MANNY PACQUIAO IN MALACANANG
!!!UPDATED!!!
Double Take trailer
The arrival of People’s Champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is making a lot of pleasant noise all over the country.
In contrast, when he arrived inside the main palace of Malacanang this morning, it was noticeably quiet. His entrance was swift and quick, you can say he sneaked his way to the Music Room.
The courtesy call was televised live over NBN. Radio Television Malacanang (RTVM) called the shots and the PSG enforced quite an orderly photo-opportunity inside the palace. There was excitement in the air, but unlike the visits of other icons in the palace, the possible chaos was avoided this time around. (Aba, gumagaling ang RTVM at PSG ah. Hehehe.)
Inside the Music Room were the whole Pacquiao Family, people from Solar Entertainment, Manila City Hall people, the President’s communications group and other cabinet officials. I saw Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and I shook his hand and told him: “Sir, long time no see…” (haven’t seen him since his 4 out of every 5 vs NOEL declaration during the Council of State meeting)
Inside the Music Room, pleasantries were exchanged between President Arroyo and the boxing champ. As soon as PGMA entered the room, she exclaimed: “Manny congratulations ha, today is Pacquiao Day!!!”. After greeting Manny, Mrs. Arroyo hugged the boxer’s mother and then greeted Manny’s wife. After shaking hands with the rest of the entourage, may photo-opp syempre. Raising of hands, boxing pose and all.
Then on cue, the President introduced the Palace Chefs. Led by Executive Chef Babes Austria, the busy bodies of the palace kitchen entered to serve PACMAN a special treat. Pastries that AT FIRST, looked like PACMAN (the game) FIGURES, pero they turned out to be shaped like BOXING GLOVES. May decoration pa na “Round 10” (more about this later). Tuwang tuwa at tawa ng tawa ang lahat ng nasa Music Room. Ang lakas ng tawa ni Dodi Limcaoco. Hehehehe.
Then the mediamen were asked to give the President and Pacman’s entourage some time na sila sila lang.
Outside, the crew and the photogs left for the KALAYAAN event. I stayed together with some of the OPS, OP and PSG people. Nagbibiruan ang mga PSG, kung “kontrabida” daw sila di nila pinapasok si PACMAN kasi naka maong. Hehehe. Bawal kasi sa Main Palace ang jeans and sneakers.
Outside the Rizal Hall, we saw the presidential apos. Nagtataka ata kung bakit madami tao. Then Sec. Mike Defensor arrived. Then we saw Vice President Noli De Castro rushing, mejo late si Kabayan. Nagpatawag tuloy uli si Sir Milton ng bagong photo-opp.
The plan was for the President to accompany Pacman to the Kalayaan grounds. During the wait, there were talks that she might not join Manny sa paglalakad. But when the doors of the Music Room opened wide, I heard the PSG say na tuloy ang plano.
As soon as they got out of the room, PGMA asked Manny to greet and meet the Palace Staff. Shades of F4 Jerry Yan’s visit, mejo may shrieks of course. Pero unlike sa visit ni Dao, mas maayos sa loob ng palasyo today. The plan was for the Palace employees to wait at the Kalayaan grounds na lang. Oo nga naman.
Bago sila bumaba, nadaanan nila ang mga Presidential Apos. Mikaela cried. Sabi ng nakapaligid “Naku baka natakot na susuntukin siya ni Manny” Hehehehe.
CRYing BABY
Pagbaba nina PGMA and Pacman sa lobby ng Main Palace… the boxer asked kung pwede siya mag comfort room. Hehehehe. PGMA pointed to the leftmost hall were the men’s CR is located.
I was with Sec. Bunye and RMN’s Rey Mercaral and I told them “chance ko na ito ng photo-opp!!!!”. Hehehehe.
So Rey and I followed Manny near the CR. When he got out, akbay agad si Rey, click ako ng camera, kaso may sumagi sa akin, kaya ang siste: TIYAN lang ni Rey ang nakunan. Hahahaha.
Sorry, Rey! download Halloween: 25 Years of Terror movie
The PSG people and Miles Roces were telling Manny: “Nag-aantay na si Presidente…”
I told the PSG… teka, naku ako din, sige na! Manny heard me and said, “Okay, sige.”. I looked around walang pwede kumuha, so nagtabi na lang kami and then tinapat ko camera ko and clicked away. Hehehehe. Thanks, Manny!
ME WITH THE CHAMP!
Then the “mini-parade” ensued from the main palace palabas sa sentry gate ng Kalayaan grounds. Unang liko pa lang, kita mo na ang dami ng tao at media naka abang sa sentry gate. Dinig din ang “Pinoy Ako” sa speakers kahit hiyawan na ang mga palace employees. You can also see sa gates and rehas ang mga residente ng Malacanang Complex na nakasilip. Naku andito pala sa labas ang dami ng tao na dati when Jerry Yan visited ay nasa LOOB lahat ng palace.
When the President and Pacman reached the area where the croiwd gathered… nagkagulo na. Aside from kamay kamay, people were taking snapshots gamit ang camera and cellphones nila. Nagkahiwalay nga sina Pangulo at si Pacman.
Nagtatawanan na kami nina Justine Espina (NBN4) and Pacman was already on stage when we realized na si pangulo, ay nasa malapit sa amin, at naiwan pala.
PGMA joined Manny sa stage but she didn’t speak. Hinayaan si champ na magbigay ng inspiring words. There were no raising of hands din.
Nakisama ang panahon. It only rained after na ng event. President Arroyo left for the Manila Hotel while Manny Pacquiao left for the jump off area ng motorcade niya.
Ang saya saya sa palasyo kanina.
I was starting to write this entry when Justine and Alex (Palace In House writer) called me. One of the chefs, Jeovy De Guzman was downstairs to give a description of the EMPANADA like pastry they served to Manny and his entourage.
It is officially called PATE BRISEE (chicken with wild mushroom and white wine reduction or was it redactor?). For added presentation, they also lined the trays with FILO PASTRY sprinkled with Black Sesame Seeds. Boxing ang theme syempre, kaya gloves ang hulma, meron pa signage na “Round 10”.
We asked her: “Nasarapan ba si Manny?”
She replied: “Aba, syempre!”
Okays. Hehehe.
Then minutes after that…. Chef Jeovy returned. Sabi daw ni Exec. Chef Babes Austria, pinabalik siya para dalhan kami ng CHAMP’S PASTRY samples. “Para mapatunayan na masarap!”.
The reporters were eager to taste it. Hehehehe. Pinagalitan nga ako ng asst. camerman ko na si Luther Suarez kasi “di daw kami nagpapigil” eh di pa niya maayos na nakukunan ang pagkain. Hehehehe. Takaw ba?
According to Justine, she asked Sec. Bunye during her live interview with him after the palace event: “sir, anu yung sinerve kay Pacman na pastry?”
Sec. Bunye: “Empanada.”
Special Empanada.
Hello Jeovy and Babes! I’m sure busy na kayo pag prepare ng favorite turkey dishes ng Pangulo. Hehehehe.
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According to Exec Chef Babes Austria… if you will buy the pastry in a hotel, it will cost around 350 pesos per plate. Sa Malakanyang daw, lumalabas na 20 pesos per plate lang ang ginawa nila, pero espesyal daw naman ito at hindi tinipid…. may tawag na nga sila eh: PACQUIAO EMPANADITAS.
