President Arroyo Friday conferred the Order of Sikatuna, with a rank of Datu, on Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in recognition of his unequivocable contribution in putting the Philippines in the international radar screen, particularly in the field of boxing.
In welcoming the People's Champ who just arrived Friday from his victorious welterweight bout, Mrs. Arroyo accorded him the national order of diplomatic merit.
The simple awarding ceremony was held in Luneta Park in Manila where hundreds of people from different walks of life flocked to be one with Pacquaio's victory.
The recent recipient of such award was United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who visited the country last week. Mrs. Arroyo also conferred the award to late Manila Archbishop Cardinal Sin, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon; several foreign diplomats, including former United States Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone.
The President, who had earlier named Pacquiao as the country's envoy for peace and national unity, was supposed to provide hero's welcome for Pacquiao, but decided to honor him in a ceremony in Luneta, instead.
Malacanang said the seventh victory of Pacquiao in the boxing world should prod the Guinness Book of World Records to automatically include the Filipino boxing icon, in their roster.
Pacquiao, the newly crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, and his entourage led by wife Jinkee arrived in Manila early Friday morning after another jubilant win over Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in Las Vegas.
Fans cheered the boxing icon's arrival and shared in celebrating Pacquiao's feat as the first-ever seven division champion in boxing after a 14-year boxing career that started as a 108-pound fighter and climbed to 145-pound.
Aside from Jinkee, Pacquiao was in the company of his parents Dionisia and Rosalio, his good friend Deputy National Security Adviser Chavit Singson and other members of his training team when he planed in at 5:30 a.m. Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
Saranggani or party-list?
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will definitely try his luck in politics in 2010. However, he is still undecided on whether to seek a seat in the Congress as representative of Saranggani province or as a nominee of a party-list group.
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