Young boxer Eman Bacosa Pacquiao, the son of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and Joanna Rose Bacosa, revealed that he has a crush on Kapuso actress Jillian Ward during his appearance on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ on Tuesday, November 18.
During the ‘Fast Talk’ segment, host Boy Abunda asked Eman who his Filipina celebrity crush was. “Jillian Ward,” he answered.
He was then asked to rate how much he wanted to court the Sparkle star on a scale of 1 to 10. “Five,” Eman replied.
When Boy followed up by asking how interested he was in joining showbiz, Eman rated his interest at seven, but declined to confirm whether he had officially signed with Sparkle GMA Artist Center, saying only, “Secret.”
At the end of the interview, Eman also sent a short message directed at Jillian: “Hi po, sana magkita po tayo.”
Shortly after the episode aired, Jillian appeared to notice the segment and reacted on Facebook with three heart emojis.
A day later, on Wednesday, November 19, Sparkle GMA Artist Center officially announced that Eman has joined its roster of talents.
“Welcome to Sparkle, Eman Bacosa Pacquiao,” the agency wrote. “With his charm, discipline, and growing presence, Eman is ready to carve his own path in the industry. We’re excited to support his journey and see what’s ahead.”
Fans expressed support for the announcement, with some suggesting that Eman and Jillian be paired together for future projects or even appear together on reality shows such as ‘Pinoy Big Brother’. Others urged Sparkle to provide him with strong TV exposure and quality roles.
Eman recently drew attention after his performance at ‘Thrilla in Manila 2’ on October 29, 2025 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He won via unanimous decision against Nico Salado of Bohol, strengthening his record to 7 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw, with 4 knockouts.
His resemblance to actor Piolo Pascual also went viral after the two met during his guest appearance on ‘Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho’. With his entry into Sparkle and growing public interest, Eman is expected to take on more media and entertainment opportunities alongside his boxing career.
