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Newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC)
super-featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao met with President
Gloria Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, in Malacañang on
Monday.
Pacquiao, who arrived in Manila
early Monday from Las Vegas, was welcomed by Executive Secretary
Eduardo Ermita.
The boxer was accompanied by his
wife Jinkee, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, and
Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.
Pacquiao was crowned the new WBC
super-featherweight champion after beating Mexico’s Juan Manuel
Marquez in a controversial 12-round split decision last week.
Earlier in the day, the Filipino
champion attended a thanksgiving Mass in Quiapo Church in Manila.
Although the church was not packed with fans, Pacquiao was
well-received.
Pacquiao arrived at the church
around 9:05 a.m. with Jinky on board a gray sports utility vehicle,
along with his convoy, minutes after leaving New World Renaissance
Hotel in Makati City, where he had breakfast with family and
friends.
Security was tight, but he still
took time to shake hands with some supporters, mostly vendors in the
area.
The Manila Police District
deployed 60 personnel to protect Pacquiao and prevent the crowding
of people just like the last time he visited the Quiapo Church after
his fight against Erik “El Terible” Morales.
Pacquiao said he will be having a
motorcade today in Quezon City, Manila, Pasay City and Makati City.
He will attend the Eighth Gabriel
“Flash” Elorde Memorial Awards at the Centennial Hall of the
Manila Hotel on Tuesday to receive Philippine boxing’s highest
honor.
Pacquiao will be the first
Filipino fighter to be enshrined in the Elorde Boxing Hall of Fame,
an honor given to boxers who receive the Boxer of the Year award for
seven consecutive years.
 --Angelo
S. Samonte And Ruben D. Manahan 4th
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