GEN. SANTOS CITY?FOR MORE THAN seven hours Monday night up to the wee hours of Tuesday, Bob Arum acted more like Manny Pacquiao?s election campaign manager than his chief fight promoter.
As Pacquiao hummed songs with his guitar, the 78-year-old Arum anxiously paced the air-conditioned viewing room of the People?s Champ Movement?s operations center here.
Early results culled from various polling precincts in Sarangani?s seven towns made the promoter even more tense.
At past midnight, when the flow of results slowed to a trickle, a visibly worried Arum gulped down two bottles of cold light beer while switching TV channels for election-related coverage.
When canvassing resumed yesterday, there was no stopping Pacquiao?s impending triumph as the seven-time world champion polled 98,951 votes as against congressional foe Roy Chiongbian?s 49,442.
?(Manny?s victory) was even more exciting than his win over (Oscar) De La Hoya,? said Arum, who left for the United States last night. ?He deserves it.?
At the height of the campaign, Pacquiao slept an average of four hours, went hungry several times, and once crossed six rivers to reach voters.
