Traffic heavy at Quiapo church

Traffic was extra heavy around Quiapo Church and Plaza Miranda in Manila Friday morning, as police secured the area to prepare for boxing champ Manny Pacquiao's thanksgiving Mass there. Manila Police District operatives were seen with K-9 units roaming the area for possible explosives and security threats, but allowed vendors to sell "Pacquiao merchandise" there. Radio station dzBB reported that some vendors were seen selling small Philippine flags worth P20 and various "souvenir items" such as towels with Pacquiao's image printed on them. On the other hand, vehicles bearing posters of Pacquiao's sponsors, as well as police cars, were seen around the parking areas near the church. The Quiapo Church mass is "Round 2" of the hero's welcome set by the Manila city government for Pacquiao, who knocked out Erik Morales in Las Vegas last Sunday in a blistering third round of their 12-round scheduled fight. Pacquiao arrived about 5:45 a.m. Friday and was promptly whisked off to the Manila Hotel, where he did not get much rest as employees and well-wishers there mobbed him. The boxer and members of his family arrived on board a silver Porsche Cayenne with a US license plate (5-SL-038). He proceeded to the hotel's General Aguinaldo Suite. "He usually stays at this suite. He would order bulalo, nilagang baka, fresh juice and milk, and grilled salmon steak," Manila Hotel president and former senator Jose Lina Jr told dzXL radio. After hearing Mass, Pacquiao is scheduled to go to the Manila City Hall where a press conference is expected to be held. From there, he would proceed to Malacañang to pay a courtesy call to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. A motorcade around the city of Manila would take place after Pacquiao’s Malacañang appearance. Festivities for the boxing sensation’s return culminates at 7 p.m. at the Rajah Sulayman Park in front of the famed Roxas Boulevard Baywalk. - GMANews.TV