ShareThisSAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Congressman and world boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is poised to score another record – this time a trip on February 15 to the White House and a meeting with United States President Barack Obama.
Pacquiao and Mosley pose for a photo during press conference to promote their upcoming fight in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, owner of record eight class world championship belts, is expected to arrive in Los Angeles on February 10 to start the promotions for his May 7 fight against American boxer Shane Mosley at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao and Mosley will meet the media at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles on February 10, then they will proceed to MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a promotion on February 12. On Valentine’s Day, the world’s pound-for-pound boxing king and Mosley will be presented to the press at the Chelsea Pier in New York.
Members of Team Pacquiao said that from New York, Pacquiao and his team will take a train to Washington D.C. for the expected meeting with President Obama in the White House.
No details were disclosed about the Pacquiao-Obama scheduled meeting, but it was gathered that the Filipino congressman is expected to bring with him his wife Jinky in the meeting.
Pacquiao and Jinky were thrilled when they announced that the Obama-Pacquiao meeting has been confirmed during the birthday of their first son, Emmanuel Jr.
“Oo, may invitation kami mula sa White House at ngayong February na yan (Yes, we already have the invitation to the White House this February),” Pacquiao told the Philippine Entertainment Portal during the 10th birthday party of his eldest son, Jemuel, at the Palms Country Club in Alabang.
“Siyempre, excited tayo dahil matagal ko nang pangarap na makaharap at makausap si US President Obama. Isa ito sa hindi ko malilimutan na parte ng buhay ko dahil malaki ang paghanga ko sa kanya (Of course, I’m excited because it’s been a dream to meet President Obama. I will never forget this as a part of my life because I admire him (Obama) so much),” he said.
Jinky said she would be at her best when she meets the Obamas. “I don’t know what to do or what to say when we get there. I might freeze when I see the Obamas in front of me. Let’s see what happens. I hope I don’t get nervous and jittery,” Jinkee said.
“I’ve already chosen one. But I’m still looking at other dresses. I want Manny to be proud of me. I must be presentable. I’m sure First Lady Michelle Obama will be dressed to the hilt. I hope she likes mine, too,” she said.
Pacquiao will be the first Filipino athlete ever to make an official visit to the White House, and he is also probably the first professional boxer to meet the sports-minded American leader.
Obama loves to play basketball as much as Pacquiao does, and when they meet, briefly perhaps, they will surely talk about boxing as well, and a little bit of politics, it was reported.
In Washington, Pacquiao was also expected to meet Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada on Feb. 15. Pacquiao had helped Senator Reid in his campaign in Las Vegas. It was gathered that it was Senator Reid who worked out the Pacquiao-Obama meeting at the White House.
The Pacquiao-Obama meeting was supposed to take place last November, after the Filipino champion defeated Antonio Margarito in Dallas. He was doing a concert in San Francisco when the chance came, and his adviser, Mike Koncz, already had a private plane on standby to fly Pacquiao to Washington.
But a sudden change in the President’s schedule got in the way. This time, however, it’s green and go, and the only thing that could stand in the way is probably a snowstorm that would block all entrances to the White House.