Before she turned her eyes to acting, Dionisia Pacquiao was the Dancing Mom of Pinoy Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao.

In past TV guest appearances, Mommy Dionisia would always do a dance performance. And then she was invited to appear in the top-rating dance show Shall We Dance last May. Her enthusiasm for ballroom dancing swept the dance floor during her debut-like 60^th birthday party in General Santos City.

"Once a week, kada-Friday lang [ako] nagsasayaw. Ang katawan ko naghahanap kapag walang gagawin," the self-confessed dance junkie said during the press launch of her Osteo-Gard endorsement last Friday, November 6, at the Aberdeen Court on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.

Although Mommy Dionisia got into ballroom dancing only eight months ago, she was already wearing dancing shoes while in her mother's womb, so to speak.

She related to the media, "Noon pa! Sa pitong [pinagbuntis niya], ako lang [ang sumasayaw]. Magagalit siya sa tatay ko kung hindi ako pinapunta ng sayawan. Mahilig mag-sayaw ang nanay ko kahit [pinagbubuntis] ako. Naglilihi ang nanay sa akin, sumasayaw pa rin. Sa lahat [kaming magkakapatid] ako lang ang sumasayaw."

Since she can still pull off a dance number, will she also join a competition someday?

Mommy Dionisia leaves it to the younger generation. "Hindi ako sasali sa competition. Gusto ni Lucy [Torres-Gomez, host of Shall We Dance] na sasali ako, sinasabi niya, 'Magsali ka, Mommy. Sali ka.' Sabi ko naman, 'Kayo na lang dahil mga bata pa kayo.' Sa akin lang, parang libangan ko lang ang dancing, parang exercise para mag-sexy-cise, maging sexy ang katawan," says she with a hearty laugh.

HEALTHY LIVING. Mommy Dionisia proudly says she can still dance very well at 60. She credits her skill to a healthy lifestyle, which she embraced when she reached 40.

"'Yon nga, sinasabi ko nga, kailan pa kayo mag-inom ng mga [gamot]? Nandiyan na nga, parang mamaya pa ba linisan, nakain na ng kalawang ang buto mo? Sa mga [may] rayuma, iwas na sa mga pagkain [na bawal]," says the Boxing Champ's mom.

She also started cutting down on her nicotine and alcohol intake at 40.

Mommy Dionisia recalls, "Noon, naninigarilyo ako noong malaki pa ang tindahan ko. Siyempre, malapit lang ang sigarilyo, ang isang kaha di makaabot ng alas-sais ng hapon. Grabe pagka-smoker ko sa una. Ngayon, wala na, iniwasan ko na. Naalis na ang mga nicotine ko [dahil] sa mga cigarettes."

How about her diet?

Pacmom says, "Kuwan, mga gulay [ang kinakain ko]. Kapag palagi akong mag-karne parang nahirapan akong huminga. Madali akong mapagod magsayaw kung palagi akong makain ng karne."

STAY AWAY FROM INTRIGUE. Aside from healthy living, Mommy Dionisia also keeps a positive outlook in life, especially now that she's part of show business. Her number one rule: "Huwag maniwala sa tsismis."

Does this also include the previous issue thrown at her about a dance instructor?