Sports legends are some of the most well known people in the world, both for their sporting achievements and the lifestyles they lead. Basketball players, football players and boxers — the sporting world is filled with stories of multi-million mansions, expensive cars and unbelievable gifts.
Manny Pacquaio, however, has his feet firmly planted on the ground. He’s a sound businessman and a great boxer.
So when it was time to pick a home in California, Manny and wife Jinkee Pacquiao chose a place that’s only a short drive away from the homes of celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Sharon Stone and Lacey Ford Williams, heiress to the famous Ford Modeling Agency, whose husband, John H. Williams, produced the Shrek movies.
In spite of the many luminaries surrounding them, Manny and Jinkee have remained grounded and chosen a house that is understated in its elegance. No gilded and gaudy mansion for this couple, which confirms what people say about Pacquiao’s humility and lack of pretentiousness in spite of his wealth.
Friends of the couple said the house was bought early this year when Manny was training for his fight against Ricky “Hitman” Hatton. In late March, Jinkee flew to LA to choose the pieces of furniture for the house. She decided to hire a professional interior designer to guide her in furnishing the interiors but in the end, Jinkee still had the final say. After visiting the top furniture stores in the area, she meticulously chose the pieces that she thought would go with their lifestyle. Friends say that she went through the process of comparing prices and mixed some medium-priced pieces with high-end ones.
The house is elevated a few steps from the street level and the path leading to the entrance and garage is a mix of concrete and greens. A hedge of yellow flowers on the left side of the steps and pink blooms on the right give the house a lot of charm and warmth.
The spacious ground floor has a living room, dining area, state-of-the-art kitchen and a small sitting room with a powder room on the left side of the foyer.
There is an electric fireplace at the end of the dining area and a mantelpiece. On top of the mantel is a portrait of Audrey Hepburn, which looks like a Warhol. On the left wall is an octagonal modern mirror. A Baccarat crystal chandelier is the bling element in this otherwise modern dining room. Jinkee chose a 10-seater rectangular table with a glass top and high-backed chairs upholstered in a printed black velour-like fabric.
At the back of the house is an ample-sized swimming pool with a gazebo on one side and mini waterfalls on the other. The pool area is surrounded by tall Japanese bamboo, which adds to the Zen-like modern effect the Pacquaios wanted to achieve in their backyard.
This house of Manny Pacquiao in a posh area of Beverly Hills is not all about the wealth that he has acquired as the world’s welterweight champion. It is a symbol of a young boy’s struggles and the way he rose above his very humble beginnings. A young boy who followed his dreams, worked very hard and prayed hard to achieve it.
“With God on your side, everything is possible,” Manny says. The honor and glory that he brought to our country is inspirational to every Filipino, young and old. In the end, there is only one Manny Pacquiao.