GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Scores of people are patiently waiting outside the house of Manny Pacquiao here for a "balato" (token share of winnings) after his victory over Mexican boxer Erik Morales earned him a huge prize money.
For three days, about 300 people, some of them coming from as far as the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur, have stayed outside Pacquiao's house in Barangay Labangal.
They said they would only go home if Pacquiao showed up.
It's sad to see the Philippine habit of asking for a token share of someone's fortune just because he is fortunate. I mean, I've seen this trait a million times. It's the perception here that one is obligated to give out money just because he has money to give out.
And I guess, if Manny Pacquiao doesn't ante up, he'll be branded as a no good filipino who's full of himself. I pity the guy right now.
