Congressman Manny Pacquiao finally took his oath as the new representative of the province of Sarangani in simple rites this morning at the Sarangani Capitol Park.

Pacquiao was accompanied by his wife Jinkee, his children and his siblings.  His father was also there although there was no sign of his mother Dionisia.

Thirty one year old Congressman Pacquiao in his speech said he will concentrate on improving infrastructure, medical services and peace in order for the next three years.  Although he said that he will continue boxing, he promised to be more effective as a legislator and representative of the country’s 14th most impoverished province.

Below is  Congressman Pacquiao‘s oath-taking photo courtesy of Sarangani Blogger and Soccsksargen Bloggers co-founder Ariel Lalisan.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio officiated the swearing in together with Judge Jaime Infante, who was personally requested by Congressman Pacquiao to be there.

Third termer Governor Miguel Dominguez and Vice Governor Steve Solon also took their oaths together with Congressman Manny Pacquiao at the same venue afterwards.

From us here at GENSAN NEWS ONLINE MAG, congratulations Congressman Manny Pacquiao!  Here’s hoping you fulfill your promise and work together with Governor Dominguez to achieve both your goals to help Sarangani.

Again, thanks to Ayel Lalisan for Congressman Pacquiao’s oath-taking photo.

As of this writing, Boxing World Champ Manny Pacquiao leads in the race for the lone congressional seat in the Province of Sarangani.

His opponent, Roy Chiongbian, son of James who was responsible for carving the province out of South Cotabato, could not even muster 50% of his total votes.

The figures below are from the GMANEWS.TV website.

Partial Unofficial Tally as of 2010-05-12 11:06:11 88.60% of ERs

*Chiongbian, Roy L.  -  56,199 votes

*Pacquiao, Emmanuel D   -  111,287 votes

As for the rest of the officials of Sarangani:

Governor:

*Dominguez, Miguel Rene A  -  83,531 votes

*Domino, Juan D.  -  78,289 votes

Vice-Governor:

*Basino, Fredo  -  70,053

*Solon, Steve  -  82,222

If this continues, then Sarangani will experience a major upset which never happened in its history.  Bye Mayweather?  Hello Congressman Manny?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Notes on Election 2010:

• The first automated elections in history in the country was generally peaceful in Socsargen.
• As early as 6am, voters were waiting outside the gates of the different polling centers.
• Bariles immediately found his precinct through a map posted at the bulletin board of Lagao National High School, Aparente Avenue, Purok Malakas.
• Bariles started lining up for his priority # starting at 8:30 am.  His feet were about to give away two hours after when he finally got a stub which has the number 243 on it written in pentel pen.
• Since it was noon time, he went out for a bowl of batchoy at a nearby carenderia and a bottle of coke.  No food vendors were allowed inside the Lagao National HS except for peanut vendors who were able to sneak in.
• An hour later, he was able to go inside his precinct and cast his vote.  He finished voting after 5 minutes and stayed inside the precinct for a total of 7 minutes only. It was faster than the time he spent during the early days of manual voting.
• When the PICOS flashed “Congratulations!” he felt his heart skip and clapped his hands loudly.  It was such a tiring exercise but all well worth it.
• Despite its flaws, Bariles feels that the first automated elections in the Philippines is heaven-sent!

It’s final and official!

After getting the assurance from the National Grid Corporation (formerly TransCo) that General Santos City will not experience any power outage or blackout on Sunday, March 14, 2010, GenSan Mayor Jun Acharon immediately decided to push through with the FREE LIVE AIRING on Pay-per-view of the Pacquiao-Clottey Fight at the General Santos City Gymnasium.

At first, the good mayor opted to back out from what has been a tradition in the city to air Manny Pacquiao’s bouts on a giant screen inside the biggest airconditioned gym in Mindanao.  This was after the management of SOCOTECO II, the city’s electric power supplier could not assure him of a brownout-free Sunday when the Pacquiao-Clottey fight will occur.

But with this latest development and assurance from the National Grid Corporation itself, then it’s all systems go for the FREE PAY-PER-VIEW LIVE AIRING of the Pacquiao-Clottey Fight at the GenSan Gym in Barangay Lagao.

