Pacman meets Obama

After his multi-city tour to promote his fight on May 7 (May 8, Philippine time) against five-time title holder Sugar Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, along with his wife Jinkee, went to the White House as special guests of US President Barack Obama.

Sen. Harry Reid, whom Pacquiao helped during the last Senatorial campaign, made the meeting between the two superpowers happen. It was a dream come true for the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter to meet with one of the world’s most powerful people.

The two traded barbs mainly about basketball and boxing, and perhaps a little bit about politics, Pacquiao being the Congressman of Saranggani. It would’ve been enlightening if Pacquiao had shared his take on how, during his fights, the crime rate in the Philippines goes down drastically and how he unifies a divided nation every time he’s in the ring.

Bags and bags of blue M&M’s chocolates with the presidential seal was given to Pacquiao, which is perfect because chocolates are some of the favorite “pasalubong” items of Filipinos. Paqcuiao also received a watch from President Obama adorned with the presidential seal. Pacman invited the president to the fight which is to take place in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Pacquiao is poised to make over P600million pesos, which will definitely increase based on his share in the earnings from Showtime’s pay-per-view.

By Patricia Bermudez-Hizon