Manny Pacquiao with wife Jinkee

MANILA, Philippines -- Last weekend boxing icon Manny Pacquiao brought the sixth episode of his show “Manny Many Prizes” (shown every Saturday night on GMA-7) to Davao City in time for the city’s annual Kadayawan Festival.

Hundreds of Dabawenyos lined up outside the Davao Convention Center (formerly Almendras Gym) last Saturday afternoon for a chance to be in the show and to be called for the games and the P25,000 raffle draws.

Nobody won the P1-million top cash prize or even the P500,000 second top cash prize but an elderly named Ricardo was lucky enough to play the jackpot game and pick a P40,000 prize to which the ever generous “Ninong Manny” added P100,000.

Special guests of that episode were the cast of “Amaya” led by Marian Rivera (and to think that a rumor said Marian won’t dare appear in the show because of a past issue with Rhian Ramos, one of Manny’s co-hosts).

The other “Amaya” stars who came with Marian (they were all garbed in their “Amaya” costumes) included Sid Lucero, Rochelle Pangilinan, Glaiza de Castro, Roxanne Barcelo, Dion Ignacio, Mikael Daez among others.

In that episode, Manny’s beauteous wife Jinkee was also amongst the co-hosts. After the show, we (Rito Asilo of Inquirer, Nathalie Tomada of Philippine Star and this writer) were given some time to interview the pound-for-pound king. We asked Manny if Jinkee would henceforth be a co-host of “MMP,” and Manny said “Depende sa kanya kung gusto niya. This is her second time to co-host the show and I think she enjoyed it naman.”

Today’s “MMP” episode, live from Ynares Arena, features the cast of “Iglot” (Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal, Pauleen Luna and Marvin Agustin) and “Tween Academy” (Barbie Forteza, Joshua Dionisio, Jake Vargas, Bea Binene, Alden Richards, Lexi Fernandez, Kristoffer Martin and Yassi Pressman); Jillian Ward, Philippine Ballet Theater, YouTube sensation Leana, and Miss World Philippines candidates.

Why Manny is religious

We’ve always known him to be a religious guy, a devout Catholic in fact who always prayed fervently before and after every fight, but there was a time when success and fame got into his head.

“Noong panahon na yon, tuluy-tuloy kasi ang panalo ko. But after my 12th win, natalo ako. Pinitik ako ng Diyos kaya bumalik ang loob ko sa Kanya.”

We also asked if he was doing “Manny Many Prizes” because he was aspiring for higher office. “Pangarap ko talaga ang makatulong sa mga kapwa kong Pilipino na nangangailangan. Pero kahit ano ang ibigay ng Diyos sa akin, tatanggapin ko.”

He might run for governor of Sarangani in the next election though, which is sort of admitting he could be more effective in administrative or executive work.

Manny did not confirm any possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout but he said “Yung kay Marquez tuloy na tuloy.” This will happen in November this year in Las Vegas.

About Paris Hilton, Manny said they became good friends and textmates after the socialite-actress-hotel heiress watched his last fight. “Paris was very excited to be in the Philippines, tuwang-tuwa siya sa mga Pilipino na sobra daw warm and hospitable,” Manny said.

Pinky Marquez  sings for charity

Pinky Marquez will perform in a one-woman concert tomorrow, Aug. 28, at the Casino Español de Cebu’s Salon de Madrid. Called “An Evening of Fun with Pinky Marquez,” the concert will feature well-loved songs from Broadway and West End musicals, favorite classic numbers and old standards and hit songs of the ’60s to the ’80s, rendered in Pinky’s own inimitable way.

Beneficiaries of the concert are the Don Bernardo Alvarez Elementary School in Buho, a remote barangay in Leyte, that recently suffered extensive damage due to heavy rains; and the Annual Medical Mission of the Casino Español de Cebu.

Interested parties may call Honey Jarque Loop at (0917) 620-0400.

Midas new director for sales

Cielo Ortega is the new Director of Sales and Marketing of Midas Hotel, formerly Hyatt Regency Hotel along Roxas Blvd.

Formerly with Westin Philippine Plaza as Asst. Director of Events Management-Corporate for Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Cielo used to be Front Desk Officer/Guest Relations Officer at Manila Midtown Hotel, following positions with Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

For details about Midas Hotel, visit midashotelandcasino.com or genesishotels.com.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Saturday, Aug. 27, go to DoJ Secretary Leila de Lima, Ogie Alcasid, Ms. Amalia Fuentes, Dagupan City Mayor Benjie Lim, Dr. Liceria Soriano, Ben Chan, Marilou L. Lao, John Delmer Go, Tessie C. Castro, Andrew Bryan N. Sapigao, Marcelino Banaria, Dr. Jose C. Benedicto, John Edgar Lara, Joy Chan-Banas and Jillianne M. Mohammad of New York and Marietta Subang (a.k.a. Pokwang of ABS-CBN’s “Happy Yipee Yehey”)…