Manny Pacquiao

Background

Manny Pacquiao has become a household name in the field of boxing, and his attractive personality and resilience have won the hearts of millions around the world. He has become an amazing role model to many, having overcome many hardships during his career. Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978, in Kibawe, Bukidnon, but raised in General Santos, Philippines. He has Filipino ethnicity, his parents are Dionisia Mejia Dapidran and Rosalio Laraga Pacquiao. He was raised with his brother, Bobby Pacquiao, also a professional boxer and public figure, along with five other siblings.

At the age of 12 in 1990, his uncle introduced him to boxing. He began boxing in General Santos and eventually began competing against other higher-ranked boxers. He was named the greatest junior boxer in the South Philippines at the age of 15. He later moved to Manila to make his professional debut as a junior flyweight in early January 1996. When Pacquiao was 19, he emerged the winner of the flyweight title, his first major title.

He presently holds six Guinness book world records. He has won most world titles in boxing in different weight divisions. He became the first Olympic non-participant to be the flag bearer of the Philippines’ national team in 2008. In 2007, Manny began campaigning for a seat in the Philippines House of Representatives but lost the elections to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio. Later in May 2010, Pacquiao contested again and was elected to the House of Representatives in the 15th congress of the Philippines. He was reelected in 2013. On May 19, 2016, Pacquiao won the senatorial elections against the incumbent Senator Robert Jaworski as he amassed over 16 million votes. In December 2020, he assumed office as the acting president of PDP-Laban, when the incumbent president Koko Pimentel resigned. In May 2021, Pacquiao filed the bill to create a Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission. However, it was criticized by Senator Pia Cayetano, as it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 29, 2021, Pacquiao announced his resignation from boxing to focus on his political career in a post on social media. Pacquiao and Jinkee got married on May 10, 1993. They have five children.