Manny Pacquiaoa plays Santa in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Fire victims in Barangays 2 and 3 here and other Negrenses received an early Christmas gift from boxing icon and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who distributed P1,000 bills over the weekend.

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said Pacquiao, accompanied by wife Jinky, gave out P1.5 million after being informed that people were lining up outside the restaurant where they were having lunch.

The Pacquiao couple was in the city to watch the Maharlika Basketball League games at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.

After hearing of the couple’s generosity, hundreds more lined up outside their hotel and waited until evening to partake of the early Christmas gifts.               a