Manny in good hands

The partnership that Manny Pacquiao now enjoys with San Miguel Corp. guarantees lifetime security for the people’s champion and he deserves it.

There’s no organization more equipped to provide Pacquiao an enduring working relationship than the giant food and beverage company that has a significant business presence not only in the Philippines but also in the Asia-Pacific region.

But what clearly won Pacquiao’s heart in signing up with San Miguel was the sincerity shown by chairman Eduardo (Danding) Cojuangco and president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang who are both passionate sports enthusiasts.

A Pacquiao camp insider confided yesterday that there had been several attempts from unauthorized "brokers" to hook up the fighter with San Miguel but none prospered because the approach was wrong. Apparently, the self-styled brokers didn’t care as much for Pacquiao’s future as theirs. San Miguel didn’t bother with them.

Finally, someone from Pacquiao’s camp got through the message that the fighter was interested in pursuing a meaningful relationship, not just a sponsorship for a fight or advertising space in his shorts. It wasn’t difficult to sell the approach to San Miguel.

Only a few days after arriving from the Erik Morales fight in the US, Pacquiao met Ambassador Cojuangco and Mr. Ang in a conference room at the Manila Diamond Hotel on Roxas Bouelvard. There was instant chemistry.

Mr. Ang and nearly the entire hotel staff, including chefs, welcomed Pacquiao at the lobby as he got down from his car that Sunday afternoon. The reception swept Pacquiao off his feet, something Morales couldn’t do in the ring. He felt right at home.

What Ambassador Cojuangco and Mr. Ang told Pacquiao was like music to his ears. They assured him of their all-out support in all his ventures, in and out of the ring. They offered him a lasting business partnership where Pacquiao would be a franchisee of the company’s products.Aside from being successful business executives, Ambassador Cojuangco and Mr. Ang are true sports fans. Like millions of other Filipinos, they were glued to their TV sets watching Pacquiao demolish Morales and cheered lustily when the Mexican crumbled in the 10th round last month.

It was Ambassador Cojuangco who brought the Philippines back on the glory road in international basketball in the 1980s. He personally bankrolled the country’s successful campaigns in the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Basketball Confederation and the Jones Cup as the sport’s project director. His program produced such stars as Hector Calma, Allan Caidic and Samboy Lim.

Today, Ambassador Cojuangco remains very much involved in sports. His granddaughters are champion equestriennes who’ve reaped honors for the country overseas. He owns world-class racehorses and fighting cocks. He provides employment for athletes even if they’ve retired. Those who work for Ambassador Cojuangco swear there’s no boss who’s as insightful, intelligent, thoughtful and generous. He is a man with no equal.

Mr. Ang shares Ambassador Cojuangco’s passion for sports.

Like Ambassador Cojuangco, he quietly supports athletes and sports programs without fanfare, giving out of his own pocket. He keeps abreast of sports developments here and abroad. It was his idea to form a San Miguel All-Stars touring basketball team to provide a source of income for retired players and extend their goodwill to promote company products. He is the team manager of the Philippine national basketball team. Mr. Ang is like Ambassador Cojuangco in many ways–he is a man of vision and action with a big heart.

As an institution, San Miguel Corp. has stood head and shoulders above others in terms of supporting Philippine sports through the years. It contributed P100 Million to the fund for the recent Southeast Asian Games. It remains a solid franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association and is always first in line when there is a call to support Filipino athletes.

With Ambassador Cojuangco and Mr. Ang at the helm of San Miguel Corp., Pacquiao is assured of unflinching support that comes from the heart.

A Pacquiao insider intimated that the fighter couldn’t get over the fact that although they’re known as captains of industry, Ambassador Cojuangco and Mr. Ang came across as his biggest fans. The executives were thrilled when Pacquiao gave them his autographed "MP" shirts during a visit to the San Miguel office last week.

"Would you believe Mr. Cojuangco told Manny he’ll frame the shirt so it won’t get dirty?" said the insider. "Imagine that coming from the chief executive officer of the country’s flagship company."

The insider said the executives pledged to support Pacquiao’s plan of becoming a promoter of his own fights in the Philippines.

He said Pacquiao will broach the idea of Manila hosting his third match against Morales to his manager Shelly Finkel and with San Miguel’s backing, it could happen.

If there are contractual obligations tying down the rubber match to a US site, Pacquiao’s interim fight against either Oscar Larios or Javier Jauregui is the other option for a Manila setting.

"What Manny appreciated was San Miguel’s commitment to be a lifetime partner," said the insider. "He was so impressed with Mr. Cojuangco and Mr. Ang. Manny will endorse San Miguel products here and in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s like from now on, Manny is San Miguel and San Miguel is Manny. After all, he’s a national treasure and so is San Miguel."