FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN MANNY PACQUIAO’S CORNER
Edmonton’s Filipino community will be rooting for Manny Pacquiao when he takes on undefeated Floyd (Money) Mayweather in Las Vegas Saturday. From left, Margarita Mationg, Lydia Jimenez, daughter Valerie and Eddie Gonzales will be busy at Palabok House restaurant where 150 people are expected to watch the welterweight bout on pay-per-view.
Margarita Mationg knows where she will be Saturday night, cheering on fellow Filipino and boxer Manny Pacquiao in his ballyhooed fight against undefeated Floyd (Money) Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Although she has to work fight night at Filipino restaurant Palabok House, 10525 51 Ave., she’ll be watching. “We are proud of our hero Manny,” she said, “I’m not really a fan of boxing, but I’m excited and curious.”
Almost 40,000 Filipinos live in Edmonton, 2011 census data indicates, and Mationg said many of them will be closely watching the match. The restaurant is expecting a full house, upwards of 150 people. The fight is only available on pay-per-view.
The two boxers aren’t fighting for peanuts, either. Estimates from the New York Times put the total earnings from the fight at $400 million, including pay-per-view revenue, ticket sales, sponsorship and merchandise. Each boxer will walk away with at least $100 million, win or lose.
Cheryl Zamora, office manager for the First Filipino Alliance Church, said most of the church’s 150 parishioners will be watching the fight Saturday. “Manny Pacquiao has placed the Philippines on the map,” she said, “His story of rags to riches is really inspiring.”
The boxer had a rough life on the streets in his home country until he started fighting for money to feed his family. Pacquiao is a good role model and is an elected member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines, she said.
Zamora added that people will crowd into basketball courts back home to watch the game, jostling to get a good seat. Pacquiao made that possible — he negotiated with all of the major networks in the Philippines to show the fight without charge.
If Pacquiao wins the bout, Zamora said, “That would be really big. Time will really stop.”
She said that she will be watching the fight at home with more than 20 relatives. And like any Filipino get-together, she said, there will be lots of food and enthusiasm.
For Margarita Mationg, a win for the Filipino fighter would bring pride to the nation and some money to her husband’s pocket from a long-shot bet. “He is always confident Manny will win,” she said, laughing.