MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao gave his throngs of fans in Metro Manila a treat Thursday when he held his victory parade in at least four cities.

In a three-hour motorcade through Quezon City, Manila, Pasay City, and Makati City, Pacquiao basked in the adoration of thousands of Metro Manilans, being rained confetti as his convoy passed by, posing for pictures, signing autographs as he gave out miniature gloves for souvenirs.

People from all ages left their homes and work to get a glimpse of Pacquiao, who has been elevated to hero status, after defeating Mexican boxing star Oscar De la Hoya last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Las Vegas.

Jeepney and taxi drivers, private motorists honked their horns to greet Pacquiao, some even stopping their vehicles to take Pacquiao's photo on their cellular phones.

Even grade school students peeked from their classrooms and cheered Pacquiao as well.

Some fans even kidded Pacquiao for a share in his $15 million prize money, to which the boxer responded by putting his hands in his pockets.

Pacquiao’s last stop was in Makati City where his motorcade passed through Ayala Avenue at around noon.

As the boxing champ’s convoy reached the Manila Peninsula Hotel on the corner of Makati Avenue and Ayala, Pacquiao alighted from the float and transferred to a white Ford Expedition where he joined Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

A few minutes later, Pacquiao was in the Pag-IBIG Fund building on Paseo De Roxas where he was welcomed by hundreds of Pag-IBIG employees who filled the corridors to see him.

Pacquiao, in a brief speech there, said he was looking at the possibility of venturing into a housing project, the details of which he would discuss with Vice President Noli De Castro, who heads the government housing fund.

Pacquiao later left for the Renaissance Hotel in the Greenbelt area where he would be resting until his scheduled appearance at a SMART-sponsored program at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City Thursday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, giant congratulatory tarpaulins, mini- Philippine flags, a live band, and a stage converted to a boxing ring were put up for Pacquiao at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Quezon City.

Pacquiao who arrived at the DENR around 8:45 a.m. after visiting Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte at City Hall was cheered by some 300 employees.

In a short speech, Pacquiao thanked his DENR supporters. “I gave the fight my best for the honor and the country and to make our people happy,” he said in Filipino.

After that, Paqcuiao was feted with a sumptuous breakfast of fried rice, beef tapa, adobo (pork or beef stew), scrambled eggs, fruits and danggit (dried fish) by Atienza.

In a short talk with reporters covering the DENR, Pacquiao reiterated his support to save the environment and his donation of P100,000 to efforts to save the Philippine eagle.

“There is no other bird like the Philippine eagle in the world. So we must do our best to take care of it and the environment and make sure they flourish,” the boxing champ said.

Atienza added that this was Pacquiao’s fourth donation to the effort to save the endangered raptor.

“Manny is our perfect defender of the environment because he is the number natural resource that we have,” Atienza said.

On other matters, Pacquiao said he would gladly assist efforts by the government to jumpstart the stalled peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“There is no problem that can’t be solved if we just sit down and talk. I am open to help for lasting peace,” he said.

Pacquiao also dodged talks that he would be throwing his hat into the political ring in 2010, saying now was not the time to talk politics.

On his next opponent, Paqcuiao also left the decision to his promoters. British champion Ricky Hatton and retired champion Floyd Mayweather have expressed their desire to face the Filipino boxer.

Pacquiao also brushed aside any perceived advantage Hatton might have if they fight in the United Kingdom.

“It’s okay [even] if he will have a lot of fans there. No one can help him in the ring and there will just be the two of us there,” said Pacquiao.

He left the DENR headquarters a little past 10 a.m. for his motorcade around Metro Manila under overcast skies and a light shower.

The same rousing welcome was given to Pacquiao during his visit to Quezon City Hall earlier in the day.

Mobs of excited employees nearly crushed Pacquiao, Belmonte, and Atienza as they made their way to the lobby while brass band music played.

Pacquiao just stayed for five minutes where he was shown raising his fist with Belmonte and Atienza, after which he was whisked away in a grey Toyota Land Cruiser without speaking to the media.

“He thanked us for the support and of course, we congratulated him on his win. He has done a great thing for our country,” Belmonte told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

Pacquiao wore a white barong while Atienza his trademark Hawaiian shirt.

Belmonte also presented the boxing icon with a symbolic key to the city “as proof of our love for him” before Pacquiao left City Hall a few minutes before 8:30 a.m.

The motorcade took off from the DENR office and passed Visayas Avenue then right to Elliptical Road and Quezon Avenue; left to Araneta Avenue en route to Sta Mesa; right to Ramon Magsaysay Blvd; then Lacson (Forbes); right to G. Tuazon; left to Blumentritt; left to Dapitan; left to Tayuman and Pritil then right to Moriones.

It then turned left to R10 and Zaragosa; right to Del Pan; left to Kalaw then right to Taft; right to Pres. Quirino; left to Harrison; straight to Pasay; then right to Buendia and Ayala Avenue in Makati City.