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FILIPINO
boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao has reportedly turned
down the proposed hero’s welcome prepared by Manila
Mayor Alfredo Lim.
In an
interview with City Hall public-information office chief
Isabel de Leon, Pacquiao, through business manager Eric
Pineda, said that a prior commitment will prevent the
superstar boxer from acceding to the mayor’s request.
De Leon
said city administrator Jesus Marie Marzan has been
coordinating with Pineda the past few days regarding the
motorcade and its route which they have been setting up
since Monday.
Marzan
got a text message from Pineda yesterday morning
regarding their decision.
“Mr.
Marzan has been coordinating with Mr. Pineda regarding
the motorcade. Hindi naman masyadong grandioso ’yung
motorcade pero we just want to continue the
practice of welcoming him as Manila’s adopted son,” said
de Leon.
De Leon
said the offer to hold the parade is still there, and
that city hall officials and the people of Manila are
still ready to welcome Pacquiao, a native of
General Santos City,
who has embraced the city as his second home.
“Kami
naman we are just doing our job pero ang
malulungkot lang dito ay ang mga tao dito sa
Manila.
Mayor Lim has instructed us to follow whatever Manny’s
decision will be,” said de Leon.
Pacquiao,
who will arrive this morning from Los Angeles, will pay
a courtesy call on Environment Secretary Lito Atienza at
the headquarters of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources in Quezon City.
Under
Atienza’s watch as
Manila mayor,
Pacquiao has consistently been feted with a hero’s
welcome and a motorcade around the city. Pacquiao has
consistently cited his closeness with Atienza, for the
support he got as a struggling young boxer in Manila.
In the
recently concluded elections, Lim bested Atienza’s son
Arnold “Ali” Atienza for mayor.
Once Lim
assumed his post on June 30, he immediately ordered the
demolition of business establishments along the stretch
of Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard, all of which reportedly
incurred unpaid tax debts amounting to P7 million.
Knockout
Bar, which is owned by Pacquiao, is one of the Baywalk
establishments affected by the demolition. It allegedly
owes P120,000 to the city government.
Pacquiao,
28, is coming off a sterling 12-round unanimous decision
win over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera on Sunday
at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
As he is
accustomed to after every fight, Pacquiao is expected to
have his hands full in a nonstop series of guest
appearances and courtesy calls in the coming weeks.
Recently, Pacquiao signed a TV deal with GMA Network
where he is expected to star in a regular sitcom. As for
his TV guestings with the network, a reliable source
from Team Pacquiao said the boxer stands to earn
P100,000 for every appearance in any GMA shows.
Pacquiao
is scheduled to arrive at four this morning at the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport where Atienza will
personally meet Pacquiao.
The
Pacquiao entourage will proceed to the DENR main office
in Quezon City at 8:30 where fans expected to welcome
Pacquiao.
A press
conference will follow at the Social Hall of the same
headquarters.
Pacquiao
will then head to
Malacañang
Palace
to pay a courtesy call on the President. |
