Page 22 - Forbes - Asia (September 2018)

PROMOTION

HANDA WATCH WORLD

AMBASSADOR MANNY PACQUIAO

The Filipino boxing legend gives fans a good reason to keep coming back to the ring.

Manny Pacquiao (left) and Haruhisa Handa (right)

Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division world Thai champion Chatchai Sasakul to earn the the world, and past events hosted by Handa’s
champion in the history of boxing has added world flyweight title. He has since gone on company have attracted big names, includ-
a new designation to his major world titles: to win multiple major world championships. ing former New Zealand Prime Minister John
ambassador for luxury watch boutique HANDA In addition to his boxing career, he has also Key and Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan.
Watch World. He joins fellow philanthropist made a name for himself as a basketball For Pacquiao, who grew up in extreme
Haruhisa Handa, president of Japanese trading player and coach, and in 2016 won a six-year poverty, his encounter with Handa had a very
company Misuzu and owner of the boutique, in term in the Philippine senate. special meaning.
envisaging a world without poverty. “We discovered we both share the same
World Class Champion enthusiasm to help the poor. It is truly an
Childhood Memories In April, Pacquiao attended the grand open- honor to be able to envision a plan together

There are countless stories about Manny Pac- ing of HANDA Watch’s Tsukamidori store for such an endeavor,” he said.
quiao. Inside the ring, the 39-year-old Filipino in Osaka. He also had another objective for
boxer defeats his opponent like a ferocious his visit: to meet face to face with Haruhisa Shared Respect
carnivore going after its prey. But outside Handa, the president of Misuzu, which runs The feeling is mutual. “Pacquiao wasn’t fight-
the ropes, his gentle smile is always turned the boutique. ing only for himself,” said Handa. “He grew up
toward the poor and needy, reminding fans Handa, a successful businessman whose in a poor family and as a child shared his food
of the late American boxer and humanitarian portfolio includes a college preparatory with six siblings. He started boxing at age 11;
Mohammed Ali. school, is well known for his philanthropic at age 14 he left home for Manila to receive
Pacquiao, whose real name is Emanuel work, such as building more than 130 schools professional training as a boxer. He grew both
Dapidran Pacquiao, was born in the Philip- in China for disadvantaged children. Handa’s in heart and body, with a pressured determi-
pines in 1978. He started to box profession- projects have won enthusiastic support from nation that he would not be able to feed his
ally at age 15, and just five years later defeated business executives and celebrities around family unless he continued to win. Pacquiao's