Pacquiao power hug lifts cancer-stricken toddler’s spirits

It took one hug from the People's Champ to fulfill 4-year-old cancer patient Andre Ilano's dream.   Ilano, of Las Vegas, Nevada, took a chance and flew to Los Angeles with his parents hoping to catch a glimpse of Manny Pacquiao.   The young boy just finished another session of chemotherapy after being diagnosed to have Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that develops from tissues that form the nervous system that control key bodily functions.   His parents accompanied him to Los Angeles to meet his idol, Pacquiao.   "Siya ang hero. Siya ang inspiration namin kasi parang nung nadiagnose siya parang nagunaw yung mundo namin," said Ilano's mother.   Andre learned to box while watching Pacquiao's fights on television, according to a report by Chino Trinidad.   On Wednesday, the 4-year-old's dream finally came true as he met Pacquiao after the boxer's training at the University of Southern California oval. The Saranggani representative bent down to give the boy a long hug.   After the meeting, Andre was in high spirits, even showing his boxing skills to the crowd.    "Humaba pa ang buhay niya. Maging mas matapang pa siya," Ilano's father wished for his son. — Renee Fopalan/ELR, GMA News