All in the family

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao has nothing but praises for wife Jinkee, who stood by him when he literally started from scratch to become the biggest boxing figure the world has ever known.

So it follows that he will support her all the way, even to the point of appearing in a commercial for Magnolia Milk and Ice Cream with her, mother Dionisia and children Jimuel, Michael, Princess and Queen Elizabeth.

“Kung magbibigay ng award, sa asawa ko na yan. Kasi si Jinkee ay talagang maalalahanin, maalaga, mabait sa lahat,” said Manny, who translated his popularity not only inside the ring but also in movies, television, music and several endorsements.

And it seems that Jinkee is also open to take the plunge.

“Oo naman, para meron din akong ginagawa. Mas gusto kong may ginagawa ako at the same time kumikita ka rin. Hindi naman pwede yung laging nasa bahay ka, mas maganda yung may ginagawa ka din,” says Jinkee.

Although Manny has already endorsed almost everything, it is the first time that his family will be in a commercial. Magnolia Milk and Ice Cream came up with a groundbreaking commercial to emphasize the brand’s heritage and affinity to the Filipino family for almost a century.

“The main idea is we’re really trying to match an icon for an icon. Magnolia is an iconic brand for so many years for many generations and today Manny is the Filipino icon. We know that Filipino families grew up on Magnolia and what better way to express this than by getting the whole family of Manny. Pinakyaw namin ang buong Pacquiao family,” Magnolia, Inc. GM Reginald Baylosis says.

“You know Magnolia Ice Cream really loves family; it’s about love, a mother’s love for her children and it says here that Mommy Dionisia is really a devoted mom to Manny and of course, Jinkee is also a devoted mom to her children as well as a devoted wife to Manny. It’s really about family, it’s about bonding, it’s about love and about enjoyment. Magnolia Ice Cream is such an indulgent product that when you’re a mom, you indulge your children with whatever is the best,” says Magnolia Ice Cream brand manager Pinky Custodio.

With such a family concept, it was easy for the Pacquiao family to say yes.

“Nung sinabi na pamilya ko, hindi na ako nagdalawang isip talagang oo na agad eh dahil first time eh. First time kaming magkaroon ng commercial na kasama lahat,” Manny says.

Jinkee, for her part, said the commercial best represents how life is in the Pacquiao family. Manny, she says, is such an attentive father when he’s away from the attention of most Filipinos.

“Kapag sa bahay, naglalaro sila ng mga bata, manonood ng TV. Basta nilalaro niya ang mga anak niya. Kapag nasa bahay kami, we see to it na wala munang bisita, kami muna lahat, kailangan yung bonding,” she says.

And the celebrity bug has definitely bit the Pacquiao family with the kids enjoying the time in the limelight.

“Happy sila, nakikita ko naman sa mukha nila na happy sila kasi alam nila na it’s about ice cream, and milk. Gustong-gusto nila talaga ang ice cream and milk,” says Jinkee.