PACMONEY

Amid a shower of confetti, gyrating dancers and an audience screaming for good luck, you’d expect the controversial Filipino TV host Willie Revillame to come out and do his thing onstage.

Boxing Superstar and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacman Pacquiao puts on finishing touches backstage before the start of the first airing of his game show " Manny Many Prizes”. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

Instead, it was eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, dapper in a Rajo Laurel outfit, who burst into the spotlight on Saturday night at the premiere of a GMA 7 show at the AFP Theatre in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Studio audience echoing screams during the show hoping they will be the next pick to be a contestant. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

It’s not your set, folks. Dubbed “Pacman” in boxing circles, the pound-for-pound king, politician, and part-time actor-singer has a new entry in his resumé: game show host.

Pacman hands over money on contestants. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

At the pilot for the show titled “Manny Many Prizes”, the ring legend hailed by Filipinos as their “Pambansang Kamao” (Nation’s Fist) acquired a new moniker as “Pambansang Ninong” (Nation’s Godfather). For in a way, Pacquiao played ninong as he gave away “aguinaldo,” or Christmas presents, months in advance. (words by Bayani San Diego, Inquirer Entertainment)

Pacquiao is being hug by first house and lot winner of the show , Bito Roldan Jr, who suffer stroke recently and abandoned by his own children. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

PLANE CRASH

Farmers check their ricefields where the Cessna Plane 152 had crashed in Barangay Sta. Maria, Magalang, Pampanga. A Malaysian pilot and a Filipino were killed on the crash, identified as, Tian Yu Wong, the pilot and Alfred Christian de Leon, the passenger. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

CROSSING PED XING

A woman strolls with her couple of pug as they cross the Ped Xing in Roxas Boulevard, Manila. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES

GROWING POPULATION

A mother carries his child as they take a walk in Quezon City Memorial Circle. The country's population is expected to balloon 95.8 million this year from estimated 94.01 million last year according to Commission on Population. With that population growth rate of 2.04 percent is away with the ideal growth rate of 1.04 to accelerate economic growth. PHOTO BY RICHARD REYES