LOS ANGELES, CA — Like their mother, Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee, siblings Jimuel, Michael, Princess and Queenie want their father, eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao to retire, as announced, after the Timothy Bradley III one week from now.
“Dad has been fighting for more than 20 years now and has nothing more to prove. I think it’s time for him to hang his gloves and devote more of his time on us, his family, ” Jimuel (Emmanuel Jr.), the eldest at 15, said in an interview Thursday night at the family residence along Plymouth Blvd here. , a sentiment shared by Michel, Princess and Queenie.
“Yeah, I agree. Dapat na siguro kami magkasama-sama palagi at di gaya nang dati na matagal siyang nawawala kapag nag-e-ensayo sa laban,” Michael, 14, on the other hand, added.
“Me, I really miss my Dad na, He’s often out of the country, especially when he has fights,” 7-year-old Princess butted in. “Pag wala siya, siyempre malungkot kami lahat.”
Queenie, an American citizen having born here in the U.S. in 2008, for her part, said she doesn’t want to see her father injured each time he goes home after a fight. “I also don’t want to see him hurting inside when he comes back to us like the last time”
Jimuel though is having second thoughts.
“I know my Dad. Ang kaligayahan nya ay kung makapagbibigay siya ng kasiyahan sa mga tao. The more people na mapasaya niya, lalo siyang maligaya,” he quipped. “And it is only in boxing where he can make more people happy.”
“If I he still wants to fight, I’ll give him one or two more fights before he finally calls it a day”, Jimuel said. “I believe he would love that para sa kahuli-hulihang pagkakataon ay makapagpasaya pa siya ng mas maraming tao.”
“He’ already 37, meaning he has spent half of his life serving his people the only way he knows. Tama na siguro yun,”: he reasoned out.
In an earlier interview before Pacquiao and his team left the country last month, Jinkee, likewise, expressed his desire that her former pound-for-pound king husband retire following the Pacquiao-Bradley III.
“Enough na! I believe he’s served his sport so much already so he should really retire and concentrate on serving his people sa ibang paraan if he so desires, without sacrificing everything, his body and, most importantly, his family.” Jinkee told this writer then.
“Manny delighted me, our children when he personally announced his retirement after this coming encounter with Bradley. We believe him and he should make true that promise for his own good and for our sake, his family.”
“It’s been 21 years na since he started his boxing career. He’s already succeeded making the sports world happy through his exploits atop that ring” Jinkee recalled.
By EDDIE G. ALINEA
