GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle
WATCH HIS SPEECH
Manny Pacquiao honored as Asia Society’s ‘Game Changer of the Year’
(Updated 5:56 p.m.) Boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao was awarded Asia Society's Game Changer of the Year at the United Nations headquarters in New York, a report on GMA's “Balitanghali” said Wednesday.
Given by international non-profit organization Asia Society, the Game Changer Awards recognizes Asian individuals who have used their influence to promote ideas that result in major transformative effect across Asia.
The Asia Society particularly acknowledged Pacquiao's contribution as a “champion and humanitarian.”
Pacquiao was introduced at the event by tennis legend John McEnroe.
In his acceptance speech, Pacquiao thanked the Society for selecting him as an awardee and said he never imagined he would accomplish all the things he has done.
“This award is a very prestigious award that I have right now. It's a big honor to my family, to me but [also] to the whole country [and] the Filipino people because of their support,” he said.
Pacquiao said his desire to help the needy stemmed from his own experiences living a life of poverty during his youth.
“I experienced a life that we don't have shelter that I tried to sleep on the street. That's why [even with] my success in life I will never forget my past when I was young,” he said.
“And that's why I'm turning back and helping them and helping the people, giving them a house also giving them jobs, giving them education and also healthcare, everything that I can give for them I'm doing that right now,” he added.
He also mentioned his mother Dionisia as his motivation to succeed in life.
“I don't want my mother to have a hard time just to have money so we can eat. And because of that I became a champion not just in the Philippines but all over the world,” he said.
As a parting message, Pacquiao urged the crowd to a call of action on the true meaning of loving one another.
“So if you really love one another, and you really have love in your heart then show it by action by showing compassion to those people who need help and of course keep on fighting for poverty,” he said.
Pacquiao also said that if there was one thing he could change in the world, it would be to erase all problems and sorrow for everyone to have a life with just happiness.
He also advised other people to focus on what they have and their dreams so they could become a game changer like him.
The other Game Changers honored by the Society are:
— Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News
This year's Game Changer awardees (from left): Shuji Nakamura, Aasif Mandvi, Mariam al-Mansouri, Kiran Bir Sethi, Li Cunxin, Manny Pacquiao, Chanda Kochhar, and Lei Jun. Photo: Asia Society
Given by international non-profit organization Asia Society, the Game Changer Awards recognizes Asian individuals who have used their influence to promote ideas that result in major transformative effect across Asia.
The Asia Society particularly acknowledged Pacquiao's contribution as a “champion and humanitarian.”
Pacquiao was introduced at the event by tennis legend John McEnroe.
In his acceptance speech, Pacquiao thanked the Society for selecting him as an awardee and said he never imagined he would accomplish all the things he has done.
“This award is a very prestigious award that I have right now. It's a big honor to my family, to me but [also] to the whole country [and] the Filipino people because of their support,” he said.
Pacquiao said his desire to help the needy stemmed from his own experiences living a life of poverty during his youth.
“I experienced a life that we don't have shelter that I tried to sleep on the street. That's why [even with] my success in life I will never forget my past when I was young,” he said.
“And that's why I'm turning back and helping them and helping the people, giving them a house also giving them jobs, giving them education and also healthcare, everything that I can give for them I'm doing that right now,” he added.
He also mentioned his mother Dionisia as his motivation to succeed in life.
“I don't want my mother to have a hard time just to have money so we can eat. And because of that I became a champion not just in the Philippines but all over the world,” he said.
As a parting message, Pacquiao urged the crowd to a call of action on the true meaning of loving one another.
“So if you really love one another, and you really have love in your heart then show it by action by showing compassion to those people who need help and of course keep on fighting for poverty,” he said.
Pacquiao also said that if there was one thing he could change in the world, it would be to erase all problems and sorrow for everyone to have a life with just happiness.
He also advised other people to focus on what they have and their dreams so they could become a game changer like him.
The other Game Changers honored by the Society are:
- 2014 Nobel Laureates in Physics Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano, and Shuji Nakamura (Japan), "for lighting our world in a groundbreaking and sustainable way";
- ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar (India), "for breaking the glass ceiling, transforming an industry, and empowering the masses";
- Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun (China), "for changing the game of communication in China and beyond";
- Queensland Ballet artistic director Li Cunxin (Australia/China), "for his art, his courage, and his cultural diplomacy";
- comedian and The Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi (United States/India), "for using comedy to challenge perceptions, and work for good";
- UAE Air Force fighter pilot Mariam al-Mansouri (United Arab Emirates), "for battling stereotypes, and terror, from the air"; and
- Design for Change and The Riverside School founder Kiran Bir Sethi (India), "for empowering children to change the world."
— Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News
