‘Pacmania’ reaches champ’s home province

MANILA, Philippines – It was the turn of General Santos City - and his new home town of Kiamba, Sarangani Province - to give their proud son, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, a warm welcome on Tuesday. A day after the government-organized “National Day of Celebration" for the boxing champ, the 30-year-old Pacquiao arrived in his home city to a rousing reception from his kababayans, who braved an early downpour to embrace their hero. Clad in sombrero and long sleeves with lavender stripes, Pacquiao toured the streets of GenSan which were filled with streamers welcoming and congratulating the returning ring icon and adoring fans who excitedly asked for photographs, some of them even taking off their shirts for him to sign. According to a dzBB report, Pacquiao was joined at the float by his mother, Dionisia, and father, Rosalio, along with city officials and supporters. The newly-crowned IBO light-welterweight champion concluded the GenSan festivities with a press conference at the city’s oval plaza, where he thanked God for his swift victory over British slugger Ricky Hatton. From there, the Pacquiao entourage proceeded to Kiamba, Sarangani Province, where the Pacman is reportedly planning to run for congressman in 2010 after a failed bid in GenSan’s South Cotabato congressional district in 2007. A similar rousing welcome received him in Kiamba, his wife Jinkee’s hometown. The Pacman was treated to a native dance performance by his new “constituents" and in return, Pacquiao serenaded them with his song, “Lahing Pinoy." Pacquiao has been looking forward to returning to his home province – purportedly referring to Sarangani - since arriving in Manila from Los Angeles last Friday. But before he could book a flight home, Pacquiao first had to attend Monday’s “National Day of Celebration," highlighted by a victory motorcade around the capital and a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malacanang. At the Palace rites, Mrs. Arroyo named the Pacman “Sugo ng Kapayapaan at pagkakaunawana" (Ambassador of Peace and Understanding" while presenting him with an encased copy of Proclamation 1764, which declared the “Pacquiao Day," and a 28-kg cake laced with a boxing belt, a Philippine flag and a presidential seal. He was also appointed "special assistant to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales on intelligence matters." The whole nation is celebrating Pacquiao’s two-round annihilation of Hatton in their May 2 light-welterweight fight, a victory that has made him a multiple-division titlist following conquests at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, and even super-featherweight if you count his Ring Magazine belt. Despite his string of accomplishments, Pacquiao has promised to continue striving for more, acknowledging the hopes of the entire nation that’s on his shoulders. –GMANews.TV