BAGUIO CITY?Where in the world is Aling Dionisia?

Tourists in this summer capital looking for the equally famous mother of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao can now pin her absence here on one reason: Superstition.

The reigning pound-for-pound champion said hometown superstition forbids women in their family to join him here as he trains for his Nov. 14 bout against Puerto Rican reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

?Mahirap silang maglayag (It?s difficult for them to travel),? Pacquiao said.

The ballroom-dancing Dionisia has transformed into a mainstream pop icon ever since she decided to watch her son fight for the first time in Las Vegas early this year, in Pacquiao?s two-round demolition of British sensation Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton.

She has since made several appearances on television shows, commercials and even on billboards. And it isn?t much of a surprise that fans who flock around Pacquiao have started looking for his mother.

Pacquiao said this superstition applies only to certain months of the year and September and October are among the taboo months for the women to join the men in the family.

This prohibition also includes Pacquiao?s wife, Jinkee.

The only other member of the family joining Pacquiao in Baguio is boxer Bobby Pacquiao, who joins his older brother in jogging and shadow boxing.

In fact, the Shape Up Boxing gym, where Pacquiao trains, is an all-male enclave, with only occasional women journalists and gym members spotted around.

Superstition has played a big part in Pacquiao?s career. In his 2006 fight against Erik Morales, Pacquiao was offered by his promoter, Top Rank chief Bob Arum, a private plane to take him to Las Vegas from his training grounds in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao declined, opting to travel by land in his SUV because doing so has become some sort of a prelude to some of his biggest wins.

Last year, during his Dec. 6 showdown against Oscar de La Hoya, Top Rank contracted a custom-decorated bus for Pacquiao, but the boxer opted to again use his SUV in the four-hour road trip to the Nevada gambling haven.

Pacquiao is expected to start sparring this week with the arrival of his foreign sparring partners handpicked by trainer Freddie Roach for their ability to mimic Cotto?s fighting style.

Among those boxers is American Shawn Porter, the 2007 National Golden Gloves middleweight champion.

?[Porter] fights just like Cotto,? said Roach.

?He weighs 154 lb and has the same height as Cotto,? he said. ?More importantly, he has a great left hook.?

Cotto?s main arsenal is his left hook and Roach expects Porter to force Pacquiao to defend against it during their simulated bouts.

Another sparring partner is Mexican-American lightweight Urbano Antillon, who had sparred with Pacquiao when the latter prepared for the fight against Hatton.

Roach said there is also a Puerto Rican boxer joining Porter and Antillon when they report to Baguio on Sunday or Monday, weather permitting.