By Oliver Teves
MANILA, Philippines (AP) _ Thousands of Filipinos lined the streets of Manila on Friday to cheer local boxing hero Manny (Pac Man) Pacquiao on his triumphant return after defeating Mexican rival Erik Morales.
Pacquiao, (41-3-1, 32 knockouts) stopped Morales with a flurry of punches in the 10th round of their 12-round WBC super featherweight title eliminator at Las Vegas last Saturday to avenge his defeat to the same fighter 10 months ago.
On Friday, Pacquiao waved to fans from a truck decked with Philippine flags and sporting two large red boxing gloves as his motorcade left the Malacanang presidential palace, where he was received by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Confetti rained down as it inched its way through Manila's old financial centre, while admirers waving small Philippine flags by the roadside chanted his name. A banner on another truck read, ``The victory of Pacquiao is the victory of the Filipino.''
Pacquiao, who flew back to Manila from Los Angeles with his wife Friday, was met at the airport by his two sons and mother. He was mobbed at the airport by fans who sought his autograph and posed for pictures with him.
``Now, my happiness is complete,'' he said, referring to the family reunion after months of separation while he trained in the United States.
At the presidential palace, Arroyo _ beaming with pride _ called in the palace kitchen staff and posed for a photograph with the Filipino boxing sensation, who has been called the ``people's champ'' by the local media.
The presidential cooks offered special pastries shaped like boxing gloves stuffed with chicken and wild mushrooms for the champion.
His victory over the more fancied Morales came as a much needed morale booster for his nation following months of political conflict that saw mounting calls for Arroyo to resign over allegations that she cheated to win the 2004 election.
Feuding political factions briefly put aside their differences as Filipinos rejoiced over Pacquiao's triumph.
Speaking on the Malacanang palace grounds Friday, Pacquiao called on his countrymen to unite ``with or without a (boxing) fight.''
Pacquiao, 27, is extremely popular in the Philippines. Before his fight, he released a music CD that included the song, This fight is for you, which is being played by radio stations nationwide.
He has also starred in two Filipino action movies and has endorsed a number of local products, from socks to a herbal food supplement.
At the victory celebration organized by officials at Manila's seaside boulevard, Pacquiao and Arroyo sang his hit song on a stage with Filipino gold medallists from the recent Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines.
Pacquiao told reporters earlier he was ready to take on Morales again or the Mexican's countryman, Marco Antonio Barrera, who he stopped in the 11th round in their encounter in November 2003.
``I am the thorn in the throat of the Mexican boxers,'' Pacquiao said. ``Right now I can fight anyone . . . in the same weight level.''
