The Philippines, like Venezuela, is addicted to international beauty pageants. In 1953, Armi Kuusela of Finland, the first Miss Universe, conquered the country when she came for a surprise visit.
Glenn Katada, student: “If boxer Nonito Donaire is thinking of another career, he can always pursue singing. I watched him sing live on TV, and he more than passed muster. And the guy looks good, too. I’m not saying that he should transform himself into another Manny Pacquiao, by pursuing interests other than boxing. But, if I were to choose between the two, Donaire is definitely the better singer!”
Our top celebrity winners this week are led by ABS-CBN’s Charo Santos-Concio, who has just been promoted to CEO of the huge media and entertainment corporation. Charo joined the company as consultant in 1987, so she’s marking her silver anniversary in an especially glittering way—ensconced at the very top!
“Pacquiao or Mayweather?” Spike Lee was asking me who I thought would win in case the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. showdown finally happens. The filmmaker is for Floyd. Without hesitation, I replied “Pacquiao!” With my answer, Spike asked that we pose like boxing adversaries for a photographer.
A new—and hopefully improved—Manny Pacquiao greeted televiewers last week, immediately after he lost his much-touted championship bout with Timothy Bradley. While the Filipino nation and boxing fans all over the world agonized over and raged at the shocking split decision, the ex-champ himself was surprisingly stoic and accepting about his stunning defeat.
Mac Loceo, televiewer: “I can take Manny Pacquiao’s sudden transformation from being “malapit sa babae” to a bible-quoting pugilist. But, what caught my attention in a recent TV feature was his having turned into a healer. I think he’s taking the “spiritual conversion” spin a little too far. Is this a prelude to the realization of his Mama Dionisia’s wish for her son to quit boxing?”
Fighting legend Mike Tyson has swapped the boxing ring for the cabaret stage, in a new one-man show which pulls few punches in recounting the ups and downs of his roller-coaster life.
Only a couple of years ago, talk about boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao, revolved, not just on his exploits in the ring, but also on his rumored romantic escapades.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—“I’m Ray, I’m Sugar, whatever you want to call me,” Sugar Ray Leonard said by way of an introduction. Wearing a red sweater vest that instantly brightened the unusual gray LA morning, the boxing legend smiled as he quipped, “I try to convince my wife to call me Sugar all the time.” We’ll [...]
“Organized chaos.” That was our first reaction to the fan hysteria that characterized Manny Pacquiao’s recent visit to Davao City, where he taped for the sixth telecast of GMA 7’s variety cum game show, “Manny Many Prizes.” Knowing that we were going to chat with a global boxing superstar, who also happened to be a [...]
For every Manny Pacquiao, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of nameless Filipino boxers who never quite succeed in the ring.
