Pacquiao Calls On Boxing World To Help Earthquake-Devastated Hometown

Manny Pacquiao is asking the world to help his hometown.

A devastating earthquake has struck General Santos City in the Philippines, the city where Pacquiao grew up. Over 35,000 residents have been displaced and the damage across the region has been described as widespread and severe.

Pacquiao has launched a fundraising drive and is calling on boxing fans around the world to contribute, pledging that the money raised will go toward both immediate relief and longer-term assistance for those affected.

"Today, my heart is heavy. General Santos City — my hometown, the place that shaped my life — has been deeply affected by a devastating earthquake. I am committed to doing everything in my power to provide immediate and long-term assistance to those affected by the earthquake,” Pacquiao said

Pacquiao at 62-8-2 with 39 knockouts is the most decorated Filipino fighter in the history of the sport and one of only a handful of boxers to have held world titles in eight different weight classes.

And yet, Pacquiao did not leave General Santos City behind when he became one of the most decorated fighters in boxing history. He has returned to it consistently, invested in it politically — serving as a senator in the Philippines — and spoken about it as the foundation of everything he built.

The earthquake represents a humanitarian crisis for a community that does not have the resources to absorb destruction on this scale without outside help. Over 35,000 people displaced is not a number that resolves quickly or cheaply, and the combination of immediate shelter needs and longer-term rebuilding makes the timeline for recovery significant.