Boxing champ began his Metro Manila-wide motorcade on Monday morning, causing traffic snarls as crowds cheered the local boxing hero.The motorcade passed through main roads in Quezon City, Manila, Pasay City and Makati City this morning.
Everyone young and old seemed to pause at what they were doing to cheer Pacquiao, who was riding in a truck adorned with Philippine flags.
Some motorists stopped and got out of their cars to wave at Pacquiao. A group of nuns was also seen from among the crowd cheering in his direction.
Uniformed employees were also seen on the streets, taking a break from work to take a peek at the ongoing celebration.
One FX driver, meanwhile, stopped and even went on top of his vehicle to wave as chants of “Manny! Manny!” echoed all throughout.
The streets were littered with placards while some have their own confetti prepared and ready to be thrown. People were simultaneously waving and taking pictures from their mobile phones and cameras.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, basked at the adoring crowd, throwing away Team Pacquiao t-shirts.
With him is Bernabe Concepcion, a member of Team Pacquiao who won in an undercard fight during the title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas earlier this month.
The motorcade, which started some 20 minutes behind schedule, left the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at around 8:15 a.m. and began a slow cruise along Visayas Avenue.
Earlier, a festive atmosphere greeted Pacquiao at DENR.
Wearing a black polo shirt, a gray vest, khaki pants, brown shoes and a gray golfer’s hat, Pacquiao arrived at the DENR office just before 8:00 am and participated in the department’s flag-raising ceremony on board a black SUV.
He was welcomed by a marching band, an explosion of red, blue and white confetti, around 300 employees of the DENR and the usual coterie of environment officials led by DENR secretary Lito Atienza.
He was immediately mobbed by local and international media and a cheering crowd.
In a short speech after the flag-raising, Pacquiao thanked God and Filipino people for the support and prayers in his May 3 fight against British champ Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
He will make a short call on Vice President Noli De Castro before proceeding to Malacanang were the boxer is due to make a 10:45 a.m. call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Atienza, a long-time and rabid supporter of the Filipino boxing champ, said Pacquiao considers the DENR as his “second home.”
"Manny (Pacquiao) is like a sponge who accepts what he needs to learn making him d best fighter," Atienza said in an earlier interview.
"Ang payo ko sa kanya wag muna isipin ang politika (My advice to him is not think of politics for now)," Atienza said, when asked about Pacquiao's rumored plans to run for public office in next year's elections.
"He's at the pinnacle of his boxing career. He should focus on his career first," he added.
Atienza said they have been coordinating with the Philippine National Police for security and the Metro Manila Development Authority, which is in charge of traffic flow.
Everyone young and old seemed to pause at what they were doing to cheer Pacquiao, who was riding in a truck adorned with Philippine flags.
Some motorists stopped and got out of their cars to wave at Pacquiao. A group of nuns was also seen from among the crowd cheering in his direction.
Uniformed employees were also seen on the streets, taking a break from work to take a peek at the ongoing celebration.
One FX driver, meanwhile, stopped and even went on top of his vehicle to wave as chants of “Manny! Manny!” echoed all throughout.
The streets were littered with placards while some have their own confetti prepared and ready to be thrown. People were simultaneously waving and taking pictures from their mobile phones and cameras.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, basked at the adoring crowd, throwing away Team Pacquiao t-shirts.
With him is Bernabe Concepcion, a member of Team Pacquiao who won in an undercard fight during the title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas earlier this month.
The motorcade, which started some 20 minutes behind schedule, left the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at around 8:15 a.m. and began a slow cruise along Visayas Avenue.
Earlier, a festive atmosphere greeted Pacquiao at DENR.
Wearing a black polo shirt, a gray vest, khaki pants, brown shoes and a gray golfer’s hat, Pacquiao arrived at the DENR office just before 8:00 am and participated in the department’s flag-raising ceremony on board a black SUV.
He was welcomed by a marching band, an explosion of red, blue and white confetti, around 300 employees of the DENR and the usual coterie of environment officials led by DENR secretary Lito Atienza.
He was immediately mobbed by local and international media and a cheering crowd.
In a short speech after the flag-raising, Pacquiao thanked God and Filipino people for the support and prayers in his May 3 fight against British champ Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.
He will make a short call on Vice President Noli De Castro before proceeding to Malacanang were the boxer is due to make a 10:45 a.m. call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Atienza, a long-time and rabid supporter of the Filipino boxing champ, said Pacquiao considers the DENR as his “second home.”
"Manny (Pacquiao) is like a sponge who accepts what he needs to learn making him d best fighter," Atienza said in an earlier interview.
"Ang payo ko sa kanya wag muna isipin ang politika (My advice to him is not think of politics for now)," Atienza said, when asked about Pacquiao's rumored plans to run for public office in next year's elections.
"He's at the pinnacle of his boxing career. He should focus on his career first," he added.
Atienza said they have been coordinating with the Philippine National Police for security and the Metro Manila Development Authority, which is in charge of traffic flow.
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