Pacquiao to grace the pages of Readers Digest

MANILA, Philippines – Chalk up another achievement for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. The reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion will be featured as the cover of Readers Digest Asia when the magazine hits the newsstands on Monday. Though the Pacquiao at the cover will only be circulated in the Philippines, his seven-page story – written by Readers Digest editor-in-chief Jim Plousse – will be read throughout Asia. Readers Digest allotted seven pages for Pacquiao, who is training for a December 6 (December 7 in Manila) fight against Oscar De La Hoya dubbed The Dream Match, with the lead article reserved for the Filipino celebrity. AZ Direct Marketing president Lirio Sandoval said they already added 50 percent in the magazine’s circulation since their distributors from Luzon to Mindanao requested for more copies. AZ Direct Marketing is the local distributor of the Singapore-based Readers Digest in the country. Sandoval said almost every Filipino, from all walks of life, is interested about Pacquiao. “He is considered a national hero now. A national hero or a hero itself is really inspirational for all of us Filipinos." The seven-page article chronicles Pacquiao’s iconic rise from his humble beginnings in the General Santos City to becoming one of the greatest boxers in his generation. Pacquiao’s story became a source of inspiration to some since he struggled first before enjoying the fruits of his hard work. – GMANews.TV