Pacquiao named new Habitat ambassador
MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao’s next bout is for humanity.
Appointed as the new ambassador of Habitat for Humanity, the boxing champ has started his fight against poverty by helping provide decent homes to underprivileged Filipino families.
Pacquiao joins actress-television host Kris Aquino and broadcast journalist Karen Davila, among other well-known personalities, as the non-profit organization’s ambassadors for its “I Build…What Will You Build?” social responsibility campaign.
“Gusto ko i-knock-out ang kahirapan. Gusto ko tapusin ang kahirapan sa anumang paraan at magpatayo ng mga bahay na diretso talaga sa tao. Natutuwa ako sa magandang adhikain at trabaho ng Habitat. I assure you, you will always have my support,” Pacquiao said during a recent private dinner held in his honor and hosted by Habitat’s capital campaign chair Fernando Zobel.
Pacquiao, dubbed as the “Habitat Hero Ambassador” and whose campaign statement is “I Build Filipino pride,” said he believes that more than his fights inside the boxing ring, poverty is a bigger and tougher opponent.
Pacquiao has already committed to having a “Manny Pacquiao Build” in Saranggani, where he is a congressman.
“Bumili ako ng lupa, 3 hectares, nasa tabi ng kalsada pa iyon, gusto ko mapatayuan na natin yon ng mga bahay para sa mga mahihirap na residente sa amin,” he said.
Habitat for Humanity has, in turn, pledged to raise counterpart funds to build the homes.
The pound-for-pound king also assured that he himself would lead thousands of volunteers in building the houses for his poor constituents.
During the private dinner to welcome Pacquiao into the organization, Zobel said he was impressed upon meeting the boxing icon.
“For a person that has accomplished so much fame, he continues to be incredibly grounded, humble, down to earth and very sincere. It is such an honor for the country’s sports hero to lend his name and trust the work that Habitat has been doing all these years,” Zobel said in a statement.
The Habitat ambassadors were chosen for the campaign not just for their face value but because they are passionate about the organization’s cause, shared Davila, whose commitment statement was “to build integrity.”
“These are the people who actually built or sponsored houses for Habitat. Sila ang mga taong may puso talaga para sa Habitat (They are the people who really have the heart to help achieve Habitat’s mission),” she said. “When a celebrity has a genuine advocacy, that helps a lot for the campaign because (their voice and their commitment) translate to more volunteers, awareness for the cause, more funds for building houses…. ”
Together in one mission, the ambassadors have offered their support and commitment to become the voice of the organization and to help inform the public about how to make a difference through Habitat, she added.
Other Habitat ambassadors include singer-stage actress Cris Villonco, young actor and racer Matteo Guidicelli, Alexandra Eduque, basketball sensation Chris Tiu, news anchor Arnold Clavio, model-actor-athlete Derek Ramsay and television host Kim Atienza.
Pacquiao said his family’s own poverty when he was still a struggling boxer inspired him to strive harder to be able to help others experiencing hardships in life similar to what his family went through.
Habitat for Humanity Philippines started building homes in 1988 with General Santos City, Pacquiao’s hometown, as one of its first communities.
Since then, the organization has built communities nationwide, particularly in the southern provinces of Kidapawan, Midsayap, Davao del Sur, and Saranggani. Apart from houses, Habitat has also constructed classrooms in Mindanao.
For the past 23 years, Habitat has served over 32,000 families, built and enabled more than 170 communities and has completed more than 300 school classrooms and community centers throughout the country.
As it gears up for its 25th year in 2013, Habitat recently launched its four-year “I Build” campaign, which aims to create a community building and development model through innovative and sustainable solutions to address poverty housing that can be replicated nationwide.
The campaign embodies the substance and soul of Habitat, according to Ricardo Jacinto, the organization’s managing director and chief executive officer.
