Jinkee Pacquiao on the spotlight!

Compared to the big one in Forbes Park, the Pacquiaos’ house in Brentville, Biñan, Laguna, is too modest. It’s located at a quiet corner of the sprawling subdivision, across from an empty lot, a safe distance from its next neighbor, within walking distance to the exclusive school where the Pacquiao children are studying.



As soon as you enter, Jinkee smiles at you from a lifesize painting that occupies almost one wall, dominating the main sala. A few steps and you are in the dining room. An old sofa that needs to be reupholstered occupies the smaller sala. Framed photos of Manny and Jinkee and other members of the family (including Jinkee’s twin sister Janet) are all over the rest of the walls and inside built-in glass cases.

It’s not easy to enter the subdivision. You have to be checked by guards in three gates before you reach the Pacquiao home. At the first gate, the guard checks the guest list if your name is on it, then he calls the Pacquiao home (or that of whoever you’re visiting) to confirm.

“That’s why we like it here,” said Jinkee on the day we dropped by to interview her as image model for The Belo Medical Clinic, airing on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Startalk. It’s far from the madding crowd.“Tahimik dito, nakaka-relax. Kaya gustong-gusto ni Manny palagi dito.”

It’s almost lunchtime and Jinkee said that Manny is upstairs, maybe still asleep. The kids are in school and, when we arrive, Jinkee is being made up by an Indonesian stylist, her favorite. The week before, Jinkee and Manny were in the news (when was it that they never were?) after they hosted a dinner for visiting Hollywood starlet Paris Hilton, their friend. Paris made a surprise appearance at Manny’s post-fight presscon in Las Vegas last May.

As a warm-up, we engage Jinkee in idle talk. Here’s how it goes:

When are you moving to your house in Forbes Park?

“Next year. Ayaw namin madaliin.”

Is it the most expensive among your houses?

“Yes, it is.”

Magkano ‘yon?

(Smiles) “A, basta. ‘Yon ang pinakamahal.”

Are you inviting Paris Hilton to the blessing?

(Shrugging) “Hmmmm, baka hindi. Better not kasi some people are making negative comments about me. Nagiging social climber tuloy ako sa mata ng tao.”

You hosted a party for Paris. How was it?

“Okey naman. I was star-struck.”

What did you talk about?

“Beauty secrets, mga ganoon. Also about fashion. Mahilig kasi siya sa mga damit at accessories. She made comment about my watch, ‘Your watch is beautiful!’ O kaya, ‘You have a nice dress,’ mga ganoon.”

Did you exchange gifts?

“No. All we gave her were pictures of Manny and a Pacquiao T-shirt that she wore when she left. And several sets of make-up na iba-ibang brands.”

What did she give you?

“None. She accepted our invitation for her to have dinner with us was good enough.”

Aren’t you affected when Manny and Paris made beso-beso in public?

“Beso-beso is okey. Pag kiss na talaga, I don’t think it’s nice. Hindi naman siguro maganda ‘yon.”

Two Saturdays ago, you guest-hosted in Manny’s show Manny Many Prizes. You and Manny even sang a duet of Miss Na Miss Kita. How would you like to be Manny’s permanent co-host?

“They asked me to be a co-host and I told them, ‘As long as possible d’un sa show ni Manny, okey ‘yon’.”

Manny will have his third bout with Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 (Nov. 13 Manila Time) in Las Vegas. Do you want it to be Manny’s last fight?

“Hindi pa rin, eh. That’s what everybody is asking him and asking me every time mayroon siyang laban.When I ask him about it, hindi na siya kumikibo.”

Kelan kaya ang last fight niya?

“Siguro after (Floyd) Mayweather Jr.”

But as far as you and Manny’s Mommy Dionisia are concerned, kelan ninyo gusto?

“Siguro anytime, puede na.”

You’ve done commercials (as endorser of The Belo Medical Clinic, etc.) and now you’re TV co-hosting. Would you accept any movie offer (like Mommy Dionisia who starred with former Pres. Joseph Estrada and Ai-Ai delas Alas in Star Cinema’s Ang Tanging Pamilya)?

“I doubt it. Ayokong magka-problema ang pagsasama namin ni Manny.”

Why naman?

“Ayaw ni Manny na may leading man ako, ganyan.”

Why, your leading man might be linked with you?

“Ayaw niya ng tsismis.”

If ever you joined showbiz, sino ang gusto mong leading men? Name three.

“Hmmmmm, let me see…But I won’t mention the name of the actor na natsismis sa akin.” (Clue: There’s “d” and “k” in his first name, and an “r” and a “y” in his surname.) “Si Sam Milby, Alden Richards and Gerald Anderson who is also from GenSan.”

If Manny were your leading man, I’m sure you would have kissing scenes.

“Okey lang. Bakit ko siya tatanggihan?”

And besides, you don’t need any rehearsal.

“Take one lang ‘yon sigurado.”

Do you “rehearse” every night?

“Puede rin.”

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