Pacquiao celebrates 35th birthday by doling out relief goods in Sarangani, GenSan

Simplicity is key.

A thanksgiving dinner and worship service compose Sarangani Representative and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao's birthday celebration this year, in solidarity with Yolanda victims. Afterward, he'll go back to distributing relief goods to victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

24 Oras on Monday showed Pacquiao giving food, school bags, and stuffed toys to kids in Brgy. Alegria and other areas in his native Sarangani province. Before leaving for General Santos City, he and Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao gamely joined the city hall's Christmas party.

"Share blessings. Nandyan ang trials, each day may trial pero ang Panginoon ang magpapasaya sa 'kin. Pati pamilya... malakas debut ko ngayong 21-years-old," Pacquiao joked.

He remains optimistic despite the tax raps filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), whose commissioner Kim Henares simply bid him a happy birthday.

Pacquiao's tax woes began shortly after his win against Brandon Rios, when his accounts were frozen by the BIR for allegedly skipping out on his tax duties. It was alleged that he failed to report his income tax returns as collected by the US Internal Revenue Service on his prize winnings for the years 2008 to 2009.

A rumor arose later on that he might actually have a green card, and concealment of this may be why proper documentation for the paid taxes are not available to the BIR. These rumors were later debunked by the camp, and the lawyer dragged into the fight called the claims "inaccurate." — Rie Takumi/VC, GMA News