GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines ? The rich and the poor, the celebrated and the unknown had one thing in mind: to feast with their hero and world boxing?s latest sensation Manny Pacquiao, on his 30th birthday Wednesday. But the class divide was ever-present ? the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas for the VIPs at the KCC Mall convention center and the simple food handouts for the less fortunate at the Oval Plaza grandstand 1.5 kilometers away. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last night reveled in a lavish birthday-cum-victory bash for the hometown idol that capped his stunning victory over boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ms Arroyo, wearing a black dress, arrived at around 7 p.m., sharing the limelight with Pacquiao and hobnobbing with guests who included trainer-coach Freddie Roach, and Top Rank boss Bob Arum. More than 1,000 guests appeared in suits and barong Tagalog and sat at candle-lit tables surrounded by Christmas trees and were assisted by women dressed as Playboy Bunnies. Thousands of onlookers stayed outside the mall. Former world lightweight champion David Diaz of the United States and knockout artist Edwin Valero of Venezuela shared the table with Filipino Harry Ta?amor, winner of the lightflyweight crown in the recent Boxing World Cup in Russia. The President sat with Pacquiao, his parents Rosalio and Dionisia, Roach, Arum, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza and former governor Luis ?Chavit? Singson of Ilocos Sur province. Like a boxing ring The presidential table resembled a boxing ring. Behind them, a wide video screen above an improvised stage displayed three giant playing cards flashing Pacquiao as the Ace and King of Diamonds, and as the Joker. Slot machines and poker tables were scattered throughout the hall. Six roasted calves, 26 roasted pigs, sashimi bites sliced from a spread of 10 tunas, ?menudo,? ?caldereta,? liver and bacon pasta, steamed ?lapu-lapu? fish, prawns, chicken galantine, babyback ribs and other meat dishes were on buffet tables. Imported red wine and champagne, and beer in can flowed freely. Food bill: P3.5 million The food alone cost P3.5 million, said Nestor Paras, general manager of Ranchero Grill and Paseo del Sol, the caterer. Priscilla Varola, 52, and her two grandchildren, who came from the adjacent town of Marbel in South Cotabato, rushed to the Oval Plaza on Wednesday morning after word of Pacquiao?s birthday feast spread. ?We didn?t have lunch,? Varola said. Food came much later for them, at 6 p.m. Packed meals of rice or noodles and fried chicken or beef and juice drinks in tetra packs were served methodically by four caterers to the long queue of 5,000 people in four areas around the plaza at 5:30 p.m. Twenty policemen were assigned to each area. ?The food is great. I thank Pacquiao,? said 10-year-old Amy. Most of the people went home after finishing their meals, their boxing idol still nowhere in sight despite Tuesday?s announcement. Grand entrance The party at KCC Mall opened with booming music and a footage of a busy Pacquiao in the ring on two wide screens beside the stage, and a Bunny dance number. After two women and a man in boxing gloves danced in silhouette to the tune of Pacquiao?s signature song ?Para sa ?Yo,? the city?s most favorite son appeared from a white box on the stage bedecked with big playing cards with his face on them, and huge differently colored dice. Pacquiao, wearing a black suit and a blue tie, was ushered into the ring-like platform to join his No. 1 fan, the President. After his guests had settled in their seats, Pacquiao walked up the stage to blow the candles on a three-tiered brown birthday cake. Soft music played in the background as the guests bantered over sumptuous food. Pacquiao?s pregnant wife, Jinkee, called from Las Vegas to greet him. Security nightmare Earlier in the day, the city?s top police official raised fears of a security nightmare at the Oval Plaza should the crowd swell to more than 10,000. ?I?m worried about the stampede. They prepared packed meals for [only] 5,000 to 6,000,? Police Senior Superintendent Robert Po told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. City officials did not want to move the venue to the Lagao gymnasium, which can accommodate 6,000 people, because they wanted the revelry to continue at the Oval Plaza even after a bash for the ?Paskuhan sa Gensan 2008,? a month-long festival featuring a flea market, a carnival fair and pavilions, Po said. ?Only a little space was left open in front of the main grandstand as the biggest chunk of the area was occupied by exhibition booths,? he said. Police enclosed the venue with steel railings as part of crowd control measures. Checkpoints were set up at strategic entry and exit points of the city by the police and the Army Joint Task Force-GenSan. With a report from Roy S. Luarca; with editing by INQUIRER.net
