Arroyo confers highest order on People's Champ

MANILA – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the nation in giving Manny Pacquiao a warm welcome when he arrived in Manila Friday morning. Pacquiao, in turn, shared his victory with his fellowmen, saying that he did not single-handedly make boxing history when he won his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions.

“Hindi po ito belt[s] ko, kundi belt[s] nating lahat mga Pilipino,” Pacquiao said when showed the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) diamond belts to the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila.

“Karangalan nating lahat [ang mga ito],” he added during the “Parangal Kay Manny Pacquiao sa Luneta” Friday afternoon.

Arroyo bestowed the highest Order of the Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu on Pacquiao. The conferment ceremony was held in Luneta instead of Malacañang in order to accommodate the thousands of “Pacman” fans.

The Order of Sikatuna is conferred upon officials, diplomats and nationals of foreign states or personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was last bestowed on United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Pacquiao was given such honor for “achieving a feat unparalleled in boxing history,” which is being the first seven-time world champion in seven different weight divisions.

The Filipino boxing superstar achieved such feat after he defeated Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto via technical knockout in Round 12 on Sunday (Saturday in Las Vegas).

“Malakas din po si Miguel Cotto at siya po ang champion sa fight naman kaya nag-ensayo siya nang mabuti,” he remarked.

Meantime, the pound-for-pound king was also cited for “inspiring Filipinos to excel through hard work and discipline, for instilling national pride through his many achievements as a boxer, and for his humility amidst these remarkable achievements,” the Order read.

He has been inscribed in the roster of Sikatuna under the name Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao with the Rank of Datu.

“Lahat ng sambayanang Pilipino ay natutuwa sa mga karangalan binibigay mo sa ating taong-bayan,” Arroyo told Pacquiao with gratitude.

The newly-crowned WBO welterweight champion serves as a special envoy for peace and understanding under the Arroyo administration.

‘God is key to success’

Pacquiao earlier told mass goers in Quiapo Church that he could not have made it to the top all by himself.

“Sa tagumpay ko, hindi lamang sa sarili ko, kundi proud ako na tayong mga Pilipino nakagawa ng record,” he said in a speech during his thanksgiving mass in Quiapo Church.

“Tayong lahat, hindi ko sinosolo, kundi lagi nating pasalamatan ang Panginoon at tayong mga Pilipino ang napili makagawa ng history sa boxing,” he added.

He went on to say that he found success in boxing because of God. He said he has always trusted and believed in God.

“Sa kanyang kalooban, isinusuko ko ang fight na ito at alam ko naman at sabi ng panginooon at sabi sa ating lahat na hindi tayo mabibigo pag tayo ay nananalig sa kanya,” he said.

He went on: “At nakita niyo gusto ko lang i-example sa lahat na kung makita niyo, hindi ako nabigo kay [Oscar] de la Hoya, napakalaki. Sino mag-akala na matatalo ko si de la Hoya? Napakatangkad, malaki. Kay [Ricky] Hatton, puro malalaki. Kay Cotto, last fight ko, pero lahat nagulat na ako maliit tinalo ko silang lahat. Why? Because I believe [in] God, I believe [in] the power of God, 100%”

Formidable faith

Pacquiao also revealed the reason why he always enters the ring with a huge smile on his face while his opponents put on a frown: “Kasi tiwala ako, buong-buo sa loob ko wala akong pag-alinlangan na matatalo dahil nagtitiwala ako sa mahal na Panginoon. Pag ikaw ay nagtitiwala, di ka niya bibiguin.”  

“Kaya ako naka-smile lang ako. Kung matalo ako okay lang basta ako nagtiwala sa kapangyarihan ng Panginoon,” he added.

He also mentioned that he wanted his supporters to idolize his religiosity more than his excellence as a boxer. “Gusto ko idolohin na lahat ang pagiging madasalin at pagtitiwala ko sa Panginoon kung gaano siya kabait, kung gaano siya talaga masusubukan. Gusto kong maipadama sa lahat ng mga tao na because of God kaya ako nag-succeed sa mga laban ko.”

Pacquiao also cited how power of prayers helped him get through his fights.

“Alam ko lahat ng Pilipino nagdarasal so malakas din ang loob ko dahil maraming nagdadasal sa akin lalong-lalo na sa pamilya ko, mama ko, at kayong lahat. So malakas talaga loob ko, ako, nagdadasal ako tapos plus milyong-milyong Pilipinong nagdarasal sa akin so bakit pa ako mag-alinlangan? Bakit pa ako mangamba? Bakit pa ako matakot nandiyan ang Panginoon sa atin?”

Retirement not in mind

The pound-for-pound king arrived from Los Angeles, California at around 5:30 a.m. onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 103 wife Jinkee and mother Dionisia.

He happily greeted his children, supporters and the media at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2. He immediately hugged and kissed his three children, Jimuel, Michael and Princess. His youngest child, Queen Elizabeth, was not there.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng sumuporta ant nagdasal sa nakaraan laban ko,” he addressed his fans during the short press conference.

He also answered questions regarding his plan to retire from boxing: “Wala pa naman. Siguro sa ngayon ay bakasyon muna, pahinga, ang makasama ko ang pamilya, okay… malaking bagay na.”

“At saka mag-relax muna kasi pagaling muna sa tenga kong namaga,” he added. He suffered a right ear injury after receiving blows from Cotto. There was a blood clot in his ear.

He also responded to his mother Dionisia’s call for him to retire: “Pinag-isipan ko, di nag-isip din ako kasi magulang ko ‘yan. Nirerespeto ko ang magulang ko siyempre lahat tayo ginagalang natin ang mga magulang natin.”

Floyd vs Manny

The newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion said his team is still studying the prospect of clashing against former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. of the United States.

Asked if he is ready to face Mayweather, Pacquiao said he is willing to fight the American.

He added in jest: “Kailangan siya din ang maghamon dahil siyempre, kailangan siya ang maghamon kasi mas mataas naman ang pay-per-view ko sa kanya kaysa as laban niya.”

Outside the ring

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said he is in no rush to file his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the 2010 elections.

He has made known his desire to run for a congressional seat in Sarangani Province.

The period of filing of CoCs at the Commission on Elections begins November 20.

The press conference at NAIA was just brief but media members still did not forget to tease Pacquiao and Jinkee amid rumors linking the Filipino boxing sensation to young actress Krista Ranillo.

Pacquiao was even teased by the media to kiss Jinkee, and the couple obliged.

Hero’s welcome

From the airport, Pacquiao went to the New World Renaissance Hotel to rest and have breakfast. He then heard Mass in Quiapo Church. He proceeded to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City where his motorcade kicked off.

From the DENR office, the motorcade passed through Quezon Avenue, España, Pritil, Moriones, Roxas Boulevard, Pedro Gil, Taft Avenue, Buendia, Ayala Avenue, and Makati Avenue. The motorcade ended at the PAG-IBIG Building.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza revealed that Pacquiao requested for a shorter motorcade route this time so that he will have more time to rest because he has not fully recovered from his right ear injury.

He attended a mall show in the afternoon before proceeding to Luneta. Arroyo designated Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping as head of the official ceremonies.

The event was organized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Office of the President. – With reports from TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News; Yvee Tadeo-Guevarra, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau; Edwin Sevidal, radio dzMM; and Dominic Almelor, ABS-CBN News