Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao defied a raging typhoon and a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory amidst a global virus scare, and arrived home Friday morning to a warm welcome.
Pacquiao arrived at 6:38 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines Flight PR 103 from Los Angeles.
Clad in a white suit, he was escorted by his wife Jinkee, and the rest of Team Pacquiao, including Bernabe Concepcion who won in an undercard fight before Pacquiao’s title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
Sons Michael and Jemuel, and daughter Princess were present at the airport to welcome their father.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza and his son Ali were also there to greet the boxing champ.
About 20 airport police K9s and a “light reaction unit” were deployed at the international arrival area, according to Manila International Airport Authority assistant general manager Tirso Serrano.
Pacquiao and his entourage passed through the airport’s thermal scanners and were screened by doctors from the Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health (DOH).
In his arrival statement, Pacquiao said: “Maraming salamat sa inyo, taas noo tayong mga Pilipino kahit saan sulok ng mundo [Thanks to you, we are proud to be Filipinos wherever we go],” addressing hordes of media upon his arrival.
Speculations have been circulating that Pacquiao plans to run for congressman in his hometown of General Santos City after the Commission on Elections early Thursday accredited the boxing icon's local political party, People's Champ Movement (PCM), which is expected to bolster his political ambitions in next year's elections.
Asked by a reporter about his political plans, Pacquiao answered: “Ayaw ko muna pag-usapan ang politika [Let’s not talk about politics first].”
He then gave recognition to the victory of Bernabe Concepcion in the undercard.
“Salubungin din natin ng masigabong palakpakan si Bernabe. Alam nyo hindi lang ako ang nagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa pero yung mga undercard din katulad ni Bernabe [Let’s also give a big hand to Bernabe. It was not only I who gave honor to our country but also those in the undercard like Bernabe].”
When asked why he decided to return early despite recommendations of the WHO and the DOH, Pacquiao said: “Mas lalong makakasama kung mag-stay ako doon. Mas safe kung uuwi ako dito sa Pilipinas [It will be worse if I stayed there. I feel a lot safer here].”
“I feel so happy that I’m home now with my family,” Pacquiao added.
Atienza said Pacquiao would check in at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City to rest before heading for Quiapo Church around 10 a.m. to hear mass.
In the afternoon, Pacquiao will attend a special event honoring him organized by television network GMA 7 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Due to Typhoon Emong, a victory motorcade and a courtesy call in Malacañang have been moved to Monday, subject to Pacquiao's approval, according to Atienza.
Upon the recommendation of the WHO, Malacañang on Wednesday requested Pacquiao to reset his flight back home for Monday, considering that he and his entourage would be coming from Los Angeles.
The WHO had recorded a “third-generation, human-to-human transmission” of the A(H1N1) virus in the area.
But since Pacquiao has decided to return, he and his team should exercise “self-quarantine” for at least five days, according to the WHO, whose advice was sought by the DOH on how to handle the returning Pacquiao and his legion of adoring fans.
Atienza said the DOH advisory was “ill-advised”, although he noted he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III were friends.
“Di ko matanggap na patitigilin pa siya sa LA (Los Angeles) at langhapin ang virus. Sabi ni Manny ‘bakit hindi ako pauuwiin, baka mahawa pa ko dito’ [I cannot accept that he (Manny) should stay in Los Angeles any longer. Manny himself said he may contract the virus there],” Atienza said.
Pacquiao arrived at 6:38 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines Flight PR 103 from Los Angeles.
Clad in a white suit, he was escorted by his wife Jinkee, and the rest of Team Pacquiao, including Bernabe Concepcion who won in an undercard fight before Pacquiao’s title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
Sons Michael and Jemuel, and daughter Princess were present at the airport to welcome their father.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza and his son Ali were also there to greet the boxing champ.
About 20 airport police K9s and a “light reaction unit” were deployed at the international arrival area, according to Manila International Airport Authority assistant general manager Tirso Serrano.
Pacquiao and his entourage passed through the airport’s thermal scanners and were screened by doctors from the Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health (DOH).
In his arrival statement, Pacquiao said: “Maraming salamat sa inyo, taas noo tayong mga Pilipino kahit saan sulok ng mundo [Thanks to you, we are proud to be Filipinos wherever we go],” addressing hordes of media upon his arrival.
Speculations have been circulating that Pacquiao plans to run for congressman in his hometown of General Santos City after the Commission on Elections early Thursday accredited the boxing icon's local political party, People's Champ Movement (PCM), which is expected to bolster his political ambitions in next year's elections.
Asked by a reporter about his political plans, Pacquiao answered: “Ayaw ko muna pag-usapan ang politika [Let’s not talk about politics first].”
He then gave recognition to the victory of Bernabe Concepcion in the undercard.
“Salubungin din natin ng masigabong palakpakan si Bernabe. Alam nyo hindi lang ako ang nagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa pero yung mga undercard din katulad ni Bernabe [Let’s also give a big hand to Bernabe. It was not only I who gave honor to our country but also those in the undercard like Bernabe].”
When asked why he decided to return early despite recommendations of the WHO and the DOH, Pacquiao said: “Mas lalong makakasama kung mag-stay ako doon. Mas safe kung uuwi ako dito sa Pilipinas [It will be worse if I stayed there. I feel a lot safer here].”
“I feel so happy that I’m home now with my family,” Pacquiao added.
Atienza said Pacquiao would check in at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City to rest before heading for Quiapo Church around 10 a.m. to hear mass.
In the afternoon, Pacquiao will attend a special event honoring him organized by television network GMA 7 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Due to Typhoon Emong, a victory motorcade and a courtesy call in Malacañang have been moved to Monday, subject to Pacquiao's approval, according to Atienza.
Upon the recommendation of the WHO, Malacañang on Wednesday requested Pacquiao to reset his flight back home for Monday, considering that he and his entourage would be coming from Los Angeles.
The WHO had recorded a “third-generation, human-to-human transmission” of the A(H1N1) virus in the area.
But since Pacquiao has decided to return, he and his team should exercise “self-quarantine” for at least five days, according to the WHO, whose advice was sought by the DOH on how to handle the returning Pacquiao and his legion of adoring fans.
Atienza said the DOH advisory was “ill-advised”, although he noted he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III were friends.
“Di ko matanggap na patitigilin pa siya sa LA (Los Angeles) at langhapin ang virus. Sabi ni Manny ‘bakit hindi ako pauuwiin, baka mahawa pa ko dito’ [I cannot accept that he (Manny) should stay in Los Angeles any longer. Manny himself said he may contract the virus there],” Atienza said.
No comments:
Post a Comment