Both the local government unit of General Santos and the Office of Congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio are once again joining forces to handle the rights from Solar Sports, to broadcast to more than 10,000 people at the GenSan Gym this FREE PAY-PER-VIEW LIVE AIRING of this Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

No admission tickets will be given out in advanced.

Instead, interested parties may just go directly to the gym, line up at the major entrances as early as 7am on Sunday, March 14, 2010; and wait to be ushered in on a first come, first served basis.

Of course, you have to have a ticket to be allowed in first.  For tickets, approach your BARANGAY OFFICES for information.

Note:  Thanks to Mandirigma for the Poster.

Owing to his fame and with the Filippino’s innate sense of humor and creativity, World Boxing Champ and former GenSan resident Manny Pacquiao has been immortalized in a lot of photoshopped photos.

In these Pacquiao funny pictures, he has taken on the identity of every movie, cartoon, super hero, political, showbiz or everydayman character possible already. But there seems to be no stopping his artist-fans to churn out new personifications of Pacman on a regular basis and new Pacquiao funny pictures turn up every now and then.

Of course, even the members of his family – Jinkee his wife, Dionisisa his mother plus members of the Team Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, Bob Arum; his boxing opponents and whoever has been linked to him have not been spared. They also figured out in some of the Pacquiao funny pictures that have been passed on via thousands of email daily all around the world, and in Facebook walls or Multiply pages of admirers.

Here then are some of the latests Pacquiao funny picture finds. If you have more, please email them to be included here and we will acknowledge your contribution.   If you are the artists behind the ones featured here, please leave us a note below so that we could give you the proper recognition for your work.  Thank you very much.

"BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE AVATAR GETS ITS DOSE OF PACQUIAO MANIA AS MANNY DONS THE CHARACTER OF JAKE SCULLY'S AVATAR" "MANNY LOOKS GOOD HERE WITH HIS NEW DO AND PALE SKIN BESIDE TEAM EDWARD OF THE TWILIGHT SERIES"

"ANOTHER TAKE ON THE TWILIGHT SAGA, THIS TIME WITH OTHER CHARACTERS FROM PACQUIAO'S LIFE. CAN YOU RECOGNIZE WHO THEY ARE?"

"MOMMY DIONISIA PACQUIAO TAKES OVER MEGAN FOX AS LEAD FOR 'JINNIPUR'S BODY"

"MUST BE THE SEXIEST PACQUIAO FUNNY PICTURE EVER WITH HIS PRIVATE PARTS COVERED ONLY BY APPLE RIBBONS"

"THIS TIME, MANNY PACQUAIAO IS AN ANIME CHARACTER WHO BEAT OUT ALL OPPONENTS IN THE RING"

"THE MOST FAMOUS FHM MAGAZINE COVER GIRL OF THE DECADE IN ONE OF HER BOLDEST POSES"

"MANNY PACQUIAO IN ANOTHER SEXY RENDITION, THIS TIME WITH EX-OPPONENTS"

"MANNY AS A HITMAN. MADE BY KTFOTOGRAFIA."

"PACQUIAO AS AN OLD MAN WITH A LONG BEARD, BY KTFOTOGRAFIA"

"JT ARTWORKS AND HIS VERSION OF A MOTHER SQUAW AND HER BOY ALA-PACBOY AND MAMA ROACH."

Of course, the Jinkee vs. Krista Ranillo brouhaha has to be here somewhere…

"THIS POSTER OF THE IMAGINARY BOUT BETWEEN JINKEE PACQUIAO AND KRISTA RANILLO CAME OUT AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CONTROVERSY LATE LAST YEAR"

And finally, the Floyd Mayweather CHICKEN PICTURES….

"HERE'S ONE OF THE FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. CHICKEN PHOTOS CIRCLING THE INTERNET AFTER HIS UNREASONABLE DEMANDS FOR BLOOD TESTING BECAME UNACCEPTABLE TO THE PACQUIAO CAMP. ARTWORK BY ART GARCIA."

