FOR the second time in three weeks, Manny Pacquiao rode a motorcade in his honor in Manila on Monday, but this time he shared the spotlight with two fellow boxing champions and the President.
Led by Mayor Lito Atienza of Manila the parade took Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista through the heart of the capital and then to Malaca?ang, where the boxers called on President Arroyo.
Pacquiao is an adopted son of Manila, and spent his early boxing years at the L and M gym in the Sampaloc district.
At the Palace’s Kalayaan grounds, Mrs. Arroyo praised “PacMan” for winning the World Boxing Council International super featherweight title by stopping Hector Velasquez of Mexico in six rounds on September 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
“At siyempre, mabuhay muli ang matagal nang idolo natin [Of course, long live our long-time idol],” the President said of the General Santos City native.
She earlier lauded Viloria, whose parents hail from Ilocos Sur, for “keeping faith in the Filipino flag” despite growing up in Hawaii. She began her speech by citing the bright future ahead for Bautista, the 19-year-old from Bohol.
“Kaya sa inyo, malaking karangalan ang binigay niyo sa ating bansa, malaking pagmamahal at pagpapasalamat ang pinapahayag sa inyo ng buong sambayanang Pilipino, [All three of you brought great honor to the country, so the Filipino people express their great love and gratitude to you],” the President said.
Viloria, aptly called the “Hawaiian Punch,” crowned himself the new World Boxing Council light flyweight king after knocking out champion Eric Ortiz in the first round.
Bautista stopped Felix Flores in the third round to become the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, staying undefeated in 19 bouts.
Both fought on the card that featured Pacquiao against Velasquez and Mexico’s Erik Morales against American Zahir Raheem.
The President, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson of Ilocos Sur were also expected to attend the VIP dinner dubbed “Tagumpay: Tribute to the Champions” in honor of the trio last night at the Crowne Plaza Ballroom in Ortigas, Pasig City.
The Manila Sports Council chaired by Arnold “Ali” Atienza organized the motorcade, the second since the three champions’ victories. The first parade, on September 16, welcomed Pacquiao home from the United States.
