Pacquiao-Mayweather: Large Filipino Community In Sacramento Rooting For Manny
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Thousands of local Filipinos consider this weekend a national holiday in honor of what's been dubbed as the fight of the century.
One man is going all out. He says he remembers seeing Manny Pacquiao selling fish on the poor streets of the south Philippines.
People will pay to watch the fight between Pacquiao and the undefeated Floyd Mayweather at some downtown bars, but many more will celebrate at home with authentic Filipino food and personal stories that go way back before his rags to riches story.
Sacramento is home to more Filipinos than any other city in the United States, and you don't have to look too close to see who Gabriel Ortigoza is rooting for.
"He's fighting for not only for himself but for the Filipino people," he said.
But his celebration goes deeper than authentic Filipino delicacies and beyond the big screen—it's about the man millions call an inspiration, including Ortigoza's 12-year-old son.
He says he set the example early on for his son because he knows Pacquiao personally. He remembers seeing him before his boxing days selling fish at his friend's fish market in the poverty-stricken south Philippines.
"He lives helping his mom sell whatever in the street," he said.
Ortigoza says he saw Pacquiao work hard to feed his family and return years later to help the poor.
"Whatever he does, he does his best from a street vendor to a boxer," he said.
But for him and his son, Pacquiao doesn't have to win the fight to remain their fighter.
"Win or lose, he's still Manny Pacquiao," he said.