Before he became one of the world’s greatest boxers, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao was a young boy living a hand-to-mouth existence, trying to survive from one day to the next. When he discovers his natural talent for boxing, he embarks on a brutal and intense journey that takes him from the mountains of the Philippines to the streets of Manila, and must risk everything to become a champion – for himself, his family, and his country.

Manny Pacquiao is one of the most popular men in the world. This is because of his prowess in professional boxing as well as other engagements such as politics, music, acting, and basketball. It is therefore not surprising that his life has been captured in popular culture in general and movies in particular. One of the movies that capture his life is Kid Kulafu 2015 that was set for release in April 2015.

Thematic Concerns
Unlike the previous depiction of Manny in movies as a star, the Kid Kulafu 2015 covers a totally different angle altogether. It chronicles Manny’s “dark side of life” in his early days in Philippines where he experienced extreme poverty. In this regard, his rural home in the lush mountains of Bukidnon shows the desperate conditions he lived in. In particular, the conflict between the government and the rebels meant that many Philippino people were caught up in between two strong forces and their security compromised. In addition to that, it was not easy for him to meet basic needs.
The family moves to General Santos City to start a new life. Manny strikes a strong bond with his uncle who helps the family of Manny and also trains the young boy. However, this favor carried some cost. Manny had to collect bottles of Kulafu, a local liquor brand, for his kind uncle. Therein is the source of the title of the film.
The turning point of his life was when he discovered his talent for boxing. He decided to believe in himself and overcome all the obstacles that came his way. For example, he had to practice boxing though punching stashed bags.

Director, Cast, and Style
Paul Sariano, the director of the movie, successfully creates an intimate relationship between the viewer and Manny as he exploits the empathetic nature of man. The director is able to arouse sustained curiosity on the viewer about the life of Manny to a point of catharsis. Another style used by Sariano is humanizing and immortalizing the characters. Overall, the director does a perfect job in making sure that the movie is well shot and perfectly executed.
To achieve this, he is supported by the following main cast: Robert Villar as the young Manny, Cessar Montano, and Alessandra De Rossi.

Conclusion
In summary, the movie chronicles the life of Pacquiao from birth and the pursuit of his dreams through enormous challenges. It moves parallel to other sources of information about Manny including documentaries, articles, and interviews. The popularity of Kid Kulafu 2015 has become an all time high due to the fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Overall, the movie offers a perfect coverage of the early life of Manny in popular culture.