MANILA, Philippines ? A mind-boggling $150-million fight is in the wind but for now, let Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao savor the biggest victory of his ring career.
Seven weeks after two destructive storms ravaged the Philippines, Filipinos will have a chance to again gather in the streets and extol Pacquiao?s triumph?in a public celebration that may surpass previous outbursts of popular acclaim for him.
Friday is the day the Pacman returns?once more a conqueror.
Organizers have prepared what one official called a ?rousing red carpet? welcome that will include, after the usual motorcade through the metropolis, a moment of rare ?parangal? for the champ at the Quirino Grandstand, where he will be honored by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with an award usually given to statesmen.
Nearly 2,000 policemen are being deployed to various parts of Metro Manila as part of security measures.
The office of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, the boxer?s friend, said Pacquiao was expected to arrive at 5:30 a.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Centennial Terminal 2 aboard Philippine Airlines.
Already, talk is swirling that Pacquiao?s next ring foe may well be American Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what promises to be the richest fight in boxing history.
In a phone interview the other day, Deputy National Security Adviser Luis ?Chavit? Singson, another close friend of Pacquiao, said: ?Win or lose, Manny will get $50 million? in a clash with Mayweather.
?The $50-million payday is just for the fight. The bigger money will come from pay-per-view and we expect him to get a minimum $100-million-share,? Singson said.
Singson?s claim may sound too good to be true but he said he was basing his information on talks he said he had with US promoter Bob Arum and former boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions.
?Politics can wait?
Singson said that up till now, the biggest purse in boxing history was received by De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, who each reportedly once earned between $30 million and $45 million for a single fight.
Singson said there was a lot of clamor not only in the United States but from all over the world for Pacquiao to fight Mayweather.
Singson, who is accompanying Pacquiao on his return from the United States, said a fight with Mayweather should be held before June next year in order to ride on the momentum of his string of victories.
But Singson said the date was unlikely considering that Pacquiao was serious in running for Congress in the May 2010 elections.
Singson said Pacquiao was still young and had yet to reach his peak in boxing, which was why some people were discouraging him from going at once into politics.
?We?re still convincing him that boxing should be his top priority right now because politics can wait,? he said.
Newest jewel
The latest jewel to Pacquiao?s crown was his 12-round demolition of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas last week, which gave the pound-for-pound king his unprecedented seventh world title in seven divisions.
Rumors of a romantic liaison with actress Krista Ranillo have presaged Pacquiao?s homecoming. The champ has admonished the media to report his ring feats and ?not the private lives of people.?
From the airport on his return Friday, Pacquiao is expected to proceed to the Renaissance Makati City Hotel where, officials said, he will freshen up before hearing Mass at the Quiapo Church at 8 a.m.
According to his schedule, Pacquiao will then motor to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office in Quezon City for a 9:30 a.m. courtesy call on Atienza, his usual practice before and after a big fight.
At the DENR, Pacquiao will be showered with red, white and blue confetti, Atienza said.
Atienza considers Pacquiao ?the country?s No. 1 natural resource and a perfect defender of our natural wealth.?
Pacquiao supports wildlife advocacy and the protection of the Philippine eagle and tarsier, opposes illegal logging and is a campaigner for reforestation.
?Parangal kay Manny?
The traditional motorcade for the conquering hero will start from the DENR at around 10 a.m., making its way along Quezon Ave. going to Espańa.
The motorcade will make a right turn 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, and left to Makati Avenue, where it will end at the Pag-Ibig building.
In a ?Parangal kay Manny Pacquiao sa Luneta,? Ms Arroyo will confer the Order of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, on the boxing king at the Quirino Grandstand at 4 p.m., or thereabouts.
The Order of Sikatuna is normally awarded ?for distinguished service in the field of foreign relations,? according to an executive order that created it. It is usually awarded to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states.
Pacquiao will be in good company. Previous recipients included US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the late Jaime Cardinal Sin.
The official welcome has been prepared by different agencies, including the Office of the President, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Pubic Works and Highways, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The Quirino Grandstand affair is a departure from previous welcomes for Pacquiao. In the past, he would pay a courtesy call on Ms Arroyo in Malacańang before embarking on a motorcade.
?We?re expecting a lot of people to welcome Pacman so apart from the 900 personnel at Luneta, there will be a thousand others to be deployed during the motorcade and his other affairs,? said Supt. Rommel Miranda, public information chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Roach honored, too
Before the Luneta ceremony, Pacquiao will be part of a Solar Sports event from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mall of Asia?s SMX convention center in Pasay City.
It?s not only Pacquiao that will be honored.
Lawmakers led by Speaker Prospero Nograles have filed a resolution recognizing the role of Pacquiao?s American trainer, Freddie Roach, in his victories. The other authors of the resolution are Buhay party-list Representatives Irwin Tieng, Rene Velarde and Ma. Carissa Coscolluela.
?As one of the most well-known trainers in the world, Freddie Roach is the unsung hero in the success of Manny Pacquiao, developing the latter into a multidimensional fighter,? the lawmakers said.
?Roach is considered one of boxing?s all-time greats and has trained 24 world champions, like Mike Tyson, Oscar de la Hoya, James Toney, Manny Pacquiao and other great boxing champions,? they said. With reports from TJ Burgonio, Allison W. Lopez, Leila B. Salaverria and Inquirer Research