"ANOTHER MAYWEATHER CHICKEN PICTURE"

Pacquiao Funny Pictures to follow here…. Check back soon!

Eduardo Pardillo, a pastor from the municipality of Maasim, Sarangani Province took home a Toyota Vios, the Grand Prize in the much talked about 31st Birthday Concert of World Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao at the KCC Convention and Events Center, KCC Mall of GenSan last Thursday, December 17, 2009.

"EDUARDO PARDILLO, A PASTOR FROM MAASIM, SARANGANI STANDS BESIDE HIS RED TOYOTA VIOS WHICH HE WON FROM PACQUIAO'S 31ST BDAY CONCERT RAFFLE DRAW."

The family man and his three kids were holding Yellow Passes and were seated at the farthermost end of the cavernous birthday concert venue when his name by called three times by birthday boy Manny Pacquiao.  He was at the stage in less than a minute to claim the keys to his car.

By the way, here are other pictures from Manny Pacquiao’s 31st birthdy concert.

"A PORTION OF THE DINING GUESTS INSIDE KCC EVENTS & CONVENTION CENTER."

"A GIANT TARP OF THE PACQUIAO FAMILY HANGS ON THE WALL OF THE HALL"

"A GIANT SCREEN ON STAGE SHOWS THE PERFORMANCE OF MANNY AND LITO CAIMO UP CLOSE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GUESTS LOCATED FAR FROM THE STAGE."

"MOMMY DIONISIA IN HER NEW PURPLE DRESS MADE BY A LOCAL GENSAN DESIGNER SPECIFICALLY FOR HER SON'S 31ST BDAY"

"MANNY PACQUIAO'S 6-FOOT TALL CAKE BAKED BY MIX AND MAGIC"

"MANNY'S KIDS, NEPHEWS AND NIECES PERFORM THEIR SURPRISE DANCE NUMBER"

"ACTOR CESAR MONTANO CHOSE TO STAY IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE ACCEPTING NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR PHOTO OPS"

"THE WALLPAPER LEADING TO KCC CONVENTION HALL"

More pictures to be posted later.    CHECK BACK LATER guys….

On Thursday, December 17, 2009, all roads lead to  World Boxing Champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao 31st birthday celebration in General Santos City.  And why not?  He will be celebrating it in a manner bigger and more grandiose than his all his past birthdays combined.  (See our blog posts on his 2008 and 2007 parties by clicking on their respective years.)

Consider these….

To be held at the huge KCC Mall of GenSan Events and Convention Center, the celebration will take the form of a birthday concert for the first time.  Dubbed as “Manny Pacquiao’s REVOLUTION“, Bariles, who has gotten an invite will surely be treated to Manny’s rendition of his favorite English songs and original Tagalog compositions by his good friend Lito Camo.

Secondly, there will be a Raffle of sorts again.   This time however, Manny is raffling off something bigger – a brand new unit of TOYOTA VIOS!!!  This and seven other major prizes, as indicated in the Gate Pass cum Raffle Ticket to his birthday concert.  Whew!

Thirdly, Manny Pacquiao’s Birthday Party will be star-studded as usual with a guest list consisting of names from the entertainment, government, sports and business sectors.  But look who will be there for the Champ’s grand celebration this time?  If latest media reports are to be believed, Pacquiao’s 31st birthday concert will be graced by the presence of his latest boxing conquest, planing in from Puerto Rico, Mr. Miguel Cotto!

Of course this time, Manny will not  be the only crowd-drawer during his 31st birthday.  For the past 24 months, another Pacquiao has earned enough stalwart points to be in the running for “Entertainer of the Year”.  Of course you know who that is.

Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao, of course, who for sure will be making her own grand entrance.   But what’s keeping everyone guessing is what exactly will she be wearing this time?

Now that should be something that should not be missed by Bariles’ camera.

Here below are the different pages of the fold-out invitation which Bariles received for “Manny Pacquiao’s REVOLUTION” – A Grand Birthday Concert.

