The world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao is one of the highest-paid professional athletes in the world. He's also a senator of the Philippines.

It sounds like he is living 'the good life' and has everything he could ever need.

However, Manny comes from humble beginnings and hasn't forgotten what it feels like to live in poverty.

Humble Origin

Manny grew up in the poorer parts of the Philippines. He was often forced to sleep on cardboard boxes.

More than once, the young boy had to skip school to work so he could help his mother earn money to make ends meet.

He was raised to be a very religious person and his mother originally hoped for him to become a priest.

Manny Pacquiao is a world champion boxer, a senator of the Philippines, and one of the world's highest-paid athletes.

While it may seem like he has everything he could ever want, he remembers what it's like to have nothing at all.

Rising From The Ashes

When Manny was finally able to fight his way out of poverty, he did not become a different person like so many others would.

He remembered what it was like to be poor and in need and decided that he would give back to others who were still struggling.

Manny opened his walled and provided the money for 1,000 homes to be built in the Philippines.

Taking to social media, the boxing star said that he was very happy to help others.

"I'm so happy giving these houses free to my constituents in the Sarangani Province from my own pocket - more than a thousand families are the beneficiaries."

The money Manny used for the homes came from his fight against fellow boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in 2015.

Although Manny lost the fight, he was paid more than $100 million for the 'Fight of the Century'.

More Charitable Plans For The Future

Manny is now completing his six-year term as a senator, and he has more plans to help others. He wants to finance even more houses for those who cannot afford homes.

During an interview with 'USA Today Sports', the boxer explained why he is so eager to help the poor.

"I feel what they're feeling because I've been there. I've slept in the street. That was my life before. So hard. That's why I feel what they're feeling right now."

Building homes for people isn't the only good deeds under Manny's belt.

In 2018, he also gave an ice cream vendor a new home and new job when he found out the man had suffered a stroke.

He also showed support for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and its plans and implementation of an anti-poverty program.

Because of his extensive charity work, there is a welfare state in his home country known as the 'Manny Pacquiao.'

Not Such A Rose-Colored Reputation

Although Manny is admired for his charity, his reputation is far from flawless. During an interview that has since been shared online, Manny made unsavory comments about gay people.

He said that gay people are 'worse than animals' for 'mating' with the same sex.

"It's common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex?"

"Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women, they are worse than animals."

After the comments, Nike dropped him from their endorsement deal of several years.

Manny did apologize for what he said, but not all of it.

"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt."

He added:

"I still stand on my belief that I'm against same-sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I'm not condemning L.G.B.T. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God bless you all, and I'm praying for you."

Despite doing many good deeds, many people feel that Manny is narrow-minded due to his comments about the LGBT community.