Paul Soriano shares Manny Pacquiao’s perspective on pain, hardship

MANILA, Philippines – We all know Manny Pacquiao as the People’s Champ, but a new movie,Kid Kulafu, focuses on his early years as a young boy growing up in the Philippines. 

Fans can see it when it comes out in cinemas April 15, two weeks before the much anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

During the press conference for the movie, director Paul Soriano said that Kid Kulafu aims to show the people who Manny Pacquiao was in his younger years. 

“This film reminds him of where he came from. He came from nothing. 

“He mentioned that in his press conference with Floyd [last March 12 in Las Vegas].

“This movie brought him back to those days where he was Emmanuel, Quiao, Manuel, Wel – that was his name before,” Paul said.

According to Paul, in one of his conversations with Manny for the movie, Manny shared the struggles of being a boxer. 

“He said something to me that really hit me. Not verbatim, but something like, ‘Oh, you know, yung boxing nakikita mo ngayon sa TV na-knockout ako, nagte-training, lahat ‘yan hindi ‘yan sakit para sa akin. (‘Oh you know, the boxing you see now on TV, I got knockout, the training, all of that is not painful for me.) 

“’Yung sakit, yung walang bahay, walang pagkain, walang pamilya. ‘Yan ang masakit. (What’s painful for me is when I had no house, no food, no family. That what’s painful.)

“’Yung sa boxing, ‘pag mana-knockout pa ako, at least may pera [at] may pamilya ako. (With boxing, even if I get knockout, at least I have money and my family.)

“‘Pero nung bata ako, wala akong bahay’ (But when I was young, I had no house), ” Paul recalled Manny saying. 

Paul said that Manny has seen some parts of the movie and is very proud of it. 

“He’s [Manny] really proud of the film and he’s hoping that this can also inspire all the Filipinos to rally behind him as he gets into that ring and hopefully knocks out (Floyd) Mayweather.” 

The movie, 3 years in the making, tells the story of Manny as a young boy growing up in General Santos City and how he fought his way up to become the boxer he is today. Former child actor Buboy Villar brings the character of young Manny to life. 

Also starring Alex Medina, Khalil Ramos, Alessandra de Rossi, and Cesar Montano, Kid Kulafu is presented by Ten17 and Star Cinema. – Rappler.com