By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
TAMPA, Florida – Everywhere “Manuel Pacquiao” goes, he gets swarmed by fans for autographs and photos.
Fans say he looks like Pacquiao, moves like Pacquiao, and talks like Pacquaio. Fans who saw him perform at the recent PhilFest in Tampa Florida said the 23-year-old Filipino-American from Houston, Texas even sings like the Pacman.
A Manny Pacquiao fan from Tampa, Florida Tom Rayburn said, “He looks much like him and my wife thinks he’s Manny Pacquiao.”
Manuel Pacquiao is “People’s Champ” Manny Pacquiao’s biggest fan. His real name is Allan Rivera Manuel – born and raised in Houston, Texas.
Allan Manuel said, “I tell people, I’m really not Manny, I’m just a look alike and they look at me and they’re like, you’re lying… We know you are Manny, you’re just trying to keep it low key.”
He started his career as “Manuel Pacquiao – the Manny Pacquiao impressionist when he got a taste of Pacquiao’s fame. He was chased by fans and paparazzi in Dallas, Texas during Pacquiao’s last fight with Margarito.
Manuel said, “It’s like talagang crazy, you know coz, he’s my idol, he’s definitely changed my life.”
This Filipino-American said he is grabbing this opportunity and said that he is definitely banking on his looks for a new career as an impressionist.
“I’m having fun doing it. First and foremost, I’m a fan of Manny Pacquiao. So you know, wherever it takes me, it’s all in God’s hands,” he said.
With his new found career, he says he can only thank his idol for paving the way not only for him but for all Filipinos worldwide.