"The Front Page Invitation to the Manny Pacquiao's "REVOLUTION" Grand Birthday Concert"

Above is the Front Page of the invitation to Manny Pacquiao’s REVOLUTION:  A Grand Birthday Concert.

"The Second Page of the Invitation"

Above is the second page of the fold-out invitation, featuring a photo of one of Pacquiao’s captured moments of victory after a title fight.

"The inside foldout to Manny Pacquiao's Invitation...."

And finally, the inside centerfold of the birthday concert Invite of Manny Pacquiao.

And with that, from all of us here at GenSan News Online Mag, HAPPY 31st Birthday, Manny Pacquiao! We can only wish you the best in all your undertakings!  MABUHAY KA!!!

Now that he is back in Gensan and Sarangani province, Manny Pacquiao in partnership with the National Darts Federation of the Philippines (NDFP) and the local government of General Santos City, is sponsoring the biggest dart tournament in the history of Philippine darts the- Manny Pacquiao P5 Million International Darts Classic on November 27-30, 2009 at the air-conditioned GenSan Gymnasium in Barangay Lagao.

For its inception this year, Manny is giving out a record cash prize of five (5) million pesos.  This is quite historical and a record-breaking number for Phillipine darts and a very attractive come-on for darters all around the globe.

The 5 Million MP International Dart Classic

According the the organizer’s website:

Manny believes the Filipino darters are competent players that can make a name in the International dart scene with the proper support, encouragement and exposure. True to his words, the record cash prize of five million pesos is more than an encouragement but a motivation to strive for excellence. His tournaments since last year has been an inspiration to darters starting with the P300,000 Pacman I and II Series of 2008 culminating in the unprecedented Manny Pacquiao 2 Million Darts Classic in December of 2008. This year started with the support to the USA based Filipino darters with the $30,000 Pacmania I and the $100,000 Pacmania II while training in the USA. These were followed by the P300,000 in Malungon, Sarangani and the P300,000 in Alabel, Sarangani tournaments in the last few months.

The same release continued that “the level of competition will be extraordinarily high” with more foreign players and a “vastly improved” pool of local dart players.  Consider these events and their corresponding prizes:

• The Open Singles event has a total cash prize of 2M with the champion winning P700,000.

• Up for grabs in the Fix Four-Person Team event is P800,000 total cash prize with P300,000 going to the champion.

• The Fix Doubles will carry P500,000 in total prizes and the champions pocketing P120,000.

• On tap for the Classified Draw events are the Doubles with P500,000, Triples with 501,000 and the Four -Person with P500,000 (new event). The Free-Registration Youth Singles P20,000 and another new event the Non-Classified , no ranking points Seniors Singles P29,000 and the P150,000 Ladies Singles. The cash prizes for most of the non-singles events goes up to the top 128 players.

Here is the schedule of the Manny Pacquiao P5 Million International Dart Classic events:

See you at the gym then!

The generals had a field day yesterday with so many venues on where to watch the Pacquiao-Cotto fight live telecast to choose from.  The luckiest and happiest of them though are those we were able to view it inside the airconditioned GenSan Gym for FREE, instead of having to wait for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight replay on GMA-TV 8 in the afternoon.

Sponsored again by the combined forces of the local government unit of General Santos City and the Congressional Office of the First District of South Cotabato, the Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast at the gym gathered more than 10,000 cheering generals, the biggest crowd that a Pacquiao fight has amassed so far in the venue.

The GenSan Gym gates were opened to the public as early as 7:30am and 8,000 people immediately filled up Mindanao’s biggest airconditioned public enclosure.  Two thousand more who couldn’t be accomodated inside had to make do with the television sets scattered on the lawn and at the gym lobby.

Joining them were Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Mayor Jun Acharon and wife, Dr. Rose; and former Mayor Adelbert Antonino who sat at the lower box portion at the rear end of the gymnasium.

Bariles also noticed the presence of City Councilor Odjok Acharon and City Councilor Nepnep Natividad who came with her hubby, the former Councilor Chito Natividad in the same section.

