by ALEX P. VIDAL
Unknown to most spectators who watched the 12-round World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight championship fight between David Diaz and Manny Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 28, the husband and wife seen on HBO television waving a big streamer that screams "Pacquiao marry me", were Pacquiao’s most ardent fans in the West Coast in the United States.
They were Premchand or "Prem" and Rowena or "Weng" Encarnacion, who agreed to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary on that day together with the crowd rooting for Pacquiao inside the spacious event center.
"We had no gift to each other," said Prem, an architect from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, who has lived in the United States for 22 years. "Ito lang (our attendance in the fight of Pacquiao) ang regalo namin (Our attendance in the fight is our gift to each other)."
"We have one thing in common," added Weng, a nurse at the Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Los Angeles, California, who has been in the US for 10 years. "We are both die-hard, real die-hard fans of Manny Pacquiao."
Weng, of Bilar, Bohol , admitted that they have no kids. "Our kid is Manny Pacquiao," the couple, who live in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles , said in jest.
"Hindi niya alam but siya ang highlight sa relationship naming mag asawa (he doesn’t know it yet but he is the highlight in our relationship as couple)," Weng said.
They said as much as possible they did not want to miss any fight of Pacquiao in the United States . During free time, if their idol is in the US (their house is located 15 minutes away by car from Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where Pacquiao trains), they would visit him and watch while doing his regular workouts.
While Pacquiao was shadow boxing inside the ring in the Wild Card Gym before his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez sometime in March, the couple carried a tarpaulin with a slogan "Just Pac it" while watching him. They caught the attention of journalists and photographers present.
Pacquiao recognized their presence by waving at them and flashing a big smile.
"Down-to-earth siya at hindi mayabang. The fact na nasilayan namin siya sa gym ay malaking bagay na sa amin (He is down-to-earth and approachable. By just watching him in the gym we are already satisfied)," said Weng.
They called as "amazing" Pacquiao’s gesture when he invited them to eat with him in a Thai restaurant a stone throw away from the gym after the workout.
"I nearly jumped in joy when he called me by my first name ‘Weng,’" she added. "We were among the luckiest people to be invited to eat with him in one table."
Pacquiao also once invited them to eat in his apartment in La Brea "and we just wanted to know where he lived," Weng said.
The couple said they are glad that Pacquiao recognized them as his fans "but we are not big names here."
They admired the 29-year-old lefty from General Santos City "because he knows how to look back at ordinary Filipinos and he has a stamp like Jose Rizal."
"He is very nice to his fans; very cool. He was telling us story about his life when he was a kid. Maka Diyos siya and he prays the rosary," they said. "Manny Pacquiao is a world class athlete and he represents our race."
The couple also described the people around the WBC champion as "very nice and very accommodating."
As true-blue boxing fans, how do they react when they see their idol being hit by his opponents in the ring? "I had butterflies in the stomach when he fought Marquez. Para akong hinimatay (I nearly fainted)," Weng pointed out.
Prem and Weng have not yet issued a statement now that Pacquiao has been pitted against the world’s most dangerous boxer in the person of Oscar De La Hoya dubbed "It’s Personal" on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. /MP
They were Premchand or "Prem" and Rowena or "Weng" Encarnacion, who agreed to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary on that day together with the crowd rooting for Pacquiao inside the spacious event center.
"We had no gift to each other," said Prem, an architect from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, who has lived in the United States for 22 years. "Ito lang (our attendance in the fight of Pacquiao) ang regalo namin (Our attendance in the fight is our gift to each other)."
"We have one thing in common," added Weng, a nurse at the Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Los Angeles, California, who has been in the US for 10 years. "We are both die-hard, real die-hard fans of Manny Pacquiao."
Weng, of Bilar, Bohol , admitted that they have no kids. "Our kid is Manny Pacquiao," the couple, who live in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles , said in jest.
"Hindi niya alam but siya ang highlight sa relationship naming mag asawa (he doesn’t know it yet but he is the highlight in our relationship as couple)," Weng said.
They said as much as possible they did not want to miss any fight of Pacquiao in the United States . During free time, if their idol is in the US (their house is located 15 minutes away by car from Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where Pacquiao trains), they would visit him and watch while doing his regular workouts.
While Pacquiao was shadow boxing inside the ring in the Wild Card Gym before his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez sometime in March, the couple carried a tarpaulin with a slogan "Just Pac it" while watching him. They caught the attention of journalists and photographers present.
Pacquiao recognized their presence by waving at them and flashing a big smile.
"Down-to-earth siya at hindi mayabang. The fact na nasilayan namin siya sa gym ay malaking bagay na sa amin (He is down-to-earth and approachable. By just watching him in the gym we are already satisfied)," said Weng.
They called as "amazing" Pacquiao’s gesture when he invited them to eat with him in a Thai restaurant a stone throw away from the gym after the workout.
"I nearly jumped in joy when he called me by my first name ‘Weng,’" she added. "We were among the luckiest people to be invited to eat with him in one table."
Pacquiao also once invited them to eat in his apartment in La Brea "and we just wanted to know where he lived," Weng said.
The couple said they are glad that Pacquiao recognized them as his fans "but we are not big names here."
They admired the 29-year-old lefty from General Santos City "because he knows how to look back at ordinary Filipinos and he has a stamp like Jose Rizal."
"He is very nice to his fans; very cool. He was telling us story about his life when he was a kid. Maka Diyos siya and he prays the rosary," they said. "Manny Pacquiao is a world class athlete and he represents our race."
The couple also described the people around the WBC champion as "very nice and very accommodating."
As true-blue boxing fans, how do they react when they see their idol being hit by his opponents in the ring? "I had butterflies in the stomach when he fought Marquez. Para akong hinimatay (I nearly fainted)," Weng pointed out.
Prem and Weng have not yet issued a statement now that Pacquiao has been pitted against the world’s most dangerous boxer in the person of Oscar De La Hoya dubbed "It’s Personal" on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. /MP
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