MANNY Pacquiao, a millionaire many times over, has gotten so wealthy he now wants to live in an enclave traditionally reserved for the old rich.
Janet Jamora, twin sister of Pacquiao?s wife Jinkee, said Pacquiao is thinking of buying a house in Forbes Park in Makati. The house is reportedly worth P300 million.
Jamora added that the Pacquiaos will buy the house as soon as Manny gets his prize money from the fight with Shane Mosley, who the Filipino ring icon destroyed Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt.
The Pacquiaos also own a $2.3 million, Spanish-inspired, two-story, four-bedroom home in the upscale neighborhood of Hancock Park in Los Angeles, California which they bought last March, 2008.
The pound-for-pound king is also planning to build a mall, to be christened MP Mall, in General Santos City, a multi-million project which will not only employ hundreds of people from its construction to its operation, but is also expected to earn more profit to the new power couple.
But despite plans of acquiring new properties and living a luxurious lifestyle, Pacquiao has never forgotten his mission of reaching out to his countrymen, especially the poor and the needy.
Pacquiao, in fact, has several philanthropic projects lined up. As an active congressman representing Sarangani, Pacquiao wants to build one hospital for each town of his province. The Aquino administration has already helped Pacquiao jumpstart this project by alloting P200 million for the construction of a provincial hospital at the Sarangani capital town of Alabel. The Filipino boxing icon also promised to get the medical equipment for the hospital.
Pacquiao also recently asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to donate eight ambulances for Sarangani in exchange for his endorsement of the PCSO.
The People?s Champ will also lend his support to the inmates at the Muntinlupa prison in a project with Rod Cornejo and the executives of the broadcast network GMA, where Pacquiao is a contractual talent.
The Pacman has been using his own money to help his countrymen. He invests a big chunk of his boxing earnings to build classrooms, hospitals and to help the poor.
?I believe our mission in this world is not only to make money… if you get the blessing from God, we are to give some to your people, especially the poor people,? said Pacquiao.