There were four undercards before the main headliners and when it already lunch time when the Pacquiao-Cotto fight commenced.  This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Manny’s townmates and with every punch that he delivers, they collectively shout and cheer for him as if he could hear them and for every blow that he suffers, they all together flinch and feel his pain.

When it was evident that all the cards are stacked in Pacman’s favor and that the Pacquiao-Cotto fight is history in the making, no one inside the GenSan gym was sitting anymore.

Everybody was on their feet, cheering and yelling Manny’s name, clapping as if there was no tomorrow, beaming with pride at the thought that once again, their fellow general from the Tuna Capital has brought glory and honor to his beloved country – winning his 7th world title in his 7th weight division!

When it was all over, there was only one thing in most of the men’s minds at the gym – to watch the Pacquiao-Cotto replay video on GMA-8 GenSan which has began airing the delayed telecast of the fight.

A good number have began planning to visit the Maranao stalls at the Central Public Market and at the KCC Parking Area as soon as possible and check if there are available Pacquiao-Cotto replay videos (pirated of course) on DVD or CD’s for sale.

Kudos to the Task Force Champ for the orderly and peaceful conduct of the Live Telecast of the Pacquiao-Cotto Fight at the GenSan Gym.  Headed by Chief of Staff of the City Mayor’s Office, Mr. Ernie Quisay, this group is now getting ready for the Grand Hero’s Welcome that will greet Manny Pacquiao when he returns soon to GenSan.

Meanwhile here is the  Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Video Replay for your enjoyment.  Watch it now before it gets booted off this blog

The HBO highlights video below…

Four more days to go and it will be Sunday, November 15, 2009 (Philippine Time), the time most Filipinos here and around the world have been waiting for – the day when their modern-day sports hero will go for his 7th Title, the moment when the Pacquiao-Cotto fight (Firepower) takes centerstage with the promise of giving the whole boxing world a spectacle will never forget.

Not everyone can be in Las Vegas for the actual fight and so the rest of the world have to content themselves with watching it on Pay-per-view via cable or satellite.

Here in General Santos, some people who could afford it, pay an additional fee to Sky Cable to be given the chance to watch the Pacquiao-Cotto match at the comfort of their homes.   On the other hand, as an alternative to that, a good number of GenSan restaurants, bars and cinemas will be showing it to their patrons and guests, for a fee of course.

To aid you in choosing the GenSan Restaurants, or Bars and other establishments offering “Pacquiao-Cotto” Live Telecasts, here are some of them:

Orange Bistro charges P150 for its Pacquiao-Cotto Live Pay-per-view, as its poster says below.  For reservations, call 301-5555.

"Orange Bistro's Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast Promo Poster"

Mr. Bigshots inside the NCCC Compound has two choices for its customers, P175 for its non-aircon venue and P200 if you want the air-conditioned comfort of its ICONS Bar.  The ticket price is inclusive of an Ostrich Burger and Juice or Beer.

"Mr. BigShots different promo packages for their Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast"

Babes Bar at the East Asia Royale Arcade charges P200 for its patrons who want a disco bar setting while watching Pacquiao slug it out with Cotto.  Their poster below does not say if the price comes with a free drink though.

"Babes Bar at East Asia Royale Hotel Arcade's Pacquiao-Cotto PROMO"

Family Country Hotel and Convention Center offers Free-Flowing Coffee or Iced Tea and Heavy Snacks for only P300 for its Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast inside its Executive Ballroom.

"Family Country Hotel and Convention Center's Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast PROMO"

Tierra Montana Hotel, along the National Highway will hold its Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast inside its newly-renovated and more spacious air-conditioned hall.  Although its poster below doesn’t indicate it, they will charge P200 per patron, who will get a free bottle of softdrinks or beer.

"Tierra Montana Hotel, the newest kid on the block joins the "Pacquiao-Cotto" Fight Pay-per-view Promo"

Even Manny Pacquiao’s business establishments are joining the fray.  Check these out!

JMix RestoBar located at the 2nd floor of their JMP2 Building at the corner of Aparente Avenue and Provido Village can only accommodate a few customers.  This must be a pay-as-you-order type of promo.

"Manny Pacquiao's newly-opened Jmix Resto Bar at JMP2 Building in Aparente Avenue also offers live telecast of his fight against Cotto."

For his old neighborhood in Barangay Labangal, Manny Pacquiao’s PACMAN CONVENIENCE STORE only charges P100 for entry to the 2nd floor hall equipped with monobloc chairs.  That’s good enough if you just live nearby.

"Pacman Convenience Store offers Pacquiao's old neighborhood friends a cheaper alternative at P100."

KCC Mall of GenSan Cinema offers the airconditioned comfort of their huge Events and Convention Center for only P100, according to their poster below.

"KCC Events and Convention Center is another cheap alternative to watching the LIVE TELECAST of the Pacquiao-Cotto Fight."

Robinsons Place GenSan Movieworld offers its luxurious upholstered seats and cinema ambience for their own Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Live Telecast to the tune of P250.  Below is their poster.

"Robinsons Movieworld's Ticket Price for the Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Pay-per-view is P250"

Now, to which of these GenSan Restaurants and other establishments offering “Pacquiao-Cotto” Fight Live Telecasts PROMOS would you go?  More will be added here so check back often….

The most anticipated comedy in showbiz these days will finally be shown nationwide tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

The movie, “Ang Tanging Pamilya (Marry-Go-Around)” topbilling Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas with former President Erap Estrada and some of televisions’s up and coming young stars, has been marketed so heavily on national television that even Bariles is eagerly awaiting its release in GenSan‘s Robinsons and KCC Cinemas.

"The official poster of Ang Tanging Pamilya (Marry-Go-Around)"

What he and other Pinoys are much excited about however, is the presence of the mother of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao who is now also a celebrity in her own right, Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao in the movie.  Her role is a major one since she plays the mother of Sam Milby and the wife of Miguel Faustmann, the actor who essayed the role of “David Garcia” in the hit telenovela, “Tayong Dalawa”.

Star Cinema who produced the movie, brought all the movie’s performers and crew to General Santos City during the first week of September to shoot some scenes here.  Apparently, this was in deference to Mommy Dionisia’s request to shoot all her scenes here at her beloved hometown.

And so they all flew in -  all the members of the production crew, Director Wenn Deramas, Erap, Ai-ai, Sam Milby, Toni Gonzaga, Kaye Brosas, Candy Pangilinan, plus all the young actors and actresses who played Ai-ai and Erap’s children.

They shot at the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church (for the “PAMANHIKAN” of Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga); at the East Asia Royale Hotel; at Paseo del Sol and in some of the major thoroughfares of the city (since Erap was playing the role of a jeepney driver).

Erap, on the other hand, took time to join the festivities of the 11th Tuna Festival happening at that time and gave the Keynote Speech during the culmination program at the GenSan Oval Plaza.

Here are some pics Bariles took at the Lagao church and some of the pics from the Paseo del Sol shoot, courtesy of Paolo Sunglao.  Thanks Paolo.  Now get your fill of Dionisia Pacquiao pictures below…

"Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Lagao spruced up for the Sam-Toni Wedding Shoot"

"Camera crew setting up their lights while extras (mostly Lagao parish workers) keep themselves busy."

"Ai-ai delas Alas makes face at Bariles' camera while entering the Lagao Church from the side entrance."

"The entry of Dona Dionisia Pacquiao in a glittery sequinned dress. Laban ka?"

"Dona Dionisia Pacquiao meets the family of Ai-ai at the center of the Lagao church in this photo. With her is onscreen husband Miguel Faustman, the father of Sam in the movie. He played the famous "David Garcia Sr." role in the teleserye "Tayong Dalawa"."

"Ai-ai with Kaye Brosas who appears as her best friend in the movie"

"The jeep of Erap while parked at the Paseo del Sol compound where they shot for two days"

"Donya Dionisia Pacquiao performing the Singkil/Tinikling at the wedding reception for Sam & Toi at Paseo del Sol."

"Hail Princess Dionisia Pacquiao!!!"

"Donya Dionisia Pacquiao all dressed up for her first meeting with her son Sam Milby's in-laws. That's her real life NANNY."

"Sam Milby while being readied for his scene at Paseo del Sol"

"Mommy Dionisia with onscreen hubby Miguel Faustmann aka David Garcia and Ai-ai's two onscreen sons."

"Mommy Dionisia and her "ANITO LOOK" with onscreen daughter-in-law Toni Gonzaga at the veranda of Paseo del Sol."

"The meeting of the two families during the Pamanhikan at Paseo del Sol."

MORE PICS TO FOLLOW…. Check back later! Meanwhile, here is the trailer.

Barely a week before the Pacquiao-Cotto fight in Las Vegas on November 15, 2009 (Philippine time), Manny Pacquiao once again proves that he is very much a hot media copy by landing the covers of the next issue of the Asian edition of TIME Magazine!

To hit the newsstands over the weekend, this issue is only the the 10th time that a boxer was featured on the cover of TIME.  It is also only the second time that a Filipino celebrity made it.

The first time a Filipino was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine was in 1986 when then Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino was declared as the magazine’s WOMAN OF THE YEAR!

This time around, the TIME Magazine cover carries the blurb, “THE GREAT HOPE“, in reference to Manny Pacquiao as the Filipino’s icon for a better life, a better tomorrow.

Bariles personally met Ishaan Tharoor, one of the two writers of the article, when he flew in to General Santos City during the first week of October to interview some people who knew the Pacman.

The Indian writer had earlier asked an audience with GenSan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. Bariles received him first at the mayor’s office since the mayor was still on a meeting.  Later on, he joined the two gentlemen while the interview was being conducted at the chief executive’s conference room.

The article which Tharoor co-write is entitled “THE MEANING OF MANNY“, and chronicled Manny Pacquiao’s rise from poverty to his present status.   It dealt not only with him but the people surrounding him, including Freddy Roach, Mike Konch, his mother Dionisia, Governor Chavit Singson, among other people.

It also speaks lenghtily on his upcoming second foray into politics and although the writers were ambivalent about his chances, they both agree that the 2010 elections will have to be “the fight of his life“.

To read the TIME Magazine article, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

GenSan and now Sarangani resident Manny Pacquiao who is in the United States right now to conclude his preparations for his November 15, 2009 fight with Miguel Cotto guested very recently on Jimmy Kimmel Live.  The program on American TV channel ABC is a late night comedy talk show hosted by (you guessed it right) Jimmy Kimmel.

The People’s Champ who was relaxed and played it cool during the 10-minute guesting (obviously ready for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight), was able to charm his way into the hearts of the Americans during his interview with the comic host and eventually delivered the knockout punch with his rendition of the song, “Sometimes When We Touched”.

Here is the first of the 3-part Manny Pacquiao on Jimmy Kimmel Live video of that guesting, which we got from Jimmy Kimmel’s YouTube account.

Here is the second part of the Manny Pacquiao on Jimmy Kimmel Live video…

Here is the most exciting and last part of the Manny Pacquiao on Jimmy Kimmel Live video where he sang and eventually, raised his pogi points on American soil. Thanks to Visiontellie for this link.

But if you want the whole 10-minute Pacquiao on Jimmy Kimmel Live video, check this out. Thanks to Pure Manila.

Thanks to his blogger friend from Cotabato City Ark Hilario, Bariles was finally able to score a video of the Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7 HBO Special Episode 4 (Tattoos) which was aired last weekend in the US of A.

"The poster of FIREPOWER - Pacquiao vs. Cotto courtesy of Behance Network"

The four-part TV documentary billed as “TATOOS”, aims to drumbeat the upcoming fight of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto on November 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, christened as “FIREPOWER“.  As with the other HBO 24/7 docus on the past fights of Pacquiao, the camera follows both boxers in a span of four weeks leading to the big day.

Here then is the Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7 HBO Special Episode 4, Part 1 – “TATTOOS”:

The Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7 HBO Special Episode 4, Part 2 of “Tattoos” is below…

Part 3 of the Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7….