Rags to riches
Manny is a quintessential case of a poor kid who made it big ? an epitome of the rags to riches story.
With fame and fortune, however also came all shades of opportunists and freeloaders. Tales of Manny being duped into many fictitious business ventures, overpriced real property acquisitions and outright thievery are not wanting in space. In fact, some of them have become a taboo topic among his circle of friends.
Manny is not wanting in money to spend. Neither has he the best discipline to do it if his long time coach is to be believed.
He reportedly paid for a mansion in Dasmari?as Village for a price that could be had for about half the price he shelled out.
He issued checks to pay for several printing and cutting machines for his printing press that were grossly overpriced, according to a source who brokered the sale.
Before he opened his own bar, Manny frequented several bars in the city whose owners are more than happy to pad their bills.
But Manny has always been philosophical about his hard earned wealth. Several times, he admonished friends who complained that another friend of his is being overpaid for a job that would otherwise be had at ten percent the rate.
He reportedly warned them not to take away the right of others to earn a living, according to Pacman author Poole.
It is not clear if Michael Koncz, Manny?s Canadian Man Friday, is still overlooking the shell corporation he helped established to siphon Pacquiao?s earnings in the United States into one account after Manny was chased by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) for failure to pay his taxes when Murad Muhammad was still his promoter. Lawyer Franklin Gacal Jr however continues to oversee fight contracts of Pacquiao ever since the two teamed up in 2005.
But wife Jinkee is now reportedly taking active role and direct hand over Manny?s finances after Manny squandered more than Php120 million in a failed election run in 2007.
Time Magazine?s Andrew Marshall reported that a Team Pacquiao insider admitted the 2010 campaign cost Manny no less than P300 million.
Manny has no qualms about giving away money and his generosity is genuine.
He has been handing out money, rice and packs of dry goods long before he became a politician.
Manny has, indeed come ,a long way from his poverty-stricken childhood.
When he first won a world boxing title, the first car he bought was a used KIA Sportage. When he won over Barrera, he changed cars, buying a Honda Civic and a Ford Expedition. Today, Manny maintains a fleet of latest luxurious cars, the Black Hummer being his favorite because of the armored protection it brings to him.
From sometimes not being able to eat a square meal a day during his early childhood, Manny can now indulge. Just recently, he was reportedly billed more than Php 1 million for an all night party in one of the posh restaurants in the city. Never mind if the bill was again padded.
He spends millions during his birthdays giving away cash and hotel accommodations to celebrity friends called to entertain his guests.
For Manny, it is his way of paying back his fans and giving back what God has given him.
(This article was first published in the January 2011 issue of Our Mindanao, a magazine by www.mindanews.com)
