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Source: Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin

-- Manny Pacquiao will receive a rousing welcome when he arrives in Manila this morning for his convincing victory over Joshua Clottey of Ghana last March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee, and key members of his entourage are flying in at 5:30 a.m. via Philippine Airlines from Los Angeles, where the Filipino is based whenever he has a fight scheduled.

Malacañang has laid out a victory parade for Pacquiao, who is widely regarded as the world’s No. 1 boxer. Pacquiao has been in the US since January 17 and he trained for seven weeks under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, for the Clottey fight that he won easily.

As soon as Pacquiao gets back, he is expected to give in to countless invitations for interviews and guest appearances on TV shows as he had done many times in the past following a big fight.

But on March 25, Pacquiao will grace the Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions at the Hotel Sofitel since he will be feted for the nth time as the recipient of the event’s highest award.

Pacquiao should be heading back to Mindanao shortly after the Elorde affair to start campaigning for his congressional bid in Sarangani province where he will be challenging businessman Roy Chiongbian.

Pacquiao is also set to meet with President Arroyo and former Environment Secretary Lito Atienza this morning.

Atienza is considered by Pacquiao as his “second father,” owing to the former three-termer mayor’s support for him in his younger days as a struggling boxer hanging around at a gym in Sampaloc, Manila.

Pacquiao, who has always made it a point to make a courtesy call on Atienza after every boxing stint overseas, is set to visit Atienza’s house in San Andres, Manila, at 8:30 a.m.

From there, they will proceed to Quiapo Church to attend Holy Mass at 9 a.m.
Pacquiao will also pay a courtesy call to President Arroyo at Malacañang after the church service.
As in his previous homecomings, Pacquiao will have a motorcade around Metro Manila.

The assembly for the motorcade will be at Mendiola in Manila. From there the Pacquiao’s convoy will proceed to Legarda Street then to J. Figueras Street (formerly Bustillos); then turn right to S.H. Loyola Street going to Trabajo Market; then straight to Plaza Noli; left to Matimyas Street; then left on Blumentritt; then left to Dapitan Street; then right to Lacson Street (Forbes); then straight to Yuseco and Rajabago; then left to Juan Luna Street going to Pritil; then right to Moriones; then left to R-10; then left to Zaragoza Street; then right to Del Pan Street; then straight to Del Pan Bridge; then left to Anda Circle; right to Cabildo; right to Victoria; left to Gen. Luna; straight to Ma. Orosa; left to Kalaw; right to Taft Avenue; left to Pedro Gil; straight to Paco Market and Sta. Ana. Market.