Issue 19: May 11, 2011

Pacquiao, Inc.
(The Filipino Global Boxing Icon has metamorphosed into an Enterprise)

SEEN IN THE CITY

When Manny Pacquiao defeated Shane Mosley last Saturday night, May 7th, 2011 at the MGM Grand Arena, winning a 14th straight time, he not only solidified his stature in the boxing world, he also cemented his topmost place in the ‘Rich and Famous’ world. Successful people normally gravitate around fellow high achievers and proof positive are the vast array of A-listers spotted in Pacquiao’s latest one-man show – David Foster, Paris & sister Nicky Hilton, US Olympian Gold Medalist Apolo Anton Ohno, Jamie Foxx, Charice, Miguel Cotto, Hell’s Kitchen’s Chef Gordon Ramsay, Floyd Mayweather Sr, Survivor’s Jimi Jamison, among others.

Spotted in Vegas was GMA 7's prized possession, Richard Gutierrez, shown here during the weigh-in at the MGM Grand Arena with equally popular parents, Eddie & Annabel.

Highly-respected Grammy-winning songwriter & Charice's friend, David Foster (left) witnessed the Pacquiao-Mosley epic last Saturday night at MGM Grand Arena & was seen until the wee hours partying at Mandalay Bay Resort.

There is no stopping Manny Pacquiao from turning into a huge corporate enterprise. The once poor guy from the Southern Philippines is now a corporation. I personally met his Tax Accountant Joseph ‘Jojo’ Cabuhat, who proudly & pridely claims to be the only Filipino among the pool of his financial advisors. According to Atty Julie Soo (she’s close friends with Pacquiao’s Filipina lawyer - Marsha Dungog, Esq) who I met and spoke in length to at the Las Vegas airport, Pacquiao’s got also a pool of lawyers from all fields of specialization – Libel, Copyright, Entertainment, Contracts, Business, Taxation, International, among others.

(L-R) Brothers Steve & Matt Carter from New Zealand gifted their father, Graeme for his 65th birthday, the one he wanted most - a 3-day package trip to Vegas all the way from down under to personally witness Manny Pacquiao fight last Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Apolo Anton Ohno (right) the Speed Skater Gold Olympian also watched ringside the Pacquiao-Mosley fight last Saturday night.

Cash poured in like water at Vegas last weekend as hotel casinos, restaurants, stores are overflowing with people from all over the world. People that spend money. People that gamble. Pacquiao memorabilia (caps, T-shirts, boxing gloves, etc) are selling like hotcakes. The hotel closed-circuit TV tickets were all sold-out, too! According to published reports, it is estimated that around $200 Million to $300 Million is expected to pump in and resurrect local economy.
I foresee a barrage of world-famous celebrities storming the Philippines the next few years as a result of Pacquiao’s stratospheric celebrity status. Already excited to fly to Manila is Paris Hilton who tweeted that the Pacquiao couple invited her for a visit and she accepted. This is nothing but goodness to Pacquiao, to the Filipinos and to the Philippines.

Hayden Kho, Jr (yes, he arrived with Dra Vicki Belo) with San Jose's Agnes Aguirre (left) at the VIP Entrance of MGM Grand Arena.

We also met & chatted in length with Beverly Hills-based Michael Joseph 'Jojo' Cabuhat (right) who can pride himself as being the only Filipino in Manny Pacquiao's pool of Financial, Accounting & Tax advisors.

I was one of the only 260 approved for Media Credentials (about 500 media professionals applied) to cover the sold-out Pacquiao-Mosley fight. Looking back, I thank Pacquaio for making me this proud Filipino witnessing all these in my lifetime and I thank God for making me live this long to witness and feel this special nationalistic feeling. I witnessed firsthand and rubbed elbows with many of these most interesting people of the world.

Hollywood celebrity Paris Hilton watched the Saturday Pacquiao-Mosley fight, stayed on until the media post-fight conference & chatted with Manny's wife, Jinkee Pacquiao (right).

I have said it before and I will say it again. I have no idea how far Pacquiao will take his greatness but one thing is sure – he will take his countrymen and his country with him.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“People will pay to see Manny Pacquiao. Because he is not dull. He is the aggressor. He is an entertaining fighter. I believe most people who saw the fight bought it not with the expectation that Shane Mosley would win. They bought the Margarito fight, not because they thought Margarito would win, but because they wanted to be entertained by Manny Pacquiao,” by Mega Promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Jinkee Pacquiao with Manila Mail's VP for Communiy Affairs; Joey Panlilio during post-fight thanks giving mass at the Mandalay Bay Casino Hotel, Las Vegas LV.

Oscar-winner & Hollywood A-lister Jamie Foxx photographed here at the VIP entrance of MGM Grand Arena arriving early for the Pacquiao-Mosley fight.

This article also appears online at www.FilipinoVillage.com and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 123 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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