Pacquiao shells out more than P1.5M to Bacolod residents

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Senator Manny Pacquiao said he has given more than P1.5 million to residents in the city during his visit here this weekend.

Pacquiao was here for the Bacolod City leg of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s VisMin (Visayas-Mindanao) Invasion.

Pacquiao, the founder of the MPBL, usually goes to the provinces to witness the matches.

After his recent victory over Keith Thurman last July this year, Pacquiao started to give out P1,000.00 cash at random.

It started in his hometown in General Santos City.

Pacquiao began handing out P1,000 cash here on Friday when he arrived in the city with his wife Jinky.

The couple were accompanied by Bacolod lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya.

The bulk of the recipients were those who waited for him at the GT Hotel where he and his wife Jinky were staying.

The crowd waited for Pacquiao from lunchtime until he finally came out at 6 p.m.

Police estimate the crowd to be more than a thousand.

Pacquiao gave out P1,000 cash each to the people who crowded the hotel.

He also gave cash to residents of Barangay 2, mostly victims of a fire several months ago.

When asked by reporters during the halftime break of the game between Basilan Steel and Socsargen Marlins how much money he has given, Pacquiao said ” P1.5 million plus.”

He also thanked Bacolodnons for the warm welcome to MPBL.

Socsargen Marlins defeated Basilan Steel while Bacolod Master Sardines beat Davao Occidental.