Almost to a man, media commentators sneered at the politicians and other undistinguished notables who tried to share the limelight with the champion. But it’s not entirely impossible that their happiness over Pacquiao’s triumph was as sincere as the happiness of boxing aficionados. It’s just that certain people love to see themselves on TV and in print; such is the longing for fame and honor at a time of infamy and dishonor.

But only aficionados remember a time when Manny Pacquiao was just training at the L&M Gym in Sampaloc, Manila, which is legendary for producing many champion pugilists. And only a few will recall a Manila motorcade for him when he lost his fight with Mexican Morales last year.

In fact, in his many fights abroad, there was always a homecoming celebration for Manila’s adopted son. When he won the WBC International Super Bantamweight title 4 March 2000, Pacquiao called on his adopted "father" to award him the championship belt.

In the historic fight with Morales, Pacquiao made his "father" part of the "Pacquiao team" and bought three firstclass tickets for him and his family, but the latter was unable to go to Las Vegas because of pressing business. However, the man saw the fight in actual time at the SM Megamall Cinema 3, where Pacquiao called him by cellular phone, which the misinformed misconstrued as the presence of the "father" in Las Vegas.

The "father" is Mayor Lito Atienza, the only political figure who took Pacquiao under his wing when the champion was just a nobody. This was a gesture of friendship and gratitude from the champion, not a familiar case of one politician basking in someone else’s glory.

The Pacquiao motorcade was Manila’s acknowledgement of its own.