Huge crowds cheered Filipino boxing star Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao as a convoy paraded him from Manila’s slums to the presidential palace in a government-declared national celebration yesterday for his latest win.
Pacquiao’s stunning second-round knockout that dethroned IBO light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 3 cemented his image as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter and his massive popularity at home.
His victory set off celebrations across the Philippines, where the 30-year-old has created a fanatical following bridging the divide between rich and poor.
PHOTO: EPA
Shanty dwellers jostled along filthy sidewalks in Manila’s Tondo slum district to get a glimpse of Pacquiao, whose phenomenal rise from crushing poverty as a street vendor to world fame has become the subject of at least one film.
Pacquiao smiled and waved while children threw mock punches as his long motorcade passed by.
“He’s still my idol though I didn’t get a cent from his big win,” said garbage collector Renato Baldivia, 43, flashing a toothless smile.
The parade was abruptly cut short to allow Pacquiao to go to the Malacanang Palace, where Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her Cabinet and members of Congress showered him with confetti. They enjoyed a sumptuous lunch in a banquet hall and then ate a cake emblazoned with the Philippine flag.
Three tenors serenaded Pacquiao with a rendition of his songs — one of his many side interests that includes acting.
Pacquiao presented his IBO light welterweight champion belt to Arroyo then gave her and her husband his team’s sports jackets.
Arroyo wore hers over her dress, grabbed a microphone and threw questions at him like a fan.
“Did Hatton hurt you?” Arroyo asked.
“Not so much,” Pacquiao replied. “On top of the ring, I thought he was bigger and stronger. But no, he could not take the punch of the Filipino nation.”
Arroyo presented him with an encased copy of a presidential proclamation, which called for a national celebration yesterday for Pacquiao. It described him as a “boxing legend” whose “life and victories inspire the Filipinos to have resiliency and dedication to triumph against all odds.”
“He used to sleep in cardboard boxes and wear hand-me-down shirts. Now he dons Armani suits as befits the world’s top ring gladiator,” wrote sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz in yesterday’s Manila Standard Today.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III urged Pacquiao last week to postpone his homecoming and observe a self-quarantine for five days because the swine flu virus has spread in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao stayed after the Hatton fight.
But Pacquiao defied the advice, saying he and his entourage did not have flu symptoms.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
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