FOR a moment yesterday, President Macapagal-Arroyo and Manny Pacquiao seemed to have reversed their roles, he sounding like a politician and she acting like a boxing sensation.
Indeed, Malaca?ang turned into a unique arena where the worlds of boxing and politics met.
The occasion was Ms Arroyo?s welcome for the People?s Champion on his return from the United States following his destruction of Mexican legend Erik Morales.
?Sana lagi tayo magkakaisa, may laban o wala (I wish that we will always be united whether I have a fight or not),? Pacquiao told cheering employees at Malaca?ang?s Kalayaan Hall.
But the unity appeared not to include Makati City. While Mayor Jejomar Binay sulked, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza stuck to the people?s idol like a Siamese twin.
?Friday should have belonged to Manny Pacquiao, and no one else. But Malaca?ang turned his homecoming into another big photo op for President Macapagal-Arroyo,? Binay said.
Politicians seemed almost everywhere, as though relishing to be in Pacquiao?s shadow. Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis ?Chavit? Singson came on the plane with him.
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, who watched the fight in Las Vegas, had been roundly criticized for his presence on the ring as though basking in Pacquiao?s victory.
In a victory motorcade later, Pacquiao was sandwiched by Atienza (in his trademark floral shirt) and Manila Rep. Miles Roces. Behind them was a bevy of councilors and other officials.
Politicians, including Atienza and Vice President Noli de Castro, were also around at the Palace when Pacquiao called on Ms Arroyo.
As flash bulbs popped, Ms Arroyo joined Pacquiao in raising a clenched fist, looking like she was ready for a fight.
Earlier, Ms Arroyo and Pacquiao chatted before national television at the Palace music room.
?Manny, congratulations! Today?s Pacquiao Day!? she said, welcoming the boxer and his family, which included his wife Jinky and his parents.
Ms Arroyo also gave Pacquiao a special treat: patte brissee, aptly called ?Pacquiao empanadita,? made especially for him by Palace executive chef Babes Austria and her 15-member team.
Both Ms Arroyo and Pacquiao sampled the treat, after which the boxer had endless photo sessions and autograph-signing sprees with Palace employees.
At the Kalayaan Hall, Pacquiao profusely thanked Ms Arroyo and the crowd for supporting him in his fight with Morales.
While the city of Manila gave Pacquiao a red carpet welcome, the country?s financial center could only gripe at not being able to see even a glimmer of Pacquiao?s lethal fists.
Staunch oppositionist Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay blamed Malaca?ang for his city?s exclusion from Pacquiao?s victory motorcade which took the country?s most famous and beloved fighter around the known administration-friendly cities of Manila and Quezon City.
?Hijacked by Malaca?ang?
?Manny Pacquiao deserves a welcome fit for a world-class and honorable Filipino, and it would not be complete without a parade along Ayala Avenue. He was, however, hijacked by Malaca?ang,? said Binay, who has been at the forefront of the campaign for the ouster of Ms Arroyo on allegations that she cheated in the 2004 election?an issue that remains unresolved to this day.
?Makati?s private sector, the biggest names in Philippine business, was ready at a moment?s notice to participate in this momentous event,? Binay said in a statement.
Expectant Makati
The Makati City Hall had expected organizers of Pacquiao?s parade to include in its route even just the stretch of Ayala Avenue in the Makati Central Business District, where many other Filipinos who had brought home glory from abroad had been honored with a victory parade.
?We don?t want to appear like we?re begging for him to be brought here. We all know that it has been customary for all Filipinos who have brought honor to the country to be brought to Makati,? said Makati Information and Community Relations Department chief Joey Salgado.
Ayala?s buildings showered confetti on Pacquiao in a parade in November 2003, when he came home victorious after defeating Mexico?s Marco Antonio Barrera.
One big photo-op
Last October, Makati?s workers, commuters and passersby lined sidewalks of main avenues to catch a glimpse of Filipina beauty Precious Lara Quigaman after she was crowned Miss International in Japan.
In December, traffic once again stopped around the busy business district when the city hosted a parade for Filipino athletes who emerged as overall champions in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.
In defense of Arroyo
?What we saw was another example of shameless credit-grabbing. Pacquiao won cleanly and convincingly. And the irony is that he met [Ms Arroyo], who is accused of cheating in the last presidential elections,? the mayor said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita defended Ms Arroyo?s welcome for Pacquiao.
?I think as the leader of this country, she should be at the forefront of welcoming our champion,? Ermita said.
Ms Arroyo spent less than an hour with Pacquiao throughout the day. At times, she looked subdued during Pacquiao?s call on her at Malaca?ang.
The two met up again during an evening tribute for the boxer and others who had brought the country honor?and this time the President appeared to make up for the lost time, singing not once but twice.
The first was a duet rendition with Pacquiao of the boxer?s debut song, ?Para Sa Yo Ang Laban Na ?To.? Then Ms Arroyo joined other athletes and singer Sarah Geronimo in the rip-off song ?Pinoy Ako.?
The others honored in the ceremony, dubbed ?A Tribute to Filipino Champions,? were fast-rising boxer Jimrex Jaca and athletes who won in the recent Southeast Asian Games and in the Paralympics.
Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman, as well as Police Senior Insp. Dominador Arevalo and Grade 6 pupil Cristina ?Tinay? Bugayong, who both returned cash and checks they had accidentally found, were also given recognition.
Traffic was a standstill as both lanes of Roxas Boulevard were closed to give way to the street party.
Like a Siamese twin
Atienza also received brickbats for seemingly hogging the spotlight during the Pacquiao homecoming.
Atienza hung on to the boxer from the time he set foot in the Philippines at dawn, to his visit at Malaca?ang, to the motorcade around the city and all the way to the stage in the evening tribute for Filipino heroes in Manila.
Garbed in a loud, red Hawaiian shirt, Atienza appeared to be always beside the prizefighter to the point of, according to witnesses, practically outstaging the President.
An election gimmick?
Atienza didn?t even give way to Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte when the motorcade reached Quezon City.
It became a family affair when Atienza?s son, Kim (a correspondent of ABS-CBN), was granted a rare interview by Pacquiao shortly after his arrival.
Former Manila Rep. Harry Angping sounded appalled.
?Pacquiao is not even from Manila. Why is Atienza claiming Pacquiao as if he was his own man? I doubt if he did anything to help Pacquiao except to pose with him,? said Angping. ?He and his family clearly want to boost their stock for next year?s elections.?
