‘Pacman’ Reveals Near-Death Experience

Now it can be told. Had it not perhaps for a woman and her family, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao would have not been what he is today.

He could have been dead, Pacquiao himself revealed, during the bible study that followed hours after his victory against Chris Algieri recently in The Venetian Macao-Resort Hotel.

“I’m proud to introduce to you, yung pamilya na tumulong sa akin nung nandoon ako dahil wala akong kamag-anak, ito sila (the family that helped me while being there because I have no relatives, here they are), ” Pacquiao told Team Pacquiao members and some guests motioning his hand towards Corazon Florentino and her family after he emerged from his room inside his suite at the posh hotel and resort.

The WBO welterweight champion narrated she had known Corazon when he was still starting his professional boxing career in the hands of the late Leopoldo “Polding” Correa in the 1990’s.

Pacquiao said his near death experience happened when he got ill with typhoid fever, where Corazon brought him to the MCU-FDT (Manila Central University-Filemon Tanchoco) Medical Foundation Hospital in Caloocan City, recalling, it was also Corazon who shouldered his medical bills apart from literally taking care of him while on medication.

Corazon Florentino (right), the good Samaritan who helped Manny Pacquiao when the latter was still a budding boxer. Pacquiao said he would have been dead if not for this woman. (Photo by: Leizl Padama)

“Naiyak tuloy ako, nagkasakit ako, alam nyo, mamatay na ako, buto-buto na ako dahil na typhoid fever ako, na hospital ako, wala akong kamag anak, sila ang tumulong sa akin (I could not help but cry, I was sick, you know, I could have died, I was frail because of typhoid fever, I was hospitalized. I have no relatives, they were the ones who helped me),”.

“Wala akong pagkain, dinadalhan ako, sila ang nagluluto…sila ang kumupkop sa akin, pati yung bill sa ospital gastos din nila, sila ang nagbayad sa akin ( they brought me foods, they cooked for me, they took care of me, including the hospital bills, they paid it for me)” Pacquiao continued his recollection in near tears.

The Filipino boxing icon said that in whatever way he can, he is reciprocating the good deeds of Corazon and her family to him, the reason being he invited them over to be part of Team Pacquiao
to watch at ringside his fight with Algieri.

Team Pacquiao numbering at least 300 were flown to Macau and back by Air Asia which assigned two Airbus A320 for the event which has a Pacquiao logo near its tail to signify its being the official carrier of the Filipino boxing champ.

Asked on how she met Pacquiao, Corazon, 54, recalls they were still living then in Malabon where Pacquiao became one of her “suki”(regulars) of her carenderia/sari-sari store with whom she built good rapport because the budding boxer then was a good paying customer.

“He is good paying, after he got his money he would pay right away, including those times when he wins in his fight and gets his purse,” Corazon told this writer in Filipino.

She said she decided to bring Pacquiao to the hospital after she saw him ailing, had a nose bled while having fever, which was later diagnosed to be typhoid fever.

“Awang-awa ako sa kanya noon lalo nang makita ko na nagdurugo na yung ilong nya tsaka mahina na ang katawan, (I really pity him especially when I saw that his nose was bleeding and was frail) Corazon said, “Mabait siya, tinuring na din naming kamag-anak. Naawa talaga kami sa kanya ( He was nice, we treated him like he is our relative. We really pity him), she added.

Their closeness continued when Pacquiao got out from the MCU hospital, at times, in between boxing, as Pacquiao would help them sell flowers in Baclaran Church up to the other churches as far as Bulacan.

They parted ways for years when Pacquiao became world champion and got the surprise of their life when Pacquiao reconnected with them even if their family has already transferred to Meycuayan.

The Florentino’s now runs a grocery store. They were complete as a family in the Macau trip, Corazon was joined by her husband, Vener, 59, and their three children.