Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao on Monday said it was the hopes and dreams of the entire country that gave him the strength to demolish British boxer Ricky Hatton in their May 2 match.

“Akala ko bigger, stronger. Hindi pala niya kaya suntok ng sambayanang Pilipino (I though he was bigger, stronger. He couldn't take the punch of the Filipino nation),” Pacquiao said to loud applause inside the jampacked Rizal Hall in Malacañang Palace.

No less than President Arroyo personally interviewed the Pambansang Kamao who was only too willing to tell the President about his strategy in winning "The Batte of the East and West." 

The Pacman, who bested Hatton in just two rounds of their matchup, said he knew as early as the first round that his right hook would be a deciding factor in the fight. It was the right hook that handed Hatton his first knock down of the match.

In the second round, Manny noticed that Hatton was wary of his new strategy. “He was wary of my right hook. He was avoiding it and he lost his focus on my left," he said in Pilipino.

Pacquiao floored Hatton twice in the first round and once in the second round, promptly ending the match and giving Pacquiao the International Boxing Organization (IBO) and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles.

Pacquiao said he pitied Hatton when he fell to the canvass. He added, however, that he has no sympathy for Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. “I felt sorry for him because he's friendly, he's a good guy. It's the trainer who talks too much," he said.

Meanwhile, Manny also dispelled talks that he is not as hungry for victory anymore. “I am always hungry for victory because I know that all of my countrymen, millions of Filipinos are hoping for the victory that I will bring," he said.

National Day of Celebration

During his Malacañang visit, Pacquiao also received the award of Proclamation No. 1764-A, declaring the National Day of Celebration in honor of his latest conquest in the boxing ring.

The awards proclamation was read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita while the honors were bestowed by President Arroyo during a luncheon for Pacquiao. "The People's Champ" gave the President a specially designed Pacquiao jacket.

Meanwhile, Manny was presented with a 32-inch x 20-inch chocolate pound cake baked by Palace chefs. It was decorated with a replica of his championship belt.

After the luncheon, President Arroyo appointed Pacquiao as an "Ambassador for Peace and Understanding" or “Sugo ng Kapayapaan at Pagkakaunawaan.”

He was also named special assistant to the Secretary of Justice on intelligence matters by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Before arriving in Malacañang, Pacquiao had a busy morning going around the metro with his grand victory motorcade.

Around 30 vehicles comprised the motorcade, which passed by thoroughfares of Quezon City and Manila. Makati City was scrapped from its route due to lack of time.

Radio dzMM’s Jon Ibañez reported that Pacquiao had to go straight from Quezon City to Malacañang for his 11 a.m. courtesy call to President Arroyo.

Ibañez said the flag raising ceremony at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which kicked off the National Day of Celebration for Pacquiao, was delayed by about an hour.

There is still no word if Pacquiao will visit Makati anytime soon to make up for his not showing up in the city.

Fans, meantime, did not mind the big crowd as well as the heat. “Basta makita lang namin mukha niya (As long as we see his face),” a Pacquiao fan told dzMM.

Pacman supporters went out of their houses and offices to greet “the People’s Champ.” They even threw confetti as part of their hero’s welcome for the pound-for-pound king.

Edwin Sevidal of dzMM reported that a lot of celebrities joined the motorcade, including actor Efren Reyes, Jr. who was driving his car.

Environment Secretary Jose “Lito” Atienza joined Pacquiao on the float while Atienza’s son, Ali, was in a separate vehicle. Even Manny’s brother, Bobby, was in another car.

Deputy National Security adviser Luis "Chavit" Singson was not on the float.

The motorcade kicked off at the DENR along Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. It went through Mindanao Avenue, North Avenue, West Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Magsaysay Boulevard and Aresenio H. Lacson Avenue (formerly Governor Forbes).

The victory parade was supposed to be held last Friday but it was postponed due to the A(H1N1) influenza virus scare and Typhoon “Emong.” With reports from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News, RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News, Edwin Sevidal, dzMM, Jon Ibañez, dzMM and Ruby Tayag, dzMM