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Pacman fever continues with parade, Palace rites


MANILA, Philippines – The celebration for Manny Pacquiao’s most recent conquest on the ring reaches fever pitch with Monday’s "National Day of Celebration" highlighted by a victory motorcade around the metro and a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The revelries were supposed to take place Friday upon the pound-for-pound king’s arrival from Los Angeles but they were reset due to bad weather forecast that day as well as the scare brought about by the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1). With the weather already clear and Malacanang declaring him A-H1N1-free, there’s no stopping Pacquiao now in sharing his spectacular two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton with his beloved countrymen in and around Metro Manila. The motorcade will start at 8 a.m. at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), where Secretary Lito Atienza and other officials and employees are set to give the Pacman a rousing welcome, showering him with red, white and blue confetti. From the DENR Central Office along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City, the grand motorcade will pass through Road 1; right, Mindanao Avenue; u-turn to North Avenue; right, North Avenue; u-turn at Edsa to West Avenue; right, West Avenue; right, Quezon Avenue; left, Araneta Avenue; right, Magsaysay Avenue; right, Lacson (formerly Forbes); From Lacson, straight to Tayuman; left at Pritil Market; right, Moriones; left, R10; left, Zaragosa; right, Delpan; left at Delpan Bridge; straight to Bonifacio Drive; left, Kalaw; right, Taft Avenue; left, P. Gil; right, Tejeron; right, A. Francisco; left, Onyx; right, Dagonoy; left, Amatista; right, P. Ocampo; right, Arellano; left, Estrada; right, Taft Avenue; left, Quirino Avenue; left, Adriatico; right, P. Ocampo; left, Harrison; right, Buendia; u-turn to Makati; right, Ayala Avenue; left, Makati Avenue; and finally at the Pag-ibig Building. After his traditional parade, the boxing champ is expected to arrive in Malacañang by 11 a.m. Pacquiao and his entourage will be met and escorted to the Rizal Hall by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita while honor guards from the Presidential Security Group will give Pacquiao, an Army reservist, military honors. Mrs. Arroyo will formally present him with Proclamation 1764, which has declared May 11 as National Day of Celebration for the Pacman’s victory over Hatton before she hosts a luncheon in Pacquiao's honor. And according to Press Secretary Cerge Remondo, the President will shake hands with Pacquiao whom the Palace had practically pronounced “clear" of the A-H1N1 virus. Health officials had earlier advised Pacquiao against returning as planned Friday to avoid possible spread of the virus and for his fans set “social distancing measures" such as no handshakes, hugs or kisses and keeping a safe distance of one meter from Pacquiao. Asked whether Mrs. Arroyo would observe such measures, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said: “I don’t think so because Manny Pacquiao arrived in the country and he has already passed all the required precautionary protocols in the airport and he passed with flying colors. So I think in fairness to our Pambansang Kamao, he does not pose a health hazard to anyone." With the National Day of Celebration called off last Friday, Pacquiao spent his first day back home by hearing thanksgiving mass at the Quiapo Church, attending a press conference with San Miguel Corporation officials and singing in a free concert prepared by GMA at the SM Mall of Asia - all the while getting mobbed by his fans. –GMANews.TV
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