BACOLOD CITY — He considers this one his most-prized masterpiece and was selling it for P200,000. But for his inspiration, it was a freebie.
Local sculptor Herminio ?Hermie? Aurelio got his wish Tuesday when he turned over the life-size statue he made of Manny Pacquiao to the Filipino ring idol himself.
?It?s a dream come true for me,? the gray-haired Aurelio, 67, told the Inquirer.
On top of his regular sculpting jobs, Aurelio said he worked on the concrete statue — coated with gold paint — on the side for more than a year starting in late 2004.
It was ready by the time Pacquiao knocked out Mexico?s Erik Morales in January, Aurelio said.
Pacquiao?s ?barber?s hair-cut? and his mustache were perfectly crafted in the statue that showed the boxing hero in a fighting stance.
Aurelio said he had wanted to give his work personally to Pacquiao.
But with Pacquiao unable to come to Negros Occidental province immediately after the fight against Morales, Aurelio said he displayed the statue for five months in front of his store with a price tag of P200,000.
?There were no buyers but I?m more than happy to give this [statue] to him,? said Aurelio, who sat beside Pacquiao in a press conference at the Casino Filipino here.
Himamaylan Mayor Carminia Bascon facilitated the transport of the statue to Bacolod City, where Aurelio met Pacquiao for the first time yesterday.
Pacquiao expressed elation over Aurelio?s gesture and said he would bring the statue home to General Santos City.
