Manny Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines = Manny Pacquiao raffled off P1 million in cash and a brand new Toyota Vios on his 32nd birthday celebration on December 17, 2010. The multimillionaire boxing icon declared he is giving away the amount in cold cash. The crowd at the KCC Convention Center boomed after Pacquiao announced that he was giving away P1 million.
The champion wanted people outside his family to have a merrier Christmas. His brother and mother-in-law were supposed to walk away with P1 million in cash but the boxing congressman just couldn’t let them take the prizes that were off limits to his relatives.
Carolin Namoc, a resident of Sarangani province, had the winning stub for the P600,000 - worth brand new car. She wept her way to the stage where Pacquiao handed her the key. The lady walked away with keys to the brand new Vios. She couldn’t stop crying on stage when Pacman handed her keys. Namoc said she needed funds for her sick sibling.
The lucky winner’s name was picked by Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum. Arum picked a stub for the first time and showed the name to Pacquiao. The boxing icon declined to give away the money to the man who happened to be his younger brother, Bobby.
Arum picked another stub, but again, Pacquiao had to say no because the stub belonged to his mother=in-law.
The 3rd stub picked by Arum did not belong to a relative, but the man was not present.
The 4th and final raffle stub picked by Arum belonged to Elmer Alaiden from Alabel town, also in Sarangani Province and was present. Alaiden quickly ran to the stage to claim his winnings. The boxing champion gave Alaiden 10 bundles of 1,000 peso bills, each amounting to P100,000 who immediately stuffed the money into his pockets. He thanked Manny for his big fortune.
It was reported that the KCC Convention Center remained jam-packed with well-wishers and hopefuls until midnight. Almost 2,000 people attended the party, including Team Pacquiao, the boxing icon’s coach Freddie Roach, Puerto Rican champion Juan Manuel Lopez, and Arum.
Pacquiao’s friends in politics and his patron, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, were also present.
The P3 million-worth party, which had a modern Greco theme, was planned by Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee.
With reports from ABS CBN News Online
