By Ronnie Nathanielsz

BOXING champion Manny Pacquiao has become a partner in the Boracay West Cove, a 12-villa resort on Diniwid Beach owned by businessman Crisostomo Aquino.

Aquino, who carries the Philippine flag in every Pacquiao fight and produces T-shirts and jackets for Team Pacquiao members, said the champ’s interest in investing was triggered by his visit to the island in December.

At the time, Aquino had invited Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee to spend a vacation in Boracay.

“Everything changed after that,” Aquino said. “He became a new Manny Pacquiao. Manny told me that he realized that he couldn’t go on fighting forever and needed to prepare for the future of his wife and three kids.”

Pacquiao chose a 1,000-square-meter spot to build his rest house.

“Manny is interested in investing. I haven’t gotten any money yet [but] there is money coming in,” Aquino said.

West Cove is west of Boracay’s white sand beach, hugging the seaside mountain terrain of Diniwid. Twelve air-conditioned villas facing the ocean are built along the cliff, providing guests with a panoramic view of the sunset.

Eighteen more villas are being built. The rates will range from P6,000 to P14,000 a night during the peak season from Nov. 1 to May 31.

The resort is initially open only to close friends such as American trainer Freddie Roach, who has also visited, Aquino said.

The businessman, who spends much of his time in Manila, said he bought the resort late last year from his partner Nelson Go, who invested in the site about two years ago.

Ring Magazine correspondent Ted Lerner also remarked on the change in Pacquio’s lifestyle after a recent visit to General Santos City.

Lerner told Standard Today he was amazed to see that the boxer no longer spent his time at cockfights, and late nights at casinos and pool halls. Instead, he seemed serious about his studies, which took up about six hours a day. He has also stopped gambling.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was Pacquiao’s concern for the poor, Lerner added, noting he still entertained scores of those seeking his help.

Lerner said Pacquiao must have realized that at some point, he would no longer be able to fight, so it was prudent to invest the huge sums he had earned through years of sacrifice in the ring.

Aquino added that after winning his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, Paquiao was able to recoup his losses.

He said that after four years and a rematch with Juan Manuel, “Manny got all the money he lost because God loves him.”