SCREENGRAB FROM MANNY PACQUIAO’S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao, world Boxing champion, is still in disbelief that his friend, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, is now gone.
Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others, were killed in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday, (early Monday, Manila time).
“Alam mo nagulat ako nung balitang lumabas kaninang umaga at halos hindi ako makapaniwala na nawala na yung kaibigan ko, namatay yung kaibigan ko,” Pacquiao told Senate reporters on Monday.
(You know I was shocked when the news came out this morning and I could not believe that my friend is already gone, that my friend died)
He said many were shocked and even thought that the report of Bryant’s death was just another fake news.
“Kahit tayo nabigla tayo, hindi tayo makapaniwala. Baka fake news lang e. Pero talagang ganyan ang buhay,” the senator said.
(We’re also shocked, we’re in disbelief. We thought it was fake news. But that’s life.)
Pacquiao could not help but expressed grief as he recalled spending time with Bryant when the latter visited the Philippines.
Asked about his fondest memory with Bryant, the senator said, “Marami, marami.”
“Nung pumunta pa nga dito yun lumabas pa kami … at maganda yung pagkaibigan namin . Sayang,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao asked for prayers so that the bereaved families of those killed in the crash and those affected by their loss, including Filipinos who treat Bryant as one of their idols, could move on.