MANNY PACQUIAO is going places, literally. Hours after beating up Oscar Larios of Mexico early-Sunday afternoon, Pacquiao was on the road, signing autographs and posing for pictures with his admirers at the Baywalk with Manila mayor Lito Atienza.
His body aching from the harder-than-expected match with Larios at the Araneta Coliseum, Pacquiao was again off and running on Monday morning when he was paraded on the streets of Manila with Atienza and son Ali joining him on top of a pale-red colored sports vehicle.
Shortly after the motorcade ended, Pacquiao trooped to the Malaca?ang Palace where he was given a hero?s welcome by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Just when you thought he?d call it a day, Pacquiao went out of The Manila Hotel and attended a big-time derby at the Makati Coliseum on Monday night. A lady scribe who was waiting for him at the Aguinaldo Suite said Pacquiao returned to the hotel on Tuesday morning.
After taking a shower and resting a bit, Pacquiao proceeded to ABS-CBN to co-host an afternoon variety show but is expected to be at the station once again this morning to appear in the early-morning show Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
It is unclear whether Pacquiao?s afternoon schedule is already booked but when the sun goes down, he?d be back at the ABS-CBN headquarters where a victory party awaits him and his well-wishers.
Yesterday afternoon, when the Bulletin caught up with him, Pacquiao was at his MP Promotions office taking a breather from all the commotion brought about by his smashing win.
“Nagpapahinga ako dito,” said Pacquiao, his voice not as animated as when he made a TV appearance an hour ago.
Pacquiao is scheduled to fly to his hometown of General Santos City tomorrow, but should expect another tiring experience as another ticker-tape parade awaits him.
Pacquiao can still afford to take it nice and easy in the coming weeks since his next fight is more than four months away.
Pacquiao is booked to face Erik Morales in a rubber match on Nov. 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao needs at least eight weeks to get in shape for the Morales bout.
Pacquiao said when he reports for training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, he would already be in sparring form.
