(UPDATE) RIGHT from the start, Emmanuel “Eman” Bacosa knew that boxing legend Manny Pacquiao was his father.
Bacosa’s mother, Joanna, who had a relationship with Pacquiao in 2003, never kept it a secret from his son, whose resemblance to the boxing icon is undeniable.
Still, it took Bacosa turning 18 and not seeing the world’s only eight-division champ for 10 years before Pacquiao fully acknowledged him as his son in 2022.
Eman Bacosa (right). XINHUA PHOTO
The long wait was worth it.
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“We visited my dad, and he let us in. Then my dad hugged me tightly,” said Bacosa, 21, in a lengthy interview with “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho.”
“[He said], ‘I missed you son. I haven’t seen you for such a long time.’ Then I hugged him back. I was holding back my tears because I was so happy to see him. We hadn’t seen each other for 10 years,” added Bacosa, who grew up in Tagum, Davao del Norte.
Bacosa, who entered the mainstream consciousness after fighting in Thrilla in Manila’s 50th anniversary fight card last month, just returned to the Philippines at that time (2022) after spending five years in Japan, where he studied and began boxing training.
His reunion with his dad was emotional — one filled with forgiveness and understanding. It wasn’t that Pacquiao never acknowledged Bacosa as his son before. The full recognition just took some time.
“He also asked for my forgiveness. I forgave him as well. I said, ‘Dad, I understand your situation. What’s important to me is that I get to be with you and that you support my boxing career,’ that’s why I appreciate him,” he shared.
Knowing the brutal demands of boxing, Pacquiao, 46, initially discouraged Bacosa from pursuing a career in the sport but his son, who developed his boxing interest in 2011 when he saw Pacquiao defeat Shane Mosley, was determined.
“I told him, ‘Dad, I was planning to take up boxing.’ He said, ‘Boxing is hard. Just focus on your studies instead. I’ll just send you to America,’ something like that… I said, ‘But dad, boxing is my passion.’
“Then he signed my [papers] and said, ‘Son, I’ll make you a Pacquiao so it’ll be easier for you to rise in boxing.’ It felt like he was making it up to me. I said, ‘Oh my, thank you, Lord.’ I went into my room and cried there. I said, ‘Thank you, Lord,’” he shared.