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Pacquiao confirms new show on GMA Network


From boxing to acting. That would be Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao’s new regime in the coming months as the Filipino boxing hero confirmed Thursday he had signed a contract to star in a GMA Network’s show. "Abangan niyo po yung darating na show ko this coming November sa GMA," said Pacquiao on the network’s talk show program Sis. However, Pacquiao said the name and type of his show are still under wraps. Pacquiao graced GMA Network right after the boxer paid separate visits to Environment Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Amid the festive drumbeats of Ati-atihan ensemble, GMA Network executives led by Felipe Gozon, the network's president and chief executive officer, welcomed Pacquiao. "Nagpapasalamat po ako sa mainit na pagtanggap sa akin sa lahat ng mga Kapuso," said Pacquiao, who arrived in his white long-sleeve polo. Pacquiao was accompanied by his wife Jinkee and his three children Jimeul, Michael Stephen and Princess – who he has not seen for two months- in his visit to GMA Network. "Kalimutan ko muna ang boxing... Mag-focus muna ako sa pamilya ko at sa magiging show ko sa GMA," he said during the television interview. Pacquiao kept his World Boxing Council International superfeatherweight title via unanimous decision after beating Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera last Sunday (Manila time) in Las Vegas, Nevada. While in the US, Pacquiao said he also found time to pull the leg of his companions there, particularly when he told them he was heavier than the required 130 pounds for his division. "Before the weighing nakuha ko na yung timbang ko. Tapos niloko ko lang yung team ko, sabi ko overweight ako," he said. A day before the official weigh in, Pacquiao reportedly hit the scale four pounds heavier. On fight day, however, Pacquiao immediately regained his lost weight and scaled in at 144 pounds. Another guest in the show was Rhythm and Blues songbird Kyla, who had sung the national anthem before Pacquiao's bout in Las Vegas, Nevada. When asked how he found Kyla's rendition of the National Anthem, Pacquiao said, "Masarap sagutin ‘to dahil walang kontrobersyal." The boxing hero was rumored having a relationship with actress Ara Mina, originally scheduled to sing Lupang Hinirang. "Maganda. OK yung pagkanta niya," added Pacquiao, saying that he even sang along while in the dressing room. Earlier in the day, a crowd of well-wishers greeted Pacquiao as he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Instead of heading toward Manila, where a hero's welcome was originally planned for him, Pacquiao chose to meet with Atienza in the former's office at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Pacquiao was quoted as saying he is looking up to Atienza as his "second father." Atienza is former Manila mayor and staunch administration ally. However, even before critics could say the Pacquiao snub was politically motivated, the boxing icon clarified that he was not informed about the planned welcome ceremonies in Manila. "Sabi ko pa’no ko iisnub eh ngayon ko lang nalaman. Wala namang nakipag-coordinate sa akin. Walang tumawag sa akin talaga," he explained. "Dati kasi one week before the fight, naka-set na yung equipment. This time, wala talagang tumawag sa akin from Manila, na may sasalubong sa akin, na naghanda sila," he added. After the television appearance, Pacquiao had lunch with Gozon and other GMA executives, the network's Balitanghali reported. He was also interviewed on GMA's radio station Super Radyo dzBB around noon. The General Santos native will also hold a victory party at the Shoemart (SM) Mall of Asia in Pasay City at 5 p.m. - GMANews.TV (GMANews.TV is operated by Media Merge Corp, a GMA subsidiary.)

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