Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao swapped his boxing gloves for golf clubs in a charity event that raised funds for storm victims in the country’s south.
The 33-year-old, rated the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, played alongside Filipino golfing ace Frankie Minoza in the ICTSI Philippine Open pro-am, a prelude to the Asian Tour’s tournament. After hitting the greens, the sports icon signed boxing gloves at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Manila which were then sold to fans, raising about 105,960 pesos (€1,855), organisers said.
"I’m happy as there are a lot of good people helping victims," said Pacquiao. "This will be a big help."
Funds raised will go to victims of tropical storm Washi, which destroyed villages in the southern island of Mindanao in December and left 300,000 people displaced. Pacquiao, a national hero at home, is also involved in Filipino politics.
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This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, February 09, 2012
