Manny Pacquiao's mother, Dionesia, surprised her friends in General Santos City, South Cotabato when she went home earlier than expected Saturday morning.

She proceeded to GenSan after arriving in Manila from Los Angeles so that she could rest. “Baka ma-ospital na naman ulit, kasi na-ospital ako n’ong anim na oras sa emergency ng Vegas.”

She assured her friends and family that she is well-rested already.

In GenSan, Mommy Dionesia showed off her luxury items she bought from the United States to her friends. These include her Dior shades worth P15,000 and Louis Vuitton bag.

She even told her friends that she learned a new ballroom dance in the US that she will perform on her birthday party on May 15. The celebration will be hosted by Pacquiao.

The world’s pound-for-pound king also gifted his mom a $600 violet gown for her 60th birthday.

“Malayo pa ‘tong kaarawan ko pinaghadaan ko na. Sinabihan ko na si Jinkee (Pacquiao’s wife), ‘Jinkee una lang ako sa GenSan kasi nag-isip-isip pa kami kung ano,’ pero... sorry kasi nakalimutan ko kasi kung saan i-hold, dahil kung nandyan na, magpagawa na kami ng invitation,” shared Dionesia.

With Dionesia’s return to General Santos, her friends are delighted to have her back in the city.

They related that Dionesia is generous even if she has a millionaire boxing champion for a son.

Rosita Mantalaban, her older sister added: “Ang aking kapatid, nakababata sa akin... mabait talaga siya, mula nung maliliit pa kami, hanggang ngayon, maawain siya sa aming mga kapatid at sa aming mga magulang at sa mga pamangkin.”

Dionesia, meantime, said that she hopes to receive greetings from her children this Mother’s Day.

“May hinihingi pa ako sa lahat ng mga anak ko sana mag-greet sila ng Happy Mother’s Day,” she said.

“I’m very proud to be the mother of my son,” Dionesia declared.

Mantalaban, for her part, said she only has one wish for her sibling given the many blessings bestowed on the Pacquiao family.

 “Hiling ko sa kaniya huwag na lang mag-asawa, kasi 60 years old na at parang wala naman na talaga, nagbiruan nga kami na talaga wala na ‘yong edad na ‘yon,” she noted.

“Ang payo ko nga sa kaniya magsasama na lang siya sa mga artista para maaliw, kasi nakakapagod talaga ‘yong mag-asawa na ulit. Hindi na siya basta-basta makakaalis ng bahay,” added Mantalaban.

Mommy Dionesia replied: “Basta buhay pa tayo, meron pang pag-ibig. Pag walang pag-ibig, patay na. Pero tayo na lang ang magdala, tayo ang mag-isip, tayo na ang mag-control.”

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the much-awaited return of Pacquiao to GenSan on Tuesday.

Streamers with greetings for Pacquiao abound in the city. The People’s Champ Movement (PCM) even provided every village in Sarangani province with a Pacquiao tarpaulin banner so that when his motorcade passes by there will be banner greetings in every village for the Filipino boxing icon.

Pacquiao’s motorcade will begin at the GenSan airport and will end in Kiamba municipality, Sarangani province, the location of his new house. Report from Anne Santos, ABS-CBN News General Santos City