Pacquiao offers $10k to 'biggest loser' at Senate

Neophyte senator Manny Pacquiao is holding another weight-loss challenge, this time at the Senate, with the first-prize winner to receive $10,000 or almost half a million pesos.

According to Pacquiao’s staff, 115 Senate employees registered for Pacquiao’s “Biggest Loser Challenge,” a traditional competition the boxer usually hosts before his fights.

“The contest aims to promote health awareness among Senate employees especially the overweights,” Rene Casibang, Pacquiao’s head of media relations, said in a text message Friday.

Pacquiao personally observed the weigh-in conducted on May 25, six weeks away from judgment day, scheduled on July 8.

Pacquiao will defend his welterweight title against Jeff Horn on July 2, a week prior judgment day.

The contestants are challenged to lose 20 percent of their weight.

The first-prize winner will receive $10,000, second prize will get $5,000, and the third-placer will receive $3,000.

The fourth-placer will be rewarded with $2,000, while employees who will place fifth to tenth will get $1,000.

Pacquiao will also give $500 for those who will place 11th to 18th.

Pacquiao’s staff said a “temptation night” will be held prior to the final weigh-in where the participants will be asked if they would want to dine with Pacquiao or proceed with the challenge.

“The contestant will just have to approach a table where cash gift of unknown amount awaits them covered by the plate they choose to sit,” Casibang said. —KBK, GMA News