MANILA – Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR103 at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

He arrived in the country with his wife Jinkee and the entire Team Pacquiao.

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Environment Secretary Lito Atienza fetched him from the airport and will bring him to Quiapo Church around 8 a.m. for a Thanksgiving mass. It has been tradition for the boxing champ to attend a Thanksgiving mass upon his return from a fight.

He will then head to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City before his hero’s welcome parade.

The parade is scheduled Friday at 10 a.m. from the DENR office to major thoroughfares around Metro Manila.

The motorcade route will start from DENR central office and will turn right to Quezon Avenue; straight to España; right to Lacson; left to Pritil; right to Moriones; left to R10; straight to Roxas Boulevard; left to Pedro Gil; right to Taft; left to Buendia; right to Ayala; left to Makati Avenue; and end at the Pag-ibig building.

Pacquiao, who snatched the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico last Sunday (RP time), was adopted by the city of Manila as its favorite son.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will confer the order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Katangiang Ginto) on Pacquiao for having won an unprecedented seventh world boxing title.

Pacquiao has won world championships in the flyweight (112 pounds), super bantamweight (122 lbs), featherweight (126 lbs), super featherweight (130 lbs), lightweight (135 lbs), and light welterweight (140 lbs) divisions.

The "Parangal Kay Manny Pacquiao sa Luneta" will be held Friday afternoon at the Quirino Grandstand.

The event is a collaboration of various government agencies including the Office of the President, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

It is supported by Solar Entertainment, which will show a replay of Pacquiao's victorious match against Cotto on several large television screens around the Quirino Grandstand.

PSC Chairman Harry Angpin will head the official ceremonies. (Sunnex)