INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 3) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has designated the new World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao as Special Envoy of the President for the Games in the 2008 Olympics this August and the country?s flag-bearer.

Arroyo made the announcement during a courtesy call by Pacquiao in Malacañang Friday following his arrival in the country earlier in the day.

She reminded the throng of Palace employees and officials who came to see Pacquiao that the latter made history for being the only Asian to hold four world titles in four weight classes.

?Yes, he swept (all the titles),? quipped a beaming Arroyo who even made jabs to mimic Pacquiao's lethal punches that conquered the WBC lightweight crown from David Diaz in Las Vegas last June 29.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the special envoy title was ?a fitting tribute by a grateful nation to the sterling quality of excellence of a Filipino at his best.?

?The Filipino boxing icon, Manny, is the embodiment of a Filipino athlete who has excelled and made us all prouder as a nation,? said Dureza.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that as ambassador, Pacquiao would be carrying the national flag at the Beijing Olympic?s opening ceremony which will be attended by Arroyo herself upon the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"Can you imagine, the one that will hold the flag ... is a Filipino world champion? Of course, Ambassador Pacquiao, imagine that, pinakyaw nya na lahat (He swept all),? he said.

?For the honor he had given the Filipino people, the President gave back the honor to him,? said Ermita, who was a boxer in his younger days.

He may be full of powerful punches, but Pacquiao was groping for words in expressing his gratitude to the President.

Later he told reporters: "Thank you, thank you. Masaya ako. Ako magdadala ng flag ng Pilipinas. Maganda, maganda (I'm happy. I will be carrying the flag of the Philippines. It's a good job)."

Meanwhile, Palace pastry chefs Ryan Otmana and Harvard Quezon gifted Pacquiao with what they called the ?Top of the World Chocolate? cake made from black and white Swiss chocolates.

The 29-year-old, widely considered the best "pound for pound" boxer in the world having won his fourth world title in a fourth weight class, destroyed Diaz of the United States in nine rounds to take the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title in Las Vegas on June 29.