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Saturday, January 28, 2006
Pacquiao gets bonus upon return: Mom, dad reunited after 15-year split
MANILA – For a country known for its tightly-knit families, it was a heartwarming sight.
Aside from getting a grand reception from his countrymen yesterday, boxing hero Manny Pacquiao had his wish granted when he was reunited with his estranged father after 15 years.
Paquiao, who defeated Mexican icon Erik Morales in the 10th round of their rematch at the new Thomas and Mack Center Resort Hotel last Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada, met his father, Rosalio, shortly after he landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 4:30 a.m., where he was met by his mother, Dionisia, and his two sons.
Happy
Although his father left the family when he was still in sixth grade, it had long been the 27-year-old Filipino boxer’s wish to see his father and mother reunited.
“Talagang masayang-masaya ako ngayon kasi first time ko silang nakita at sabik na sabik talaga akong makita ko sila (I’m very happy to see them together for the first time),” said the Gen. Santos City-native Pacquiao on Dionisia and Rosalio.
“Noong Christmas, noong New Year at tsaka nu’ng birthday ko hindi ko sila nakasama (We were not together on Christmas, New Year and my birthday).”
The meeting was indeed a moving sight considering what Pacquiao had to go through after his father left Dionisia to fend for their children. Rosalio, who hails from Pinamungajan, Cebu, left the family in Gen. Santos City to work on a farm in Tampakan, South Cotabato when Pacquiao was in sixth grade.
However, Dionisia later found out that Rosalio had been living with another woman. For a woman who had similar experiences before – Dionisia’s father left her mother to fend for her nine children, while Dionisia’s first husband also left her for another woman in 1970 – the experience was almost unbearable.
Respect
After his father left, Pacquiao quit grade school and took on menial jobs. He sold bread on the streets and did laundry to help the family.
Despite the situation, Dionisia said that she made sure her children continued to respect their father, which has been evident as Pacquiao has been known to tell friends about his desire to see his parents reunited, even when Pacquiao had started to make it to the big fights.
During their meeting, Pacquiao talked about his love for his parents and gamely egged both to hug and kiss in front of the media.
The 55-year-old Dionisia said his favorite son Manny was an ideal boy since childhood and he never changed despite his fame and glory.
“Wala akong masasabi kay (I have nothing bad to say about) Manny. Kahit nu’ng bata pa ‘yan talagang mabait na, matiyaga, masunurin. Iyong mga kapatid niya lahat tinutulungan niya (He’s good, hardworking, obedient and he always helps his siblings),” Dionisia said.
Manny said that before the scheduled bout with Morales, he called his father from his luxury suite in Las Vegas. (FCC)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 28, 2006 issue)
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