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Pacman. The Destroyer. WBC International Super Featherweight Champion. 2006 Fighter of the Year. Pambansang Kamao. Kapuso.
Pacman. The Destroyer. WBC International Super Featherweight Champion. 2006 Fighter of the Year. Pambansang Kamao. Kapuso. Yes, you heard that right! Pinoys’ pride Manny Pacquiao is a certified Kapuso! He signed an exclusive GMA contract recently and is excited for the turnout of this new endeavor. Text by Jillian Q. Gatcheco. Photos courtesy of GMA Network. Celebrity status “Masayang-masaya ako at nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng Kapuso sa mainit na pagtanggap sa akin,” he said in a Chika Minute interview. “Tayo’y natutuwa at Kapuso na natin si Manny, sapagka’t si Manny ay hindi lamang world boxing champion, marami ring ginagawa yan—nagbi-bilyar din yan! Kaya we are very proud na Kapuso na siya ngayon,” said GMA Chairman, President, and CEO, Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. And fans don’t have to wait that long for a project because even before Pacman’s Will to Win fight, he already started shooting a movie with award-winning actress Ara Mina, titled Anak ng Kumander. When asked to comment on what he thought of his first-ever leading lady, Manny replied with a shy smile, “Okay naman, syempre, sanay na rin gumawa ng movie yun, at mabait naman—mapagkaibigan.” Showbiz doesn’t come without intrigues, of course, and it didn’t take long for the rumor mill to churn out stories about a new love team in local Tinseltown. But Ara denied that she and Pacman were an item and even apologized to the boxer’s wife, Jinky, for the entire hullabaloo. Despite these recent developments in Manny’s celebrity status, the reigning Super Featherweight Champion did not seem the least bit distracted from his goal: to win his much-anticipated rematch with “The Baby-Faced Assassin,” Marco Antonio Barrera. And he did not disappoint. A grand homecoming A victorious Pacquiao arrived on October 11, 2007 at 5:30 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines flight PR-103. After paying a courtesy call to Malacañang at 10 a.m., he headed straight to GMA Network for an intimate victory lunch. The event was hosted by Whammy! duo Paolo Bediones and Rufa Mae Quinto, who, together with the GMA bosses and Team Pacquiao, gave the boxer their congratulations for another win against Barrera. There are definitely perks to having Pacman on our side of the fence, because GMA got first dibs on an exclusive coverage of his Barerra fight. Titled Will to Win II: Pacquiao vs. Barrera, it was aired live locally on Sunday, October 7, 2007. The Pacquiao-Barrera rematch held in Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada had everyone in abated breath, especially since their last bout in 2003 ended in an 11th round TKO that skyrocketed Pacman’s boxing career. If you will remember, Pacquiao survived the “Dinamita (Juan Manuel Marquez),” TKO’d “El Terrible (Erik Morales),” and bested the “Coloradito (Jorge Solis).” In fact, Pacquiao is known in Mexico as “Republica Enemy #1” and “Verdugo de Mexicanos” because he has beaten some of Mexico’s best fighters! Pagpapasalamat In one of his homecoming presscon’s opening speeches, GMA EVP and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr. expressed his gratitude for Pacquaio: “Maraming salamat sa karangalang idinulot mo, hindi lamang sa iyong mga Kapuso, kung hindi sa samabayanan. Congratulations, Manny! Welcome home! Soon after, Rufa Mae and Paolo introduced the man of the hour, who looked well-rested after his exhilarating 12-round fight over the weekend. “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyong lahat sa walang sawa na suporta. Kaya na rin po ako nagtagumpay dahil sa dasal ng mga Pilipino,” said a grateful Pacquiao. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng mga Kapuso, sa mga Pilipino. Ako’y masayang-masaya sa aming laban, lalo na’t walang gulo, walang debate-debate.” His next statement was applauded by everyone: “Ako’y natutuwa, at kahit araw-araw, magagawa kong maglaban para magkaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino. Ako po, hinihila ko pataas ang ating bansa. Sana naman sa mga taong hinihila pababa ang ating bansa, tulungan nila ako hilahin ito pataas.” He finished off with yet another round of thanks: “Maraming salamat rin sa mga government officials at celebrities na pumunta sa fight. Sa mga Pilipino, siguro 60-40 ang [pumunta] doon—marami tayo! Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat, God bless you!” According to a report from GMA News, Pacquiao’s next opponent will not be known until the middle of November, but his next fight has been set for March 2008. Another report in Philboxing.com stated that his handlers are looking forward to another fight in July and November 2008. After the long wait, it’s final: You’ll get to chat with Pacman on November 26 via the iGMA Live Chat! All you have to do is register on igma.tv. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to tell your idol how much he makes you proud! iGMA will also give one lucky fan a chance to MEET PACMAN in person via an all-new Chat Promo! Visit iGMA on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, to find out how to join! More about Manny: Debete with many Pacquiao! SOP Sobrang OJ for Manny The Pacman in Kung Ako Ikaw SOP Gallery Talk about Will to Win II in the iGMA Forum’s PACQUIAO vs. BARRERA thread! You can also check out his official thread by clicking here.