Rayver Cruz surprised festival-goers after scoring 859 on the ‘Ikaw Ang Alas Punching Machine’ during the Aurora Music Festival on May 2, surpassing the previous record set by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who is also a brand ambassador of GameZone alongside Vice Ganda, previously recorded a score of 782 on the same machine.
Reacting to his achievement, Cruz admitted he initially felt nervous knowing that Pacquiao had tried the machine before him.
“Siyempre, ang feeling ko, kinabahan ako kasi si idol Manny ang gumamit nito, di ba? Buti, ano naman siya, ‘user-friendly.’ So, masarap sa feeling na nakasapak tayo,” he said.
When asked how it felt to beat Pacquiao’s record, Cruz responded with humor.
“Feeling ko boxer na ’ko! I’m sure naman na ginawa ni Sir Manny yun para maka-beat non. Siyempre, I’m sure kung seseryosohin niya ’to, baka lumagpas nang lumagpas yung score—masira yung machine!” he joked.
Despite the feat, Cruz downplayed any comparison to the boxing icon.
“Hindi, manonood na lang ako. Idol ko yon!” he added.
He also clarified that he has never been involved in physical fights.
“Wala, wala! Bad yan, bad yan.”
Beyond the lighthearted moment, Cruz used the opportunity to highlight responsible gaming, emphasizing moderation for those trying out the GameZone activities.
“Lagi naman sinasabi ng lahat—di ba—I’ll stick to that din: play for fun, game responsibly. So, kailangan enjoy lang, pero alam natin kung hanggang saan,” he said. “Enjoy lang, but game responsibly talaga. Kasi nga, basta, kailangan enjoyin mo lang, wag kang masyadong—alam mo yon!”
Cruz also expressed his appreciation to Pacquiao following the experience.
“Senator, thank you po at na-try ko na ’to at napagbigyan n’yo po ako na manalo sa record.”
The GameZone booth served as one of the festival’s interactive highlights, blending digital gaming with on-ground entertainment and drawing crowds throughout the event. It also featured performances from emerging artists, offering audiences a more intimate and engaging festival experience beyond the main stage.
