Malacañang prepares a hero's welcome for Manny Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang and the Manila City government are now preparing a hero's welcome for new World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao.
Executive Sec. Eduardo Ermita said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband who are presently in Baguio City have scheduled their return to Manila after the Holy Week, in time for Pacquiao's return from the United States.
"Siyempre bibigyan natin ng hero's welcome, mas lalo ngayon championship belt niya ito (Of course we will give him a hero's welcome, especially now that he has a championship belt)," Ermita said in an interview on dzRH radio.
Pacquiao won a narrow split decision to claim Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez's WBC 130-pound title on Saturday night (late Sunday morning in Manila) in a sensational fight that left two of the world's best boxers bloodied.
On the other hand, dzBB radio reported that the city officials in Manila have started coordinating with Pacquiao's camp for possible homecoming festivities in the capital. The city government is planning a motorcade for Pacquiao which will cover the city's six districts, the report said.
The last time Pacquiao won, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim tried to organize a motorcade for Pacquiao, but Pacquiao snubbed him and instead went for the "welcome preparations" made by Environment Sec. Jose Atienza Jr.
Atienza, whose son Arnold was defeated by Lim in the 2007 mayoralty election, is a benefactor of Pacquiao. - GMANews.TV
Executive Sec. Eduardo Ermita said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband who are presently in Baguio City have scheduled their return to Manila after the Holy Week, in time for Pacquiao's return from the United States.
"Siyempre bibigyan natin ng hero's welcome, mas lalo ngayon championship belt niya ito (Of course we will give him a hero's welcome, especially now that he has a championship belt)," Ermita said in an interview on dzRH radio.
Pacquiao won a narrow split decision to claim Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez's WBC 130-pound title on Saturday night (late Sunday morning in Manila) in a sensational fight that left two of the world's best boxers bloodied.
On the other hand, dzBB radio reported that the city officials in Manila have started coordinating with Pacquiao's camp for possible homecoming festivities in the capital. The city government is planning a motorcade for Pacquiao which will cover the city's six districts, the report said.
The last time Pacquiao won, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim tried to organize a motorcade for Pacquiao, but Pacquiao snubbed him and instead went for the "welcome preparations" made by Environment Sec. Jose Atienza Jr.
Atienza, whose son Arnold was defeated by Lim in the 2007 mayoralty election, is a benefactor of Pacquiao. - GMANews.TV
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