JINKEE, CHILDREN HAPPY THAT MANNY FINALLY WILL RETIRE
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Feb 2016
Enough! The lady considered as the reason why Manny Pacquiao has emerged a global boxing icon has spoken.
"Tama na. I believe he's served his sport too much already so he should really retire and concentrate on serving his people, if he so desires, without sacrificing everything, his body and, most importantly, his family." Jinkee Pacquiao, eight-division champ's vice governor wife in Sarangani Province, told this writer in an exclusive interview Friday night.
"Manny has made our entire family happy when he personally announced his retirement after his coming fight (against American Timothy Bradley)," Jinkee disclosed. "I believe him and he should make true that promise for his own good and for our sake, his family."
Jinkee admitted their two daughters -- Princess and Queenie -- had, likewise, agreed of their Dad's finally hanging his gloves and had expressed gladness hearing the good news from the man himself.
"Tuwang-tuwa sila on the thoughts that finally, makakasama na nila nang matagal ang Daddy nila," she remarked. "Unlike the past many years when they had the privilege of spending their time with him sparingly."
As for sons Jimwell and Michael, Jinkee said she could not say the same. "Masaya din sila. But not the way the two girls are. Mga lalake kasi. Besides, mas matagal-tagal nilang nakasama and Daddy nila than the two girls," she added, saying their fifth child, Baby Israel, is too young to understand the situation.
"It's been 21 years na since he started his boxing career. He's succeeded making the sports world happy through his exploits atop that ring," Jinkee recalled. "And 17 years na mula nang kami'y ikasal na lagi akong nine-nerbyos tuwing lalaban siya. Worrying whether he will go home intact or we, having to go to the hospital instead to visit him," she continued.
"That's two decades of absorbing strong punches in 65 fights he's fought. Banging bodies with much, much bigger and stronger opponents. Bugbog bugbog na ang katawan ni Manny," Jinkee noted. "Does he need to wait for the time when he can no longer enjoy the remaining days of his life in retirement?"
"It's been hard to us, to me, his wife, especially, di ba? But we can't do anything. It's his life. Boxing has been his love. Doon nanggagaling ang ikinabubuhay namin" the former beauty queen said.
"Sabi nila, sayang daw yung kikitain ni Manny kung hihinto na siya pag-boksing. Pero, it's no longer money as issue here. It's his well-being. Medyo nakaka-angat na naman kami ngayon at siguro naman ay hindi kami maghi-hirap. May nakalaan na para sa future ng mga anak namin," she pointed out.
Jinkee said it's, indeed, been Pacquiao's lifetime obsession to serve humanity, then in the best way he knows -- through boxing. "But now that he has started fulfilling his dream through government service (Pacquiao is serving his second term as congressman of the lone district of Sarangani), matutupad na rin nya yun. "
Pacquiao is seeking a seat in the Senate in the coming May 9 national elections.
He is scheduled to face American Timothy Bradley in a 12-round third encounter on April 9 at the MGM Grand Arena in the world's gambling capital in Las Vegas, Nevada. That's 11 months or so following his unanimous decision loss to undefeated and now retired bitter enemy Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Photo: Pacquiao plays with his youngest child Israel. Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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