Throngs of fans cheer champ

Manny Pacquiao yesterday arrived to an adoring nation to whom he dedicated his sensational technical knockout victory over Erik Morales in Las Vegas over the weekend, profusely thanking God for his guidance and his parents and fans for their prayers and support while reiterating his utmost desire to see his beloved country unite once and for all.

"Kahit bukas lalaban ako kung ito ang kailangan upang magkaisa tayong lahat (I’m willing to fight again even tomorrow if this would help unite us)," said Pacquiao in a statement many felt was a big shot in the arm for the administration rocked by political dissent and scandals.

But for most critics of President Arroyo, it was nothing but an empty speech.

"Ano gusto nila, nanalo lang si Pacquiao, kakalimutan na natin lahat ng kasalanan nila? (What do they want, just because Pacquiao won, we would forget all their wrongdoings?),"one opposition leader was quoted as saying in a recent TV interview.

Whatever, Pacquiao got the kind of reception he richly deserved — a warm, rousing welcome, a courtesy call on the President and a ticker tape parade around Metro Manila capped by a street party at the Plaza Raja Sulaiman at Baywalk.

"Nais kong pasalamatan ang lahat ng aking kababayan na nagdasal at sumuporta sa akin (I’d like to thank all my countrymen who prayed and supported me all the way," said Pacquiao, mobbed by hordes of fans the moment he stepped out of the plane after a long, weary 12-hour flight from Los Angeles.

He gamely accommodated the well-wishers, granted ambush interviews, waved to the crowd then ran into the warm embrace of his dear mom Dionesia, who never watched his son fight but never stopped praying for his success. He then coddled his sons, Manuel and Michael, whom he had not seen for two months.

From the airport, Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and the whole entourage took a brief rest at the Hyatt Hotel, where the boxing hero again did a couple of interviews, before proceeding to Malacañang where he had an audience with President Arroyo.

There, the Pacquiaos, including dad Rosalio, were treated to a boxing gloves-shaped empanada prepared by Palace chef Babes Austria. Pacquiao had a brief talk with the Chief Executive, who congratulated the General Santos City-native fighter for his triumph and thanked him for uniting the country.

After his Palace visit, Pacquiao joined a ticker tape parade along with 2005 Ms. International Precious Lara Quigaman and members of the Philippine team that won the overall crown in the recent 23rd Southeast Asian Games here.

The motorcade passed through the populous areas in Manila and Quezon City under brief showers, causing traffic jams, with Pacquiao warmly met and wildly cheered by hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, mostly shouting "Idol, Idol." Some even referred to him as the "Pambansang Kamao" or national fist.

As the sun set in at the Manila Bay, the 27-year-old gem of a boxer joined thousands more in a victory party at the Plaza Raja Sulayman where President Arroyo also made a surprise appearance. — With reports from Joey Villar