Pacman takes it easy the morning after

LOS ANGELES — After a hard and difficult time on the ring Saturday night, Manny Pacquiao has started to take it soft and easy here in LA.

Pacquiao started the day Sunday by hearing Mass at the Christ the King Church which is just five minutes away from his $4,000-a-month, two-bedroom apartment at the posh La Brea area.

Also hearing Mass with Pacquiao were his wife Jinkee, brother Bobby, and some members of his team, including local trainer and childhood friend Buboy Fernandez.

As in his previous visits to the Catholic church, the crowd easily recognized Pacquiao who wore a red jacket, dark pants, rubber shoes and a small bruise under his right eye.

Then he went to the Marriott Hotel in downtown LA to visit some friends. He stayed for more than two hours at the lobby, taking phone calls, handing autographs and chatting with friends.

He also got to watch the US Open finals where the young Roger Federrer defeated the old Andre Agassi. Though he liked Agassi, he said Federrer was simply too strong.

"Malakas ang serve. At bata pa kasi. Si Agassi, matanda na at mukhang mabigat na ang katawan," said Pacquiao, who also spent some time conferring with LA-based adviser Joe Ramos.

Manning the wheel of his Lincoln Navigator, Pacquiao and company drove to Chinatown for a very late lunch. He feasted on steamed fish, spicy crabs, fried noodles and beef with broccoli.

The Chinese restaurant had a lot of Filipino customers, most of them approaching the boxer’s table for souvenir photos taken from their cell phones.

Pacquiao footed the bill worth close to $200 then drove back home to his apartment. He said he plans to play golf Monday or go shopping, depending on his mood.

After Saturday’s fight at the Staples Center, where he knocked out Mexico’s Hector Velazquez in the sixth round, Pacquiao had dinner with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

It was the latter’s treat and he couldn’t have found a better place — the Castaway restaurant on the upper side of the Hollywood area overlooking the San Fernando Valley.

Shortly after midnight, he treated some friends to a small party in his apartment, entertaining them with some food, drinks and a couple of songs through his $2,000 Taylor guitar.

The party was over at around 3 a.m. with Pacquiao still up and about. Boxers coming off a fight are allowed to sleep at least 10 hours after the fight to allow their muscles to warm down.

One of those who stayed on said Pacquiao tucked himself in at 5 o’clock and came out of his bedroom just in time for the 8:30 a.m. Mass. — Abac Cordero