Manny Pacquiao arrives Monday a week after scoring a unanimous decision win over Joshua Clottey of Ghana to face what could be his biggest challenge – a fight for the congressional seat in Sarangani province. (Nick Giongco)

Like a king coming home from a victorious war, Manny Pacquiao will return to the country to a hero’s welcome as tens of thousands of fans pay homage to the Filipino’s successful defense of the WBO welterweight crown against Joshua Clottey in Arlington, Texas last week.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao, who pounded out a lopsided 12-round decision opposite a timid Clottey of Ghana before 51,000 fans at the Cowboys Stadium, is due to arrive at 5:30 a.m. today with wife Jinkee and key members of his entourage.

Malacañang has laid out a victory parade for Pacquiao, who is widely regarded as the world's No. 1 boxer.

Pacquiao has been in the US since Jan. 17 and he trained for seven weeks under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, for the Clottey fight that he won easily.

As soon as Pacquiao gets back, he is expected to give in to countless invitations for interview and guest appearances on TV shows as he had done many times in the past following a big fight.

But on March 25, Pacquiao will be in attendance for the Elorde Boxing Awards and Banquet of Champions at the Hotel Sofitel since he will be feted for the nth time as the recipient of the event's highest award.

Pacquiao should be heading back to Mindanao shortly after the Elorde affair to start campaigning for his congressional bid in Sarangani province where he will be challenging businessman Roy Chiongbian.

Political analysts, however, are one in saying that the only boxer in history to hold seven titles in seven different weight classes faces a tougher challenge in his fight outside the boxing ring.

His growing wealth and fame from his dominating victories do not necessarily translate to votes in the May polls, analysts said.

“It will be a harder battle than all the battles he has waged in the ring,” said political science professor Ronald Holmes of De La Salle University in an article by AFP.

“They (the public) might be passionate about him in boxing but this does not necessarily translate into political support.”

Pacquiao actually learned that lesson the hard way when he first ran for the same position in 2007 his hometown in General Santos City where he was beaten black and blue by a member of a powerful political clan.

But just like the way he relentlessly tried to crush the impenetrable arms of the defensive-minded Clottey in each round, Pacquiao is determined to dip his hands on Philippine politics anew.

“I want to help the people especially in my place,” said Pacquiao, who reportedly earned at least $12 million for fighting Clottey in a match, which flaunted the biggest crowd in US in 17 years and third in boxing history.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was supposed to stage a concert on Sunday at Waikiki Shell in Hawaii before heading back to the Philippines, but the concert-celebration was called off on Thursday for lack of public interest, with only 603 tickets sold for an 8,500-people capacity venue.

While he had a cold reception in Hawaii, Pacquiao, who is arguably the country’s greatest athlete, is expected to be swarmed by his fans in the Philippines as Malacañang organized a hero’s welcome for the boxer with no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leading the preparation.

A hero’s welcome will also be thrown for Pacquiao by his ally in Manny Villar, a leading presidential candidate from the Nacionalista Party, Pacquiao’s new political party after bolting out of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, the president’s ruling party.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin, subalit bibigyan namin sya ng isang malaking pagsalubong. Hindi namin alam kung sasabay na kami sa marami o bibigyan namin s’ya ng separate,” Villar said. (“I don't know yet what to do, but definitely we will give him a big welcome. We don't know if we will join in simultaneous welcome or we will give a separate welcome for him.”)

If his past motorcade route will be the basis, Pacquiao will start his parade at the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) in Quezon City where his close friend Lito Atienza was the former chief.

Barring any changes, from the DENR office, the motorcade will pass Quezon Avenue, España, Pritil, Moriones, Roxas Boulevard, Pedro Gil, Taft Avenue, Buendia, Ayala Avenue, and Makati Avenue.

As in the past, Pacquiao is also expected to drop by the Quiapo Church to deliver an inspirational message during the mass, which will be attended mostly by ordinary