GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines ? In the eyes of his mother, the world?s greatest boxer of this era is the same Manny Pacquiao before rags turned to riches.
?Nothing has changed,? says Dionesia Pacquiao as she recalls the old days with the People?s Champ and now Sarangani?s representative in Congress.
Mommy Dionesia, as she is fondly called, celebrates Mother?s Day like all other families as a day of tribute to mothers.
She recalled that when they (Pacquiao brood) were young, Manny would give her flowers and greet her on Mother?s Day.
And she is grateful to Manny?s teachers for training students, like Pacquiao, to be thoughtful to their parents ? especially mothers.
?He is the same sweet and thoughtful son,? she told the Manila Bulletin Friday evening in her house in Barangay Labangal here, where reporters swarmed around to see her face-to-face, asking questions about her wishes for Manny?s fight today as well as her forthcoming birthday.
That is why, she said, Manny was moved to tears when they had a conversation on-air Friday morning when both were interviewed on TV.
?Mommy, sorry if we haven?t talked often nowadays and if I have not hugged you for a long time,? Pacquiao told Mommy Dionesia during that TV interview.
?But I understand that because he has to be far from home (for his fights),? she said in Cebuano.
Her hope, like all other fights Manny has had before, is for God to give him strength and a fighting spirit.
?I hope that the Holy Spirit will give him mercy so that he could defend himself inside the ring,? she said.
?But for now I cannot say what will be the outcome of the fight. Let us not defy God?s will.?
The mother of the boxer, who is the first in history to win eight division titles, is turning 62 next Sunday and still aspires that Manny will be victorious in this fight, that he will remain the world?s best boxer although she has already suggested that the world pound-for-pound boxer quits his career.
?Sinasabi ko parati: Manny, maawa ka sa katawan mo. Ngunit lagi niyang sinasabi: Ma, kayang kaya ko to.?
