Pacman arrives - no party, fanfare

MANILA, Philippines - There will be less fanfare, no motorcade, no victory party today for Manny Pacquiao when he comes home from his successful defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight title last week in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao and his small entourage, including his wife, Jinkee, and some members of his team, took the Philippine Airlines flight out of Los Angeles yesterday as scheduled, and should land at the NAIA before 6 a.m.

Pacquiao posted a lopsided victory over American Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last May 7, and cemented his claim as the reigning pound-for-pound champion and the greatest fighter of his era.

The other members of the Pacquiao family, including his father, Rosalio, sister Isidra and brothers Bobby and Roel, with their respective families, arrived from Los Angeles the other day.

Pacquiao’s children, all four of them, are expected to lead those who will welcome the 32-year-old boxing icon at the airport.

One of the boxer’s daughters, Princess, said she wants a baby guinea pig, a kitten and a pink iPad as “pasalubong” from the reigning world champion.

The boxer’s famous mother, Mommy Dionisia, did not watch the fight in Las Vegas, and stayed behind in General Santos City, preparing for his grand birthday bash on May 15. She said all she wants from Pacquiao is a Hermes bag.

From the airport, Pacquiao will be brought to the New World Hotel in Makati where he will have breakfast with top officers of television network GMA-7. Then after a brief rest, he attends the traditional thanksgiving mass at the Quiapo Church.

Pacquiao is scheduled to meet President Aquino in Malacañang shortly after lunch, and in the afternoon he will have a remote guesting on GMA-7’s celebrity talk show Startalk.

“He attends mass in the morning, and meets the President in the afternoon. But there will be no motorcade this time,” said Pacquiao’s Filipino business manager Erik Pineda.

The City of Manila under Mayor Alfredo Lim has planned a motorcade for Pacquiao, but there’s no official word yet regarding the schedule.

In the past, Pacquiao is driven in and around the metropolis, and in the afternoon he normally proceeds to the SM Mall of Asia for a victory party with his fans.

“This time, it will be simple,” said Pineda.

Pacquiao’s personal assistant, Bren Evangelio, said they expect the fighting congressman to arrive in General Santos City tomorrow via Philippine Airlines.

But Evangelio said yesterday there could be changes in the schedule because of another commitment with GMA-7 tomorrow afternoon.

“Based on the original plan, he arrives here in General Santos City at 9 a.m. on Sunday, but there seems to be a change. I was told he would take a private plane in the afternoon instead,” he added.

This may cause some problems because everything is set for a motorcade, from General Santos City to Sarangani, tomorrow morning.

“Suddenly, there’s no final itinerary, no final schedule. We’re all set here for the hero’s welcome,” Evangelio added.