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 The red carpet will be rolled out for "people’s champ" Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao who is expected to arrive Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal 2 on Philippine Airlines flight PR113 from Los Angeles, California at 4:30 a.m.President Arroyo congratulated the 28-year-old international super featherweight champion for his knockout victory over previously undefeated Mexican boxer Jorge Solis, calling him up at midnight on Sunday and describing him as a symbol of the Filipino’s desire for excellence.
"I told him congratulations. His faith, fighting faith, is like the fighting faith of the Filipino. He symbolizes the desire of the Filipino to excel in whatever competition in the world," she said.
"Let us continue to be united and maintain our desire to excel for ourselves and for our countrymen," she added.
The President will personally congratulate Pacquiao when he pays her a courtesy call at Malacañang Tuesday morning. Pacquiao, who brings with him his $4-million prize from the match, is reportedly in a hurry to return home to his province to formally start his campaign for congressman. However, that may have to wait as an elaborate welcome has been prepared for him in Manila. Angel Atutubo, NAIA chief of security, said that all security procedures will be implemented upon his arrival and appealed to the airport employees not to abandon their posts just to see Pacquiao.
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who will once again organize the hero’s welcome for Manila’s adopted son, said Pacquiao would be taken straight to a nearby hotel to rest before attending a press conference at the Manila City hall at 8:30 a.m.
He would then have a brief meeting with the President in Malacañang before embarking on a motorcade around Manila at 10 a.m.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to fill up the streets to cheer him on. The parade would end at the Manila Zoo.
"We want to rejoice with his arrival. Manny derives his inspiration from the warm reception we (people) give him. We too, in return, derive inspiration from our champion," Atienza added.
The parade route is as follows: from Manila City Hall they will proceed to Jones Bridge, Escolta, Plaza Sta. Cruz, F. Torres Street, Gil Puyat Street, Quezon Boulevard, Globo de Oro, Gunao Street, Arlegui Street, Legarda Street, Recto (Divisoria area), Del Pan, Zaragoza Street, R-10, Moriones, Juan Luna Street, Hermosa Street, Rizal Avenue Extension, Aurora Boulevard, Maceda Street, Fajardo Street, Plaza Figueras (along Bustillos Street), Legarda Street, street below Nagtahan Bridge, Jesus Street, Laura Street, Dr. Carreon Street, Tejeron Street, Augusto Francisco Street, Nakar Street, Diamante Street, San Andres, A. Linao Street, President Quirino Avenue, Adriatico Street, and finally Manila Zoo.
When asked if the motorcade for Pacquiao would not violate any Commission on Elections regulations for the May 14 campaign since he is a congressional candidate in the first district of South Cotabato, Atienza said, "I do not see any problem. Manny is considered as a national treasure. We do this every time and we should not change how we welcome him back just because it is an election." The COMELEC agreed with Atienza.COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos said in an interview that Pacquiao, who is running for congressman in South Cotabato, deserves to be given a hero’s welcome, which is not restricted under present election laws.
"Let’s not deny him that. Sa buong bansa isa siyang hero," Abalos said in an interview at the poll body’s office in Intramuros, Manila.
But he said that to prevent giving Pacquiao undue advantage over his rival, South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, there should be some limitations when it comes to media interviews during the event.
"In coverage, when it turns into a campaign, I guess there’s nothing wrong because you can’t stop people to do that," he said.
But he explained that if Pacquiao himself campaigns, television and radio networks should log it so the COMELEC can count it as political campaign advertisement.
"If a supporter of Manny says vote for Pacquiao and the boxer’s face is shown on TV, it should also be logged," he said.
He said that he would advise broadcast networks to interview Custodio also, in the interest of fair play. Sure winner
Pacquiao’s partymates in Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) party in Central Mindanao region, meantime, are confident that his knockout of Solis would lead to his congressional victory.
Pacquiao is gunning for the congressional position in the first district of South Cotabato under the President’s party.
His opponent is the district’s incumbent Rep. Custodio, whose family had dominated South Cotabato politics for at least 20 years.
"Pacquiao’s recent victory in the ring will mean more votes. His victory showed how he is disciplined and determined to win. It’s a virtue of a good leader," lawyer Hilario de Pedro III, Kampi’s congressional candidate in the second district of South Cotabato, told The STAR in a cell phone interview.
"Nobody did it for several times, it’s only Manny Pacquiao. The people think that a vote for him is one way to thank him for his ring exploits," Koronadal City’s Kampi mayoralty candidate Fernando Miguel, chairman of Kampi and Lakas-CMD parties in Central Mindanao region, said in a long distance interview. With Theo Agcaoili, Marvin Sy, James Mananghaya, Rudy Santos, Ramil Bajo
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