DENR ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR PACMAN
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Oct 2007
MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao's long-time friend and supporter, Secretary Lito Atienza, is scheduled to host a heartwarming victory party today as it rolls out the red carpet to honor the homecoming boxing champion.
Fresh from his latest victory over Marco Antonio Barrera, the people's champ is scheduled to arrive at 4:00am at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) where he will be personally fetched by Secretary Atienza who watched Pacquiao defeat the Mexican fighter in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas last weekend.
At 8:30am, Pacquiao will pay a courtesy call on Secretary Atienza at the DENR Main Office along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City where thousands of employees, fans and friends are expected to meet and rain the World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion with colorful confetti.
This will be followed by a press conference that will be held at the Social Hall, Second Floor of the DENR Main Office.
At 10:00am, Secretary Atienza will bring Pacquiao to the Malaca?ang Palace for a separate courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The solid friendship of Pacquiao, an adopted son of Manila, and Atienza, who was a three-term Manila Mayor, dates back to the early training years of the people's champ at a boxing gym in Sampaloc.
It has been Pacquiao's practice to meet with Atienza before and after a big fight. Win or lose, Atienza leads a fitting tribute for Pacquiao "who continues to unite and bring pride to our nation, as well as provide an inspiration for Filipinos to be champions in their own fields."
It was only during the Atienza administration in Manila where the public had the chance to watch Pacquiao's fights for free, live with no commercial breaks in all of the city's sports complexes that were redeveloped under the successful Buhayin ang Maynila urban renewal program.
Top photo: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates after defeating Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera last Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. AP Photo.
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