Pres. Arroyo basks in at Pacquiao's b-day party

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—(UPDATE) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reveled in a lavish birthday-cum-victory bash for hometown hero, Manny Pacquiao, that capped his December 7 sensational conquest of Oscar dela Hoya.

The party at the KCC Mall here, on Wednesday night, opened with booming music and a footage of a busy Pacquiao on the ring on two wide screens beside the stage, and a dance number by "bunny girls,'' setting a Las Vegas-like atmosphere.

After two women and a man in boxing gloves danced in silhouettes to the tune of "Para sa Yo,'' out came Pacquiao through a white box on the stage bedecked with big playing cards with his face on them, and huge differently colored dice.

Pacquiao, wearing a black suit and a blue tie, was ushered into a ring-like platform where he waited for his No. 1 fan. Arroyo, clad in a black pantsuit, arrived at around 7 p.m., sharing the limelight with the boxing hero, and hobnobbing with his guests, including trainer-coach Freddie Roach, and Top Rank boss Bob Arum.

She later sat at the table inside the ringed platform with Pacquiao, Arum, Roach, and Secretary Lito Atienza in the middle of over 100 candle-lit tables in the mall's packed convention hall.

There could have been no better way for her to cap a hectic day. Earlier in the day, she flew from Manila to visit Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat and Maasim in Saranggani. Pacquiao personally invited Arroyo to his birthday party when he called on her in Malacañang upon his arrival from Las Vegas, Nevada last December 10.

The boxer's mother, Dionisia, later joined Pacquiao and his guests at the table, followed by his father Rosalio, and Deputy National Security Adviser Luis "Chavit'' Singson Jr. "This is not a surprise at all,'' fight promoter Wakee Salud said of the elder Pacquiao's presence at the party.

After his guests had settled on their seats, Pacquiao walked up the stage to blow the candles on his three-tiered brown birthday cake. As soft music played in the background, the more than 1,000 guests – the men in coat and tie or barong Tagalog, and the women in formal dresses, bantered over sumptuous food -- liver bacon pasta, steamed Lapu-lapu, prawns thermidor, chicken galantina and babyback ribs, beer and other drinks.

Pacquiao's pregnant wife, Jinkee, called from Las Vegas to greet him. (By TJ Burgonio;INQ.net)