Pride of the Philippines plans visit to Vancouver

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, fresh from another victory in the ring, is headed for Vancouver, sources close to him say.
The world’s number one pound-for-pound fighter, aka the Pacman, who last week outboxed  American fighter Shane Mosley in a 12-round bout in Las Vegas, is expected in the city at the end of his month.
While details of his visit were yet to be finalised, it is understood that Pacquiao will meet with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, be part of the opening of a community facility and promote his new recording of “Sometimes When We Touch,” which features original-recording artist Dan Hill of Vancouver Island.
Greater Vancouver’s Filipino community is abuzz with Pacquiao’s impending visit
“Oh my god…do you know where he is staying,’ said Gloria Fuentes, a Filipino-Canadian nurse.
“This will be so great for all of us...he is the hero of every Filipino,” she gushed.
It is also likely that the City of Vancouver will also declare a “Manny Pacquiao Day” in honor of the Filipino ring hero.
“In partnership with the Filipino-Canadian community, we would like to declare “Manny Pacquiao Day” in Vancouver to celebrate your many accomplishments and the positive impact you have on Youth,” Mayor Robertson’s invitation to him late last year read.  
Pacquiao’s family has described the invitation as a great honour.
The welterweight champion, Filipino congressman and actor released his recording of “Sometimes When We Touch” globally before his May 7 WBO welterweight title fight in Las Vegas against Mosley.
Pacquiao, 32, recorded the song with its creator, Dan Hill, who made it a top ten hit in 1978. Other artists that have covered the song include Tina Turner, Tammy Wynette, Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Engelbert Humperdinck.
“I was immediately drawn by the honesty and the gentleness of his performance. It was like ‘wow’,” Hill said of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has performed the song before, on U.S. late night TV show “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” in November 2010.
After his fight last week, Pacquiao and his MP Band staged a post-fight concert at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Wearing a black suit, Pacquiao kicked off the concert with his powerful rendition of “Panahon Na Para Magsaya.”
Pacquiao also sang “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang Dumating?” with singer-comedienne Gladys Guevarra.
When he is not fighting in the ring, Pacman is known for his love for music.
He has recorded several commercial songs like “Lahing Pinoy” and “Para Sa’yo ang Laban Na ‘To.”
Before finding fame and fortune in boxing, Pacquiao was a high school dropout who had to stop schooling due to extreme poverty.
Pacquiao was born into a poor family in General Santos City in Mindanao. He and his siblings were raised alone by their mother after their parents separated when Pacquiao was in sixth grade.
Pacquiao is now the highest paid athlete in the world.
ESPN Magazine placed Pacquiao’s total earnings from his boxing matches in 2010 at $32 million.
Lawyer Ricardo Bering of the Records Management Service of the Philippine House of Representatives said the lawmakers’ 2010 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) show that Pacquiao is the country’s wealthiest congressman.
The Philippines last weekend erupted in jubilation after Pacquiao dominated Mosley in a 12-round bout in Las Vegas.
“Manny is a class by himself,” Ricardo Mallari, a 24-year-old call centre agent who watched the fight in a restaurant in central Manila.
“I don’t think Mayweather would ever muster enough courage to fight Pacquiao after seeing this fight,” said Macky Pineda, a janitor, referring to rival Floyd Mayweather Junior, who once accused the Filipino boxer of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Politicians and local government officials throughout the country sponsored live broadcasts of the fight in gyms, basketball courts and other open spaces so people would not miss the bout.
Spectators at a covered basketball court in suburban Quezon City clapped their hands and cheered wildly every time Pacquiao hit his American opponent.
President Benigno Aquino III hailed Pacquiao as a hero who brings honour to the country and who does not forget to seek ways to help his fellow Filipinos who struggle against poverty.
“He is aware that there are some fights that do not end inside the ring,” he said.
Pacquiao, a congressman from one of the poorest provinces, vowed to help not only his constituents but also impoverished millions nationwide.
Pacquiao, the world’s number one pound-for-pound fighter, outboxed Mosley throughout the fight, scoring a knockdown in the third round.
The judges scored the fight 119-108, 120-108, 120-107, all in favour of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has four children with his wife Jinkee.