Hundreds of fans packed a local church in the Philippine capital on Wednesday when boxing icon Manny Pacquiao heard a thanksgiving mass after an upset win against Mexican-American legend Oscar De la Hoya on the weekend, dpa reported.
Pacquiao arrived in Manila before dawn on Wednesday, four days after forcing to submission the 35-year-old De la Hoya, known as the Golden Boy of American boxing, to quit in the eighth of their 12-round fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.
"I hope Manny would give us a few hundred pesos," said 17-year-old Marlon Tapia, who was among hundreds who trooped to Quiapo Church in downtown Manila to welcome Pacquiao. "He is my idol. He is the greatest."
Traffic along streets adjacent to the Quiapo Church crawled to a halt as passersby tried to catch a glimpse of Pacquiao, one of the most popular and most admired Filipinos.
After hearing mass, the 29-year-old Pacquiao met with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for lunch at the Malacanang presidential palace.
Pacquiao will hold a motorcade around Manila on Thursday before proceeding to his hometown in General Santos City, where officials were also preparing a grand welcome for him. He was also expected pass by Cebu City, where he trains in the Philippines.