By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated September 28, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - From his training camp in Baguio City, Manny Pacquiao yesterday dedicated his highly anticipated showdown with Miguel Cotto to his beloved business manager and godfather Rod Nazario who died of lung cancer four days ago.
Pacquiao, now entering his second week of intense training under Freddie Roach, Alex Ariza and Buboy Fernandez, had wanted to use his rest day yesterday as a chance to personally pay his final respects to the 74-year-old Nazario, who stood as godfather to Pacquiao and wife Jinkee.
But the calamity brought about by Typhoon Ondoy, which has caused deaths to many and millions of pesos in damages to property, has prevented the 30-year-old Pacquiao from leaving Baguio either by air or by land.
Instead, he sent a representative to the wake of his business manager from 1995 to 2005, and a very personal note extending his deepest sympathy to the Nazario family which he has learned to love as his own.
“Medyo matamlay pa ako dahil sa pagpanaw ni Rod Nazario (I feel weak because of the death of Rod Nazario),” said Pacquiao of the well-known boxing figure whom the boxer fondly calls “ninong” or godfather.
“Sa araw ng laban, alam kong naroroon siya upang ako ay suportahan kahit wala na siya sa mundo (On the day of my fight, I’m sure he would be there to support me even if he’s gone from this world),” Pacquiao added.
“Bawat suntok na aking bibitawan ay para sa iyo (Each punch I will throw I offer to you). Ninong Rod, may you rest in peace,” added Pacquiao.
The Filipino icon, who has created quite a stir in Baguio since he showed up for camp last Sunday, took a day off yesterday even though he was out running in the morning.
There was an early downpour but Pacquiao insisted that he ran, according to one of his assistants, Roger Fernandez. And when the rains stopped he was out on the road by 7 a.m.
Pacquiao pounded the course for an hour, and was as busy with his abdominal and stretching exercises shortly after. He heard mass at the Baguio Cathedral then had lunch with his entourage at the Manor Hotel of Camp John Hay.
The sparring partners, Shawn Porter and Urbano Antillon, were scheduled to arrive yesterday from Los Angeles, and if they made it through the terrible weather should join Pacquiao in today’s run.
Roach said sparring could begin tomorrow with a couple of rounds, the number gradually increasing by the day until they reach 12 rounds a day and start tapering off two weeks before the fight.
Sparring will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and on these days the Shape Up Gym at the Cooyeesan Hotel, Pacquiao’s official residence in Baguio, would be closed to the public or even the media.
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