MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao arrived to another hero?s welcome in General Santos City yesterday and shied away from questions concerning his immediate plans in both the political and boxing ring.
Pacquiao arrived with his family from a short flight from Manila at around 9 a.m. and was met at the airport by loyal and avid supporters wearing ?Go Manny!? headbands.
Mommy Dionisia, who was celebrating her birthday, led those who welcomed the boxing superstar at the airport, together with local officials.
Pacquiao said the 2016 elections is not in his mind right now, saying he has one more year left to serve as congressman of Sarangani province.
Pacquiao also did not want to comment on reports of a planned rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. who won a unanimous decision when they fought last May 2 in Las Vegas.
Michael Koncz, the adviser of the Filipino boxing icon, said boxing is also not on Pacquiao?s mind right now. Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Koncz told The STAR there?s no certainty that Pacquiao, who just underwent operation to repair a significant tear on the rotator cuff of his right shoulder, would ever return to the ring.
?Frankly we don?t even know if we?re ever going to fight again,? said Koncz, who added that if there are talks about a rematch then it?s not coming from them.
?We?re not even thinking about a rematch right now,? said Koncz.
From the airport, Pacquiao was paraded around General Santos City, and again he greeted his fans by tossing t-shirts and CDs into the crowd.
He was given military honors during the welcome. Pacquiao was taken to a hotel for a short program before he joined his family in their mansion.
Pacquiao?s wife, Sarangani vice governor Jinkee Pacquiao, said upon their arrival from the United States that she wished that the 36-year-old Pacquiao would retire from boxing.
The next few months, while Pacquiao is away from the ring trying to recover from injury, will provide an answer whether or not Jinkee?s prayers would be answered.
For the meantime, Jinkee said she?s happy to be home in General Santos City with her entire family.
?There?s no place like home,? she said.
