NO ROYALTY PRESENT, BUT IT WAS A FEAST FOR A KING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Dec 2008
There was no royalty present at Filipino national treasure Manny Pacquiao?s 30th birthday celebration in his hometown of General Santos City but it was a feast fit for a king ? the man crowned as the World?s No. 1 pound-for-pound in the elite ranks of present-day champions and honored as the ?World Boxer of the Year? by the premier boxing organization, the World Boxing Council.
There were no kings or queens but adding luster to the event was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who, by all accounts, looked regal in a lovely black dress.
There were some of the eminent men in the world of boxing led by promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, the astute architect who has masterfully built the career of Pacquiao on the foundation ? begrudged though it may be - that was laid down by promoter Murad Muhammad and business manager and father-figure Rod Nazario and celebrated trainer Freddie Roach who has turned a rough, uncut gem into a sparkling diamond in the ring.
There was also an opponent who was battered and lost his crown but came to pay his respects to the new WBC lightweight king, Chicago?s likeable David Diaz,and a world champion with an amazing knockout record who once called out Pacquiao?s name in a challenging tone but now come to his hometown to salute the Filipino?s glorious achievements.
It was a ritzy affair that had all the trappings of a Las Vegas style banquet but with an unmistakable Filipino touch and a stage to display the incredible talent of its entertainers.
It seemed relevant that one of the most applauded performers was Arnel Pineda, the lead singer of Journey, a group that drew sell-out crowds across Europe and the United States. Pineda performed with his former Filipino band and sang three of the Journey?s biggest hits, in the process holding President Arroyo, Arum and Pacquiao spellbound.
Indeed, Pineda?s journey from relative obscurity onto the world stage somehow paralleled, even in a fractional way, the incredible journey of Manny Pacquiao from his boyhood poverty and a sweaty, rundown L&M boxing gym to the bright lights and the adulation of fight fans in Las Vegas and across the world and the ultimate accolade as the greatest fighter of all-time in the Philippines and all of Asia.
Not to be outdone, Pacquiao?s mother Dionisia who had nurtured Manny through hard times as best she could, always imparting to him the values and virtues of being a God-fearing son, effectively stole the show with an upbeat dance number.
Among the other highlights was the performance of lovely Filipina-Mexican teenage singer Jasmine Villegas whose father is Mexican but has been an avid fan of Manny no matter how badly he beat every Mexican legend that faced him in the ring.
Television network GMA 7 which telecasts the Pacquiao fights in partnership with Solar Sports added to the glitz and glamour of the evening with a roster of their talents.
In what was a fitting finale renowned composer Lito Camu joined Pacquiao himself in singing the Camu-composed signature hit song ?Para Sa Yo Ang Laban Na ?To (This Fight Is For You) which launched Manny?s singing career in a big way.
There were 1,500 invited guests for the elegant affair staged at the beautifully laid out KCC Convention Center but Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said there were another 500 people at least who had wanted to attend with many of them being accommodated at the last minute.
It was a question of seeing and being seen. President Arroyo stayed all throughout the affair seated at an elevated platform that was a replica of a boxing ring together with Pacquiao, Arum, Roach, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza and Deputy National Security Adviser Luis ?Chavit? Singson.
The Las Vegas atmosphere was accentuated by slot machines and gaming tables with girls in gorgeous costumes escorting Pacquiao who looked dapper in a coat and tie to the applause of the guests.
As Dong Secuya of Phil Boxing observed, Pacquiao was both the Joker and the King of Hearts.
Pacquiao demonstrated the bigness of his heart by also throwing a massive party at the Oval Plaza with loads of food and drinks and live bands that entertained thousands.
There was no royalty present but the entire celebration was royal in scope and truly befitting the King of Boxing who, as promoter Bob Arum has said, is the successor to ?The Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya as the standard bearer of boxing and a savior of the sport.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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