LIFE INSIDE PACQUIAO?S APARTMENT IN LA BREA
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jul 2008
LOS ANGELES, California ? When double crown world champion Manny Pacquiao is in the Philippines, some of his most trusted men are left behind to man the port in his luxurious apartment at the Palazzo in Park La Brea located on 3rd Street, here.
They are his chief public relations specialist Winchell Campos, driver and factotum Jovi Chan-Halog, brother-in-law Russel Jamora, cook Danny Halibas, boxers Diosdado ?The Prince? Gabi and Vernie ?The Tornado? Torres and a Chihuahua dog named Pacman.
Except for Campos, a veteran sports writer and publicist, all are from Davao in the Philippines.
For two months now, the additional occupant in the modest household, secured in the pristine art deco towers with breathtaking views to lush garden courtyards, has been Bernabe ?Kamaong Llave? Concepcion, the reigning North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super bantamweight champion, who will tangle with Adam Carrera in a 10-round non-title tiff in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 26.
?This is our second home, our second family. We treat each other as family members. We jog together, eat the same food and sleep in the same quarter,? said the 33-year-old Halog, who is a former World Boxing Council (WBC) international bantamweight titleholder.
Jamora is the elder brother of Pacquiao?s wife Jinkee and is in charge of housekeeping. He also sometimes substitutes as cook and nutritionist for Halibas, who is also starting to learn the ropes as trainer. ?I encouraged him (Salibas) to also dabble in training of boxers because he has what it takes to be like Buboy Fernandez in the future,? Torres, the most senior among the boxers based here, said in Visayan dialect.
Salibas, an arnis champion who represented the Philippines in Sikaran Arnis tournament held in Canada in 2000, was a former postal employee at Santa Clarita Processing and Distribution Center in the United States Postal Service.
Salibas said he plans to go home to Iligan city to promote boxing in the future.
Every morning starting at 6 o?clock, Halog drives the team that romps off to Griffith Park for jogging and to the Wild card gym in Hollywood for regular workout.
Halog (18-19, 11 KOs) won the WBC international crown with a spectacular one-round knockout win over Theo Modise in Saint Juery, France on Nov. 27, 1999 while fighting under the tutelage of Paranaque-based Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde Jr. He lost it to compatriot Ricky Gayamo by 6th round technical knockout (TKO) in Baguio City on January 13, 2001. He has been in the United States since 2001.
Boxing manager and promoter Aljoe Jaro, who stays here if he is not billeted at Vagabond Inn, said the occupants of the apartment have developed some kind of rapport and camaraderie similar to what the boxers experience when they are housed in one quarter.
Her plans to bring Torres (27-11, 15 KOs) back to his past glory. ?For sure, Vernie Torres will shock the world when he stages a comeback soon,? said Jaro
Pacquiao?s apartment, located in the penthouse floor and acquired some two years ago, is located in one of the more than 4,000 freshly upgraded residences, and Park La Brea?s 160+ park-like acres offer a tranquil retreat at the center of Los Angeles, with the city?s best shopping, dining and activities.
Park La Brea was originally designed in the early 1940's. Architects Gordon Kaufman and J.E. Stanton together created Park La Brea, to this day, a modern marvel of architectural design and planning. Inspired by the innovative housing of Le Corbusier in Paris, the architectural team set out to create multifamily housing in a new way. The world-renowned result is truly a monument to light and space.
Garden Townhomes followed an innovative plan that placed blocks around common green space, in a way that gave the impression of a spacious back yard.
A revolutionary "X" structure and unique placement make the Landmark Towers icons of the Los Angeles skyline. The ingenious plan insures that every unit enjoys expansive views - from enormous windows that give residents a feeling of floating in the sky.
For quality materials, solid construction and spectacular scale - Park La Brea was reportedly built to last from solid concrete and steel. ?It's a marriage of craftsmanship, spaciousness, luxury and location that could never be duplicated today,? said the slogan in it sales center.
It was learned further that under the current owners, Park La Brea Management, the entire 160+ acre complex has been meticulously renovated, to surpass even its original glory. The apartment is also equipped with broadband cable television, telephone and Internet connections, gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, and beautifully restored interiors available.
The sales center also boasted that ?spectacular gardens, a junior Olympic pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and a premiere location make Park La Brea the best place to live in Los Angeles.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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