LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--IT really takes one Manny Pacquiao to gain more Filipino pride in a foreign land like America.

We were buying some souvenir items along Las Vegas Boulevard (more popularly known as The Strip) when the American lady storekeeper asked us: “Filipino?”

“Yeah,” we replied.

“Oh, I was worried yesterday,” she said. “I heard on the radio that Manny Pacquiao had an accident. Is he really okay? Was it not the reason why he tripped on the ring last night?”

The lady storekeeper was referring to the minor accident Manny had when his car was bumped.

We told the lady it was nothing as Pacquiao was not hurt. The left leg Manny complained about has been his problem since last year. The lady storekeeper suspected otherwise: That there was someone who tried to jeopardize Manny’s fight with Shane Mosley.

We told the lady: “I don’t want to think that way.”

But who knows?

IMELDA WOWS CROWD AT ORLEANS

IMELDA Papin had a successful show Friday night at the Orleans Hotel and Casino showroom here in Las Vegas.

She was joined by The Cascades’ John Gummoe, Maria France and Gloria Papin. The mixed Filipino and American crowd simply loved her own style, a dash of country and romantic ballad.

Imelda likewise dedicated the show to her wheelchair-bound mother as her Mother’s Day gift to her.

Imelda said during dinner at Big Al’s that part of the proceeds from the show will be for her charity work  in Manila.

She will return to the country after another show  in Canada. Imelda is well supported by her 618 Entertainment producer, Oscar Parel.

GREAT FILIPINO WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS

MEANWHILE, as Imelda was having a show at Orleans, Martin Nievera also gathered some crowd at the Hollywood Theater on MGM Hotel for his own show. There was truly, a Filipino invasion during the weekend in Las Vegas as capped by the greatest show last Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) by Manny Pacquiao (as he performed against Shane Mosley).

And we’re not talking about his after party yet which was a big blast as expected.