Pacquiao: King of the ring, king of endorsements, too?

Amid the malicious rumors surrounding his personal life these days, boxer-congressman Manny Pacquiao remains an in-demand endorser even abroad.

Following his endorsements of sportswear brand Nike and multinational technological company Hewlett Packard (HP), the eight-division world champion is the newest face (literally and figuratively) of the largest vegetable distribution company in the United States, reported ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” on Nov. 3. The product which bears his image on the packaging will hit supermarkets next week.

An online report also by ABS-CBN stated that the pound-for-pound king's latest undertaking is done in partnership with the State Street Produce “to grow vegetables for high-end restaurants,” with the product being called as “Pacquiao Produce.”

Through this endorsement, Pacquiao hopes that he could encourage people to eat vegetables.

"Ine-endorse ko para makatulong ng mahirap na tao, mapakain na din sila, and then to encourage lahat ng mga kababayan natin, sa lahat lahat ng mga tao na mag-umpisang kumain ng mga gulay, dahil ang gulay ay napaka-sustansya at malusog sa katawan... at nakaka-dagdag ito ng edad,” he said in the interview.

Aside from “Pacquiao Produce,” the Sarangani congressman is also the endorser of “Manny Padala card,” a 24/7 card that would allow Filipinos living in the States to send money to their relatives in the Philippines, “UKG” likewise reported.

On top of these is another endorsement deal with international liquor brand Hennessey, ABS-CBN News also reported. He’s the first-ever athlete to endorse the said brand.

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s financial adviser, was quoted as saying in the report, "Last year is when the American companies began to support us. Hennessey has never, ever used a professional athlete in any of their ad campaigns, it's also the first time that HP has used a boxer.”

Koncz attributed Pacquiao’s pull as an endorser with his life story.

“What I think that's appealing about Manny is not the fact that he's the greatest boxer in the world, but it's his whole life story, from poverty to boxing to his charity work," said he.

Pacquiao is one of the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes according to a Forbes.com list released last May 31, with earnings amounting to $25 million.

The string of Pacquiao’s new endorsements apparently lengthens with another “major company” negotiating with the former for a “multi-million dollar” deal, as Koncz intimated in the same ABS-CBN News report.

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
mb.com.ph

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