on Bowery Street.
Pacquiao almost didn?t go.
Here?s what happened.
Pacquiao had promised his wife and four kids to take them on a vacation to Australia early this month. But for one reason or another, the trip didn?t push through. There were visa problems, someone mentioned. Before another trip could be arranged, Pacquiao was deluged by a slew of commitments ? some political in nature, some commercial ? and he couldn?t disengage from any of them.
Meanwhile, the date of the Awards Night was fast approaching. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach were to rendezvous with Pacquiao in New York. Roach was to receive his third Eddie Futch-Johnny Condon Trainer of the Year award (he was previously cited in 2003 and 2006) and Pacquiao, his second Edward J. Neil Fighter of the Year trophy (his first was in 2006).
Pacquiao badly wanted to make up for the botched Australia trip and found an open weekend to take his family to Bohol. But it meant skipping the New York event.
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When Pacquiao made known his plans for Bohol, friends begged him to reconsider. It would be a fatal mistake to snub the Boxing Writers Association of America, a prestigious and influential institution that was founded back in 1926, they told Pacquiao. But Pacquiao wouldn?t hear of it. He felt his absence from the event would prove to his family where his priorities lay and considered it a career sacrifice.
Arum and Roach tried to phone Pacquiao from the US, hoping to convince him to go to New York. Pacquiao, however, turned off both his cellphones and wouldn?t take any calls.
Last Wednesday, one of Pacquiao?s low-key friends tried to make contact through Jinkee at Pacquiao?s home in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Businessman Hermie Esguerra, realizing the importance of attending the New York event, spoke to Jinkee on the phone. Jinkee then turned over the phone to Pacquiao.
Esguerra explained the possible repercussions if Pacquiao didn?t attend. Pacquiao understood the ramifications. What opened his eyes was the realization that as a national treasure, he had an obligation to the country and this was an opportunity to leave behind a legacy to his children. Pacquiao told Esguerra he would think it over.
Late that afternoon, Pacquiao and his family flew to Cebu. He still hadn?t made up his mind but a back-up plan was to film a video apologizing for not attending the New York affair and sending it to be shown at the Awards Night.
Esguerra, sensing he had to do something extraordinary to convince Pacquiao, drove from his Mandaluyong home to Camp Aguinaldo to seek out Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro who was with Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado.
Esguerra appealed to Teodoro to speak with Pacquiao in behalf of the nation. To Esguerra, this was a matter of national concern and he explained it as such to Teodoro.
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On the phone, Teodoro spoke to Pacquiao in Cebuano with the message of sacrificing for the country. There were two more calls that night as Pacquiao?s close friend Rex (Wakee) Salud monitored what was going on in Cebu.
Things began to clear up when a call to Northwest Airlines was made to book tickets and Pacquiao looked over his acceptance speech prepared by Gacal. Salud said the chances improved from 60-40 to 80-20 to 99.9 by 11:30 p.m. when he finally confirmed Pacquiao?s decision.
Esguerra stayed at Camp Aguinaldo until 2 a.m. when he got word that the trip was a go. That Thursday morning, Pacquiao took his family from Cebu to Bohol then flew back to Manila at night. He left with Jinkee on the Northwest flight the next morning and promised to be back with their children in Bohol. Pacquiao and Jinkee were scheduled to watch the Miguel Cotto-Joshua Clottey fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City last night (Saturday, US time) then would take the Northwest flight Sunday morning to arrive in Manila tomorrow night.
Esguerra said the episode proved Pacquiao?s maturity. ?We know he?s a family man and at first, he thought going to New York would mean turning his back on his family,? said Esguerra. ?But then he realized how important it was for him to represent the country at the Awards Night.?
Esguerra said he heard Pacquiao was a huge hit in New York City. One of those who attended was Filipino priest Fr. Marlon Beof who celebrates Mass for Pacquiao the morning before every fight and the morning after.
?It was a standing ovation,? reported Esguerra who saw off Pacquiao at the Manila airport last Friday. ?In his acceptance speech, Manny thanked God for His blessings, acknowledging his power emanates from up there. He thanked his wife and children for their support and understanding. He thanked the Boxing Writers Association for its work in promoting the sport. It was a great moment for the Philippines and Manny?s humility was overpowering.?
Pacquiao had scored another knockout.
