Donaire donates P1M for housing project for ‘Ondoy’ victims

Like boxing icon Manny Pacquiao before him, WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire is joining efforts to help the victims of tropical storm “Ondoy." Donaire has received a cash prize of P1-million from President Arroyo for his title-clinching victory over Rafael Marquez of Panama but with the consent of the Chief Executive, decided to channel the money to a worthy cause. The boxing champ is looking at initiating a housing project for the victims of “Ondoy" which has left over 200 dead and thousands homeless. “Maraming tao ang nawalan ng bahay, they can’t go back and they have to rebuild," Donaire said in an interview with GMA News. His wife, Rachel, said they will be coordinating with the non-government organization AHON Foundaation and the GMA Artist Center “on how we can effectively use the money that Madame President and Nonito decided to use for the effort" and in identifying the location and beneficiaries.
Donaire is the latest among the sports personalities doing their share in providing support to the families affected by the storm. Pacquiao earlier donated P1-million and planned to personally distribute relief goods in select places in Manila during a break in his Baguio training on Sunday. Likewise, the country’s biggest basketball leagues - the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, Liga Pilipinas, UAAP and NCAA – and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas have set a fund-raising game “Pinoy Basketbol, Kakampi N’yo" on Monday at the Big Dome. The golfing community has also given its share, making the ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Classic a fund-raising tournament, with the organizing ICTSI and operations group MJ Carr Golf Management also donating P120,000 to the Caritas Foundation. - GMANews.TV