Rain failed to dampen the festive homecoming of Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, Manila’s adopted son, who was honored yesterday in a motorcade around the city attended by appreciative Manilans who cheered the boxer and the officials accompanying him.
Although the motorcade failed to follow the route planned by its organizers due to bad weather, Pacquiao was rained with confetti thrown by Manila residents as he toured the city with Mayor Lito Atienza after simple welcome rites at the City Hall’s Bulwagang Villegas in the morning.
Before the parade started, Pacquiao spoke with reporters and appealed to the country’s leaders to band together and act as one to overcome the present national problems.
Pacquiao, 26, said he fought hard on his way to glorious victory over Mexican slugger Hector Velazquez to help reunite the country after a long political crisis.
“Kailangan ko ipanalo dahil sa wala ng pagkakaisa ang mamamayang Pilipino. Kasi pagkatapos ng fight, lahat tayo nagkaisa kasama ang aking mga kababayan. Lalaban ako ulit para lang sa pagkakaisa ng sambayanan,” Pacquia said. (I must win because our people lack unity. After the fight , our people were all united. I will fight again to boost the country’s unity).
Pacquiao also said he is excited over his rematch and is raring to defeat Mexico’s Erik Morales in their bout on Jan. 21 next year in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao said he does not only simply want a rematch, but also pledged to end the stardom of Morales, who had suffered a humiliating loss to Zahir Raheem after Pacquiao’s bout.
Meanwhile, Atienza said he supports Pacquiao’s appeal for unity, saying that it is the only element needed for Filipinos to succeed in sports and turn the economy around.
“If we will have less politics and more unity, this will restore the Filipinos’ place on top of the sports world and boost its economic standing in a competitive, globalized world,” said the mayor, who led a crowd of welcomers who met Pacquiao and his wife, Jinkee, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Assisting the mayor in giving Pacquiao a “champion’s welcome” with the theme “Kampeon ng Maynila, Kampeon ng Bansa ” were the event organizers, Manila Sports Council (MASCO) Chairman Ali Atienza, former Councilor Kim Atienza, and Manila District 3 Rep. Miles Roces.
