Dyan Castillejo interviews Manny Pacquiao for "The Correspondents"

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao recalls his humble beginnings from being a mere pandesal vendor to a multi-millionaire during the January 6 episode of The Correspondents. The documentary titled "Kamao" traced the boxing career of Manny, then known as Kid Kulapu when he started boxing at the age of 12 years old.

ABS-CBN Senior Sports Correspondent Dyan Castillejo was able to conduct an exclusive interview with the Pambansang Kamao during a victory party thrown for him by Chavit Singson last December 22.

After almost five years of covering the bouts of the prized boxer, Dyan's team (composed of her cameramen Val Cuenca and Rene Casibang) has created a "bond" with the Pacquiao camp. When Dyan informed Manny about The Correspondents documentary she was doing on him, he invited the reporter to interview him at the event held at in an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City.

According to a source from ABS-CBN, the team of The Correspondents waited for two hours for Manny to arrive at the venue. When the boxing champ arrived, he spent an hour mingling with guests before sitting down with Dyan and her crew to conduct the interview.

"The interview lasted for just 35 minutes, we don't really need three hours," says the source who is in direct communication with the persons who shot the documentary.

The documentary "Kamao" became controversial since the said interview was conducted during a party, this earned the ire of Manny's guests who had to wait before they could talk to the world-famous boxer.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978 in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao. Now more popularly known as Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, he currently resides in General Santos City, South Cotabato.

Manny reveals that he came from an impoverished family that sometimes did not have enough money to put food on the table. At a young age, he and his three siblings had to work in order to survive.

"Sabi ko, ‘Ma, hihinto na lang ako ng boxing para makatulong sa inyo.' Nagtinda ako ng donut, pandesal para may mabigay ako sa Mama ko [Nanay Dionisia]. Alam mo, Dyan, kapag may sobra kaming pera bumibili kami ng bawang at nire-repack namin yan para ibenta sa mga tindahan.

There was even one time when they did not have enough rice to feed all of them so they decided to cook it as lugaw so all them could have a share.

Manny also admitted that in terms of formal education, he was able to reach Grade 6. "Gustong-gusto kong mag-aral kasi, di naman sa pagmamayabang, pero may alam din tayo ng konti. Ang problema lang, nung bata ako walang pera ang mga magulang ko na pag-aralin ako."

MANILA-BOUND. When he was 14 years old, Manny left his family without asking for his parents' permission. "Pagsakay ko ng barko Dyan, parang gusto kong bumalik. Umandar ng 200 meters yung barko...siyempre bata ako, wala akong alam sa Maynila. Iyak ako Dyan, parang gusto kong tumalon sa dagat at bumalik na lang ako."

When he arrived in the city, Manny did well in the boxing arena and it was only during his 12th boxing match that he first tasted defeat. In the defunct show Blow by Blow, it was shown how Manny was beaten by Rustico Torrecampo. "Alam mo, talagang naghinto ako ng ilang buwan. Pumunta ako ng Laguna, nagtrabaho ako sa construction, yung taga masa na lang. Nag stop ako ng mga tatlo o apat na buwan."

However, he missed the challenge presented by the boxing ring so he returned to the sport, more determined than ever to work harder for his dreams. "Hinahanap ng katawan ko yung boxing. Siguro aral lang sa akin yun [defeat] para magsikap ako."

His big break came on June 23, 2001 when he grabbed the title of IBF Super Bantamweight champion from African boxer Benedict Ledwaba. Since then, his boxing career began to flourish. He was recognized all over the world when he overpowered other renowned names in the world of boxing such as Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, and most recently, Oscar de la Hoya.

Manny is the first Filipino boxer to win four world titles in four different weight divisions but he credits this success to Him. "Without God, hindi ako naging ganito. Parang gustong ipaalala sa kin na kaya ako naging successful sa buhay ko ay dahil sa Mahal na Panginoon."

BILLIONAIRE BOXER. During the flight home back from Las Vegas where Manny fought with Oscar dela Hoya, Dyan candidly asked Manny for his earnings from the boxing match. The Pambansang Kamao merely hid his face behind a pillow and refused to answer.

Based on computations done by The Correspondents, they estimate that Manny has earned around $33 million from his battles since 2003. This amount includes the $15 million that he reportedly earned from his fight with the Golden Boy. Aside from these, he is also earning from the products that he is endorsing as well as the TV rights for the screening of his fights in TV, cinemas, bars, and restaurants.

Sports writer Quinito Henson also did his own computation and said, "[Manny] has already accumulated I would say, 1.5 billion pesos. I would think that there is no other Filipino billionaire athlete na Pilipino."

CANCER ADVOCACY. Manny has made it a point to give back to his community. "Ang pangarap ko sa boxing, nakamit ko na. Ang hinihiling ko ngayon ay yung gamitin ako ng Panginoon na makatulong naman ako sa ibang tao."