Pacquiao’s mom eyes Boracay trip to celebrate son’s victory

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Manny Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia, prayed for more than two hours.

And after her son was declared winner in the fight against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila), she revealed her wish -- a trip to Boracay for the whole family.

Dionisia and her three other close friends prayed earnestly inside the prayer room of Pacquiao's mansion in Lagao village here.

Dionisia claimed it was the longest prayer session they did.

"Sobra dalawang oras kami sa loob ng prayer room. Nakatapos kami ng tatlong misteryo ng Holy Rosary. Namanhid ang tuhod ko sa tagal ng dasal namin," Dionisia claimed. [We spent two hours praying. We finished three mysteries of the Holy Rosary. My knees went numb from kneeling.]

Although she still did not know when her son would be returning home, she said she expected him to be home soon as his youngest daughter Princess was here.

And when the Filipino ring sensation is finally home, she has only one wish -- a vacation in Boracay for the whole family.

"Maganda don sa Boracay. Di pa ako nakapunta dun eh," Dionisia said. [It’s beautiful there in Boracay. I haven’t gone there.]

But Pacquioa's father, Rosalio, said he would not ask for anything from Manny.

"I don't ask anything from Manny. He just gives on his own volition. I can't ask for anything," Rosalio told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Pacquiao’s parents are now living separately.

When asked whether Rosalio could go with them to Boracay, Dionisia laughed and said, "We can't decide for him (Rosalio). May magagalit na iba." [Somebody might get mad.]

Unlike his estranged wife, Rosalio watched the fight.

"Muntik akong mag-collapse noong medyo na-groggy si Manny sa second round dahil tinamaan siya ng mabibigat na suntok ni Marquez. Mataas kasi blood pressure ko," Rosalio said. [I almost collapsed from seeing Manny becoming groggy in the second round due to the punches of Marquez. I have high blood pressure.]

"Matibay rin talaga si Marquez kasi nakabangon pa nung pinatumba ng anak ko eh. Pero mas matibay si Manny. Kita n'yo di talaga bumigay ang tuhod niya kahit sa mga solid na suntok ni Marquez na tumama sa kanya," he said. [Marquez is tough as could be seen from the way he stood up after being knocked down by my son. But Manny is tougher. As you saw, his knees did not buckle from the solid punches of Marquez that landed.]

Asked whether he was looking forward to joining the family in a trip to Boracay, he said, "Malayo masyado atsaka magastos. Dito lang ako sa bahay." [That’s too far and expensive. I’ll stay here at home.]

The Filipino ring icon gave Rosalio a three-bedroom house in San Isidro village here.

"Mahigit P1 million ang gastos ni Manny nung ipatayo itong bahay ko. Di lang kaming mga magulang niya ang pinatayuan niya ng bahay kundi pati mga kapatid niya," Rosalio said. [Manny spent P1 million building my house. He built houses not only for his parents but also for his siblings.]

The city government of General Santos promised to prepare a grand hero's welcome for Pacquiao's homecoming here.

In Cotabato City, Eid Kabalu, civil military affairs chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the rebel group's Central Committee was sending its greetings to Pacquiao.

"Our troops on the ground enjoyed watching his fight. We are happy at least Filipinos have united even in just few hours. It's very peaceful elsewhere in the region," Kabalu said.

And there was peace indeed. Life, in a way, stood still during the fight.

All over Mindanao, streets were virtually deserted as people gathered in homes, roadside eateries, shopping malls and even state-owned gymnasium where the fight was being shown.