Inilahad ni Jimuel Pacquiao kung paano niya nakumbinsi ang kaniyang mga magulang na sina boxing champion Manny at Jinkee na sumabak siya sa boxing sa kabila ng pagtutol ng mga ito.
Sa Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel, ikinuwento ni Jimuel na nagsimula ang hilig niya sa boxing nang mapanood niya ang kaniyang ama na nagte-training sa General Santos City.
"At the time, the security guard my dad was with, he used to be a former boxer too. He asked me, 'Do you wanna learn boxing for self defense?' He didn't tell me to fight or anything, it was supposed to be for self-defense. It was the first time I think I put gloves on and did the mits. Ever since then I just wanted to learn more and more," anang 21-anyos na binata.
Matapos nito, nakapag-training si Jimuel sa isang boxing gym sa Makati, at naging coach niya ang isa sa mga naging bahagi ng Philippine national team.
"He trained like people who wanted to fight. He started training me, I kind of mentioned like 'Oh I'd love to try fighting one day.' But I didn't wanna do it that seriously yet. I just wanted to try it. That's where it started, when I tried it for the first time I guess. I kind of fell in love with it. So like until now I want to pursue it."
Bago nito, matatandaang tutol sina Manny at Jinkee na sumabak ang mga anak nilang lalaki sa boxing.
"Ever since even way back, they wouldn't bring a pair of gloves anywhere near us. So nothing boxing," sabi ni Jimuel.
Paliwanag daw sa kaniya ng mga magulang, hindi na niya kailangan pang pagdaanan ang mga pinagdaanan ng kaniyang ama sa boxing.
"We kind of talked about like, there's no really need for me to fight, that's what they keep on telling me. 'Dad's already been through it. There's no need for you to go through it also,'" anang binata.
Pero ayon kay Jimuel, passion niya rin ang pagbo-boxing at gusto niyang gumawa ng pangalan para sa sarili.
"Before they really didn't want me to fight. But then, I think now they understand this is what I want, I have a dream, I have a passion for it, so they just wanted to support me," anang binata.
"Even though they would not allow me I would still be in the gym training and I would still sign up for amateur fights and stuff. And I would just tell them 'Oh, I'm fighting in a month or something.' I think they just accepted it now and they support me," patuloy niya.
Ngayong tanggap na nina Manny at Jinkee na gusto ring tahakin ni Jimuel ang pag-boxing, si Manny pa raw mismo ang nagbibigay sa kaniya ng tips sa pakikipaglaban.
"Every time we would train he would do mits with me. He would teach me how to move my feet and stuff. Kahit hanggang ngayon, every time we were on the phone. We don't have a conversation where boxing is not involved. He knows now I really wanna do it. He knows it's a dangerous sports so he gives me advice now on what to do and how to train," kuwento ni Jimuel. --FRJ, GMA News
