Pacquiao sets aside P295M for new church

Rep. Manny Pacquiao FILE PHOTO

GENERAL SANTOS CITY— World boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has set aside some P295 million from his earnings from big-time prizefights for the construction of a house of worship on a 5-hectare property here.

“I owe to God everything that I have right now,” said Pacquiao, a born-again Christian convert. “The amount is nothing compared to what God has done to my life,” he said.

The church lot alone could cost up to P95 million.

“We came into this world bare and naked. In our final rendezvous with the Great Beyond, we can bring nothing,” Pacquiao said. Building the church was also his way of glorifying and thanking God, he said.

Two hectares of the site would be devoted to a two-story church structure and annex, according to Rey Cortez, project engineer. Construction cost would be around P200 million, he said.

The building will serve as the main worship area, while the annex will house the Bible school, Bible study room, a pastor’s lounge and commercial offices.

“We target to finish the project within an 18-month period. But he (Pacquiao) asked us to expedite the construction so it can be used by December 2015,” Cortez said.

Pacquiao is currently renting the entire third floor of Maduramente building here for church services every Sunday.

When he retires from boxing, he said, he would turn to preaching and other jobs.

“Aside from my legacy in boxing and politics, I want to leave something more important and special,” the boxing superstar said. Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao