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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Pacquiao gets hero's welcome
By Miko Santos
WORLD boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was feted a hero's welcome and capped a day full of tributes by paying a courtesy call Monday on President Arroyo in Malacañang where he received the Presidential Medal of Merit.
Arroyo welcomed the barong-clad Pacquiao and his wife Jinky and two-year-old son Manuel Jr. as she awarded him with the medal and a P1 million check.
Pacquiao, in turn, gave the President a small Philippine flag and a commemorative shirt of his win against Mexican Miguel Antonio Barrera last Nov. 16 and a videotape of the match.
Pacquiao also presented to Arroyo the IBF Featherweight Championship Belt.
In a brief speech before he was awarded the Presidential medal, Pacquiao thanked the President and the Filipino people who prayed for his victory against the Mexican boxer.
Pacquiao became the People's Featherweight Champion after he defeated Barrera in a grueling 11-round match in San Antonio, Texas.
Before going to Malacañang, Pacquiao went around Manila on a motorcade. At the Manila City Hall, he led a flag raising ceremony.
Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr., who organized the motorcade, gave Pacquiao a condominium unit at the Las Residencias de Manila in Pandacan.
At 7 p.m., a victory party and concert, which was open to the public, was held at the re-developed Plaza Rajah Sulayman in Manila's Malate district. Top Filipino performers performed during the victory party organized by the City of Manila and Solar Sports.
(November 25, 2003 issue)
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