Major traffic routes leading to the City of Manila are likely to come to a halt with the arrival today of Filipino boxing hero Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao after his victory over Mexican prize fighter Eric “El Terible” Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada last Sunday.
Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr. will lead Manilans in hosting a fitting tribute for Pacquiao that would kick off with a thanksgiving mass at 8 a.m. at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
At 9 a.m., Pacquiao will pay a courtesy call on Atienza at the Manila City Hall where the boxing champ is expected to be warmly received and showered with confetti by thousands of fans and City Hall employees.
A press conference at City Hall?s Bulwagang Antonio Villegas will immediately follow before the 27year-old World Boxing Council (WBC) Intercontinental Super Featherweight Champion will be accompanied by Atienza to Malaca?ang for a courtesy call on President Arroyo.
At 10 a.m., Atienza and Manila Sports Council (MASCO) Chairman Ali Atienza will join Pacquiao in the traditional motorcade around the city.
The parade will start from the Manila City Hall, straight to Jones Bridge, right at Escolta, turn at Plaza Sta. Cruz, straight to Dasmari?as, and right at Quintin Paredes, to Reina Regente, left at C.M. Recto, right at Delpan, left at Zaragosa, right at R-10, right at Moriones, left at Juan Luna, right at Tayuman, right at A.H. Lacson, straight to Nagtahan, left at Jesus, right at Laura, left at Dr. M. Carreon, straight to Tejeron, right at A. Francisco, right at Rubi, left at Diamante, straight to San Andres, right at A. Linao, left at Quirino Ave., left at M. Adriatico, to end in front of the Manila Zoo.
A grand victory party for Pacquiao organized by the city government of Manila will also be held at the Rajah Sulayman Park in front of the Roxas Boulevard Baywalk in Malate at 7 p.m.
The party, in coordination with Solar Entertainment and Solar Sports, will feature top performers plus special numbers to be performed by Pacquiao himself.
In last Sunday?s fight, it only took Pacquiao three rounds to put an end to the “legendary trilogy” with Morales.
Pacquiao completely dominated the bout from the very beginning and scored a third round knockout victory over Morales.
Mayor Atienza said, “the parade will take longer than what we had before which took us around 6 hours. This is to give everyone who wishes to greet Manny a chance to see him personally and to make our hero?s return more enjoyable for all.”
Chairperson Atienza disclosed that aside from renaming San Andres Sports complex and Civic Center into “Manny Pacquiao Sports Complex,” a monument will be built in Baywalk along Roxas Boulevard in honor of the Filipino boxing hero.
He said, “a monument depicting Manny delivering a left hook will be built to serve as an inspiration to the Manilans and to all the Filipinos.” (with a report by Natalie Jane M. Malayo)
