Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao comes home this morning to the waiting arms of a nation wanting to embrace him for his heroic performance in the United States, where he demolished Mexican legend Erik Morales and united the country, even for just a few hours Sunday.

The Manila government has prepared a ticker tape parade for Pacquiao, who will pay a courtesy call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang at 9:30 a.m.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who watched the Pacquiao-Morales rematch at the Thomas and Mack Center, and the Filipino boxing sensation are on the same Philippine Airlines flight from Las Vegas that arrives in Manila at about 4 a.m.

Pacquiao, who won via technical knockout over Morales in the 10th round, is an adopted son of Bacolod City.

In an interview over ABS-CBN Wednesday, Pacquiao had expressed his excitement of coming home, saying he wants to see the reaction of his countrymen to his remarkable win.

In Malacañang, Pacquiao is expected to give the President a copy of his debut album that has nine songs, including the carrier single, "Para Sayo (Ang Laban Na To)" which has become even more popular after his victory in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao will also be honored as among the outstanding Filipinos who emerged in the last 12 months. Among the other awardees are the Southeast Asian Games gold medalists and up-and-coming boxer Jimrex Jaca of Sibulan, Oriental Negros, who knocked out his Mexican opponent underneath the Morales-Pacquiao card.

Las Vegas-based Negrense Leif Severino said Pacquiao was very accommodating to all well-wishers the morning after his conquest of Morales.

"But we could not shake his hands as it was bruised and swollen," Severino said in an email message.*CPT

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