Biography
Who is Manny Pacquiao?
Early life and real name
Manny Pacquiao was born as Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao on December 17, 1978, in Kibawe, Bukidnon, on the island of Mindanao, Philippines. He was raised in General Santos, South Cotabato. His parents were Rosalio Pacquiao and actress Dionisia Dapidran, and his parents separated when he was in the sixth grade. He is the fourth of six siblings, including his brother Bobby Pacquiao.
During his childhood, Manny faced extreme poverty. At the age of 14, he moved to Manila, lived on the streets, and worked as a construction worker to support himself and his family. He attended Saavedra Saway Elementary School in General Santos but dropped out of high school due to financial hardship. In February 2007, he successfully passed a high school equivalency exam and received his diploma from the Department of Education.
Boxing career highlights
Manny Pacquiao was introduced to boxing at the age of 12 by his maternal uncle Sardo Mejia. He made his professional boxing debut in January 1995 as a junior flyweight at the age of 16. On December 4, 1998, at the age of 19, he won his first major title, capturing the World Boxing Council flyweight title.
Throughout his storied career, Manny achieved unprecedented success by becoming the first and only boxer in history to win major world titles across eight different weight divisions. He secured twelve major world titles overall and held world championships across four different decades, spanning the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. He also earned recognition as a lineal champion in four distinct weight classes.
Political career
Manny Pacquiao transitioned into politics when he was elected as the representative of Sarangani in 2010, holding the position for six years. Following his tenure in the House of Representatives, he won election to the Senate of the Philippines and served as a senator from 2016 to 2022.
In September 2021, Manny officially declared his candidacy for President of the Philippines in the 2022 presidential election, ultimately losing to Bongbong Marcos. After an unsuccessful Senate run in 2025, he announced his intention to step away from politics and return to boxing. In 2026, President Marcos appointed him as the secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Personal life and other ventures
Outside of boxing and politics, Manny Pacquiao engaged in various other pursuits including basketball, music, and entertainment. He served as a player-coach for the Philippine Basketball Association team Kia/Mahindra for three seasons from 2014 to 2017 and founded the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. He also starred in films, presented television shows, and released multiple PARI-certified platinum albums and songs.
Manny is married to Jinkee Pacquiao, and the couple has children together, including Queen Elizabeth Pacquiao and Eman Bacosa Pacquiao. He is an Evangelical Christian preacher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who is actively involved in community work and charitable causes across the Philippines.
Birthday and age
Manny Pacquiao was born on December 17, 1978, which makes Manny 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Manny shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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