By Dennis “dSource” Guillermo

Philippines, give it up for your boy Manny Pacquiao because I’ll be damned he just officially conquered Hollywood.

By golly he just turned The Jimmy Kimmel Show into a Filipino Karaoke Extravaganza, and if you ask me, he sure hit that ball out of the ballpark. Pacquiao is definitely a once in a lifetime athlete and personality in the mold of Muhammad Ali. It’s amazing how he owned the stage as if he was simply working the boxing ring. To put it succinctly, like Kanye West, got me singing, “it’s amazing!”

As if the hoards of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities lining up to get their glimpse of the Filipino icon isn’t proof enough of his status as the sport’s most revered fighter, Pacquiao mesmerized his fans once again this time on network television as he flashed his pearly whites, joked with Kimmel and did his rendition of Dan Hill’s classic love song “Sometimes When We Touch”.

Pacquiao displayed all the characteristics that has endeared him to his fans all over the world. He was charming, witty, funny and always accommodating as he obliged the show with a song. Most of all, Pacquiao displayed his natural humility. When asked by Kimmel whether he was the most popular person from the Philippines, Pacquiao simply smiled and wouldn’t even answer. Just for the record, I couldn’t care any less about love songs but somehow Pacquiao singing it makes it look cool- and that is what Pacquiao truly did since he stepped into mainstream boxing and captured the world’s imagination. Pacquiao made being Filipino “cool”. And it is.

Pacquiao perfectly captures and represent the Filipino culture through his genuine smile, kind-hearted nature, hospitable attitude, generous ways and most of all his courage and strength to put his nation, his fans and his family first and do whatever it takes to make them proud.

Hats off to you Manny! As a Filipino living here in the US, you definitely made each and every Filipino believe that despite all the hardships we go through and through the lows you came from and how high the unimaginable lengths you have already achieved, that anything is definitely possible. Mabuhay ka Manny Pacquiao! read more