With or without him fighting in the ring, Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao wants all Filipinos to unite for the sake of peace and harmony in the country.

The returning boxing hero, fresh from a 10-round demolition of Mexican Erik Morales in their world super featherweight return bout in Las Vegas, Nevada made the call during a hero’s welcome prepared for him in Malacanang where he was warmly received today by adoring supporters and fans, including no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Maraming-maraming salamat sa inyong lahat sa inyong suporta (Thank you all for your support)," Pacquiao shouted to the cheers of Malacanang employees, media men and curious onlookers at the Palace grounds fronting the Kalayaan Hall where the President later sent him off for the parade around Metro Manila.

"Sana lagi kayong magkakaisa may laban man o wala, maraming- maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat (May we always be united, with or without me fighting in the ring)," he added.

The President had earlier personally congratulated Pacquiao at the Music Room of the Palace for bringing honor and glory to the country with his sensational 10^th round technical knockout victory over the three-time Mexican champion last Sunday.

"Manny, congratulations! Today is Pacquiao day!" President Arroyo greeted the returning Pacquiao who motored to Malacanang for the courtesy call only hours after arriving from Los Angeles early this morning.

Pacquiao was accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, parents Rosalio and Dionisia and the rest of the Pacquiao team -- Wilson Tieng, Buboy Fernandez, William Tieng, Wakee Salud, Jimrex Jaca and Jayke Joson.

Representing the government in the call were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye, Cabinet Officer for Provincial Events (COPE) Secretary Conrado Limcaoco and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who accompanied Pacquiao from the City Hall.

Executive Chef Babes Austria and the entire kitchen staff prepared a special food called Pate Brisee (a stuffed chicken and wild mushroom in white wine reduction topped with poppy seed) in tribute to the world champion.

Pacquiao expressed his gratitude to President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro for spearheading the country’s prayers and support in his latest fight against Morales.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today on Christian Democrats and leaders of the great religions of the world to reach out across cultural and religious barriers if humanity is to enjoy true peace and prosperity.

In her