Pacman, cover boy of Esquire PHL's maiden issue

The boxing champ slash congressman of Sarangani province graces the cover of Esquire Philippines – out this October – as five magazine writers go “5 Rounds with Manny Pacquiao" inside the magazine’s maiden issue. Raymund Gutierrez, who co-hosts GMA Network’s Showbiz Central, posted over the weekend a photograph of the magazine cover on TwitPic, which allows media sharing on the micro-blogging site Twitter. Gutierrez tweeted: “I'm extremely proud to share with all of you the first cover of ESQUIRE Philippines!" Gary Andrew Poole, who last year published the biography “Pacman: Behind the Scenes with Manny Pacquiao–The Greatest Pound-for-Pound Fighter in the World," leads four other writers whose articles on the boxing champ comprise Esquire Philippines’ cover story. United Kingdom newspaper The Guardian has named Poole’s Pacman bio as one of the best sports books of 2010. Philippine Daily Inquirer desk editor Tina Arceo-Dumlao and columnist Patricia Evangelista also weigh in with their Pacman stories, while magazine contributing writers Lorely Trinidad and Oliver X.A. Reyes throw in a few punches. The “Pacman" is currently in Baguio City, busy preparing for his bout versus Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez this November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Pacquiao was also featured in the February 2011 issue of Esquire UK, in an article recounting the Saranggani congressman’s electoral campaign, his rags-to-riches story, and his then-recent victory over boxer Antonio Margarito. Pacquiao also hosts GMA network’s entertainment show Manny Many Prizes. — Marlon Anthony Tonson/KBK, GMA News