No hexing for Mommy D; she’s all fired up

Mommy D with boyfriend Michael Yamson arrives at the vicinity of Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA to eat with family members. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

HOLLYWOOD—If you don’t catch her trying to hex Manny Pacquiao’s opponents, chances are it is because the Pac-Mom is taking a different spiritual tack as her son prepares to fight undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“Prayer is silent,” Dionisia Pacquiao, popularly known as Mommy D, told reporters who interviewed her here on Monday afternoon after having lunch at a Thai restaurant near Wild Card Boxing Gym.

Mommy D went viral on the Internet during Pacquiao’s rematch against Timothy Bradley last year when she was caught on camera looking as if she was casting a spell on the previously undefeated American, who beat Pacquiao in a controversial decision in their first meeting.

Social media erupted with photos, video clips and vines of Mommy D reciting a prayer and pointing at Bradley during the fight.

But so much has changed since then for the 65-year-old Pac-Mom.

While she won’t be pointing fingers and muttering prayers in the direction of Mayweather, she may just pull out something with a little more, well, fire—literally.

“I brought along candles to light before and during the actual fight,” she said.

Imagine if she gets to light those candles at ringside.

Raring to be at ringside

Whereas before, she would limit herself to watching replays of her son’s fights because she couldn’t bear to watch him getting hit, she is now raring to be at ringside when Pacquiao takes on the brash Mayweather in what is billed as the Fight of the Century.

“I was not used to seeing him fight,” said Mommy D about watching her son fight live. “I had not seen any of his fights. [Now], I’m happy to watch him win live.

The ballroom-dance enthusiast also seems fairly comfortable with her newfound fame, giving interviews unflinchingly but, like a true star, politely deflecting requests for interviews or photographs when she has not eaten yet.

“Later, after I have eaten,” she told a man who asked her to pose for a shot.

She even has her own mini-entourage whose members shield her from overzealous Pacquiao fans who want photographs with her.

Asked how she feels now that she has many fans of her own, she casually replied: “I’m used to that now.”

Images of saints

But while she may ditch the hexing act at ringside, it doesn’t mean she won’t have any spiritual rituals as her son prepares for what could be the fight of his career.

“I brought the images of saints and the Virgin. You see, Mother Mary is my guide,” she said.

To join the conversation, use the hashtags #PacMay #LabanManny #Inquirer. Visit The Pacquiao Files for more updates.

Originally posted as of 6:19 PM | Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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