Mommy Dionisia not at ringside

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao’s mother Dionisia was nowhere in sight when her son wrested the IBO lightwelterweight crown from Ricky Hatton on a second round technical knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here Saturday night.

One of Pacquiao’s brothers Rogel, who is president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said his mother was in her Mandalay Bay hotel suite praying the rosary while the title changed hands.

Mommy Dionisia has been treated like a celebrity in her first trip to the US – fans ask for her autograph and pose with her for pictures – she willingly obliges, more for her son’s sake than hers.

On the morning of the fight, New York-based Filipino priest Fr. Marlon Beof celebrated Holy Mass in a conference room that held about 300 people at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino and Mommy Dionisia showed up wearing a white dress and a white veil, holding a miniature Sto. Niño statue.

Mommy Dionisia sat beside Pacquiao and wife Jinkee on the front row during the Mass.

What cemented Mommy Dionisia’s celebrity status was when she made the front page of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (April 30 issue) with a story entitled “His Biggest Fan Will Be In Prayer” written by Steve Carp and a colored photograph.

Carp quoted the 59-year-old mother as saying, “I told him (Manny) to always be humble and to pray – he is a good son.”

As for her first visit to the US, Mommy Dionisia told Carp, “I love it ... I’ve wanted to come here many times, it’s wonderful – it’s everything I thought it would be ... I’m speechless, (Las Vegas has) so many bright lights, I’m going to try to see everything while I’m here.”

Mommy Dionisia has never watched her son fight in the stadium and prefers to stay at home or in church praying the rosary – she said she would give Pacquiao a bouquet of red roses for good luck before he leaves the hotel to fight Hatton.

“I will just pray,” she added – “I want to give Manny a mother’s support – I would have been here before but I wasn’t feeling well so I waited.”

Pacquiao said he considers it important that his mother flew over.

“It’s great to have her here,” said Pacquiao – “It gives me more inspiration to do my best and try my best to win.”

After what happened to Hatton, it appears Mommy Dionisia will be a fixture in Pacquiao’s travelling party for his overseas fights from now on.