Pacquiao's P295-million church to rise soon in Gensan
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 22 Nov 2014
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? World eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao had set aside around P295 million ($US6.7 million) out of his earnings in boxing to put up a church facility here.
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight king, told Philboxing.com that he shelled out some P95 million for the purchase of the five-hectare lot where his church will be built.
?I owe to God everything that I have right now ? wealth, health, fame, success, a dutiful and beautiful wife and my wonderful children. I have to give it back to Him. The amount is nothing compared to what God has done to my life,? Pacquiao said in vernacular.
Pacquiao said this is his way of glorifying and thanking God ? building a church for Him and His flock.
?We came into this world bare and naked. In our final rendezvous with the Great Beyond, we can bring nothing,? Pacquiao added.
Rey Cortez, project engineer, bared that out of the five-hectare lot, around two hectares will be devoted for the church facility ? a two-storey main building and an annex, with a total project cost of around P200 million.
The two-storey building, Cortez claimed, will serve as the main worship area while the annex building will house the Bible school, Bible study room, a pastor?s lounge and the commercial offices.
?We target to finish the project in an 18-month period. But Cong. Pacquiao asked us to expedite the construction so it can be used by December 2015. I think the two-storey main building would be finished and ready for use by then,? Cortez said.
Pacquiao is currently renting the entire third floor of Maduramente building here for Church service every Sunday.
The Fighter of the Decade wanted to be more active in helping spread the Word of God once he retires from boxing.
Wherever he goes, he always makes sure he has with him a Bible, aside from bringing along one or two pastors.
His free time ? regardless of whether he?s at home, inside the plane or traveling on board his car to attend an official engagement ? is spent reading the Holy Bible.
?The Words of God strengthen my faith and protect me from Devil. That?s why I always bring and read my Bible,? Pacquiao said.
No wonder, he can recite a litany of Bible verses despite lacking a formal training from Bible school.
?Aside from my legacy in boxing and politics, I want to leave something more important and special ? a legacy of faith and a House of God. This one is much, much self-fulfilling than my achievements in boxing and politics,? the Filipino boxing superstar said.
That is why, he said, he is now at peace with himself and more confident than ever before.
?God is with me. He will protect and strengthen me on the day of the fight. If God is with us, who can be against us?? he said.
He refused to promise a knock out win on Sunday when he tangles with the undefeated American challenger Chris Algieri in Cotai Arena, Venetian Hotel in Macau.
?I couldn?t say I will knock him out in first round. We don?t hold what is tomorrow in our life. So, how can I say I will win by knock out,? he said.
However, he admitted that they did their best during training in terms of strategy, discipline and hardwork.
That, he said, would ultimately pay off.
?I could feel that I would emerge the victor, but as to what would be the outcome of the fight ? whether it would end in a knock out or not ? I really couldn?t say,? he said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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