BIRTHDAY BASH FIT FOR A KING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Dec 2008
The Philippines national treasure Manny Pacquiao will have a bash befitting a king when he celebrates his 30th birthday on Wednesday in his hometown of General Santos City.
The king of the pound-for-pound rankings and the incoming ?standard bearer? for boxing, replacing ?the Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya in the eyes of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Pacquiao?s massive celebration will be not only his way of thanking his country and people for their support and faith in him but will also provide them a chance of demonstrating their pride and joy in the all-time greatest Filipino and Asian boxer.
Leading the well-wishers will be President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who, for the record, was a Pacquiao supporter long before he carved a name for himself internationally and has always shown care and concern for him, his family and their future.
General Santos City, known as the ?Tuna Capital of the World? will be transformed from a quiet, simple city into a Las Vegas style venue with a galaxy of show business stars in a day and night celebration unequalled in past birthdays of Pacquiao.
With the presence of President Arroyo it is certain that several cabinet officials will join her entourage along with staunch Pacquiao supporters and friends including Deputy National Security Adviser and former governor Luis ?Chavit? Singson and Natural Resources secretary Lito Atienza as well as Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff General Yano, both a friend and admirer of Pacquiao who is a reservist in the AFP.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum planed in Tuesday morning from the US and will leave for GenSan on the PAL flight Wednesday morning. Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is also expected to arrive in time for the birthday celebration while former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz also confirmed he would be in GenSan at the invitation of Pacquiao.
Arum told us that he would sit down with Pacquiao and talk about future plans for about one hour on Wednesday following his arrival in GenSan. Arum said he will lay out the various scenarios for Pacquiao and let him, as always, make the final decision although Arum was already telling us about a May 2 Las Vegas clash with Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton.
Pacquiao told us he had also invited Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera but he wasn?t sure whether Barrera would make it while there were reports that Edwin Valero who in the past had called out Pacquiao, was also likely to attend.
Adviser Michael Koncz told us that Pacquiao had a hectic schedule all Tuesday and the same frenetic pace is expected to run through for the next couple of days before he returns to Los Angeles with his three children to join wife Jinkee on December 23. She is expecting their fourth child sometime soon.
Koncz said the KCC Mall Convention Center had been spruced up for the occasion with 2,000 invited guests although he said there were another 500 at least hoping to get in.
There were also reports that in an effort to provide a Las Vegas atmosphere the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation was transporting some Manny Pacquiao slot machines to add to the ambiance.
Fattened calves will be roasted, six in all, alongside 25 pigs for the two venues which would also include the Oval Plaza which in many respects would be both a logistical and security nightmare.
With scores of high-profile local and foreign guests headed by President Arroyo, the Presidential Security Group and crack elements of the AFP will secure the entire area against any attempt by lawless elements to disrupt the affair.
There is not a single room available in the hotels and inns where guests have checked in and continue to arrive from different parts of the country while Philboxing?s Edwin Espejo reports Sarangani governor Miguel Dominguez is searching for some 40 SUV?s for the party of President Arroyo.
Espejo also reports that the city's premier hotel, the East Asia Royal Hotel, has all its 105 rooms all blocked out, according to manager Romeo 'Rombar' Bartolome.
Pacquiao is hosting a parallel celebration at the Oval Plaza where thousands of GenSan residents and fans who will not be able to attend the Convention Center bash, giving local police and elite forces a security nightmare.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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