Manny Pacquiao is set to have his own wax figure in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. Handout
MANILA -- Senator and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao is set to have his own wax figure in Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in 2020, making him the first male Filipino to be immortalized in the international museum.
The wax museum announced the addition of the Pacquiao piece on the boxing champ's 41st birthday.
"Masaya ako na maitataas ko muli ang bandera ng Pilipinas sa ganitong paraan," Pacquiao said in a statement.
(I am happy that I can raise the Philippine flag in this way.)
"Madame Tussauds Hong Kong has many personalities including my fellow athletes and excited ako na makatabi ko sila doon (so I am excited to stand beside them there)," he said.
A team from Madame Tussauds London spent 6 hours to take Pacquiao's body measurements to ensure that the wax figure will be as close as possible to the real Pacman.
"It was a new experience for me. Ganito pala ka-detalye gumawa ng wax figure kaya mas na appreciate ko yung mga staff," the senator said.
Pacquiao's addition to the wax museum's collection is "an honor," Madame Tussauds Hong Kong senior marketing manager BoBo Yu said.
“The Philippines continues to be one of our strongest markets and having Manny Pacquaio who is known globally for his achievements in sports is an honor for us," Yu said.
"He is one personality that the attraction has been wanting to have and we cannot wait the Filipino fans to see the figure in 2020," he said.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach was the first Filipino to have a Madame Tussauds wax figure in March 2019.
The senator plans to bring his family to the Hong Kong exhibit once his wax statue is unveiled next year.
"Mas naging proud ako na maging dad nila. I can’t wait to bring them to Madame Tussauds Hong Kong to see my wax figure," he said.
"Excited rin ako to see how it will look like and i-share ito to my Filipino fans," he said.
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