Consuls in the US Embassy in Manila are very open to granting US Visas to Filipinos wanting to witness the ring fights of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. The embassy along Roxas Boulevard has seen hundreds of boxing fans the past days whose only reason to travel is to watch the pound-for-pound king face the reigning and undefeated world junior welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley for his 147-pound belt on June 9 in Las Vegas. Relatives, friends and team members of the Pambansang Kamao, politicians, members of the media and press people, businessmen, elites, the middle-class – all sorts of people from all walks of life, at least those who can afford the $150 Visa fee – have been packing the US Embassy since weeks ago. The US Visa is just one of the expenses involved in watching a Pacquiao fight live.

One should also secure a passport, plane tickets to Las Vegas which cost around $2,000 (roughly P85,000), daily expenses of $300 for hotel accommodations, meals, car rental, gas, admission fees to places of interest, tips (15% of the bill), and of course, tickets to enter the MGM Grand Garden Arena that are sold for as much as $1,500 for ringside seats and $200 for the farthest spots.

PHOTO TAKEN BY SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER - WENDELL RUPERT ALINEA