Jinkee Pacquiao admits being emotional at Happyland; says the people reminded her of their family’s past

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 2 years ago

Jinkee Pacquiao

DIPOLOG CITY, Philippines – Jinkee Pacquiao admitted here that she was indeed overcome by emotions from the outpouring of genuine support demonstrated by urban poor residents of Happyland in Tondo, Manila with whom she and her husband, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, continue to empathize.

Asked by reporters here to recall the moments when she was seen shedding tears even after her speech during Pacquiao’s Tondo rally on Sunday, Jinkee explained that what made her even more emotional was seeing the living conditions of poor families.

The impoverished condition of Happyland dwellers brought her memories of the years she and her husband’s family were all cramped in a small place years before Manny’s glorious years in boxing.

Mrs. Pacquiao said she couldn’t help but notice the tiny houses where indigent families lived.

As they surveyed the faces of people who rushed in joy to greet them, the Pacquiao couple failed to hide their emotions as tears instantly rolled down their faces.

“Naging emosyonal lang ako noong nakita ko sila nung umiikot kami. Parang iyon iyong kung saan kami nakatira before noong naguumpisa pa lang kami ni Manny,” Jinkee said. (I became emotional when I saw them while we were making the rounds. It was like where we lived before when Manny and I were still starting)

“Dapat talaga silang tulungan. Nakita ko ang sobrang sikip ng kanilang tintirahan,” she added. (They really need help. I noticed how tiny their houses were).

Mrs. Pacquiao said she experienced the same level of indigence the Tondo folk presently feel.

“Feel ko ang pangangailangan nila,” said Jinkee, who like Pacquiao, is a deeply-devoted follower of the Christian faith.

Sen. Pacquiao has vowed to demolish poverty in the country by first pursuing a vigorous campaign to end government corruption that has been eating up at least P750 billion annually in stolen public funds.

Addressing the shelter problem by providing homeless Filipinos with free housing and capitalizing on an improved business climate for job creation is high in Pacquiao’s priority programs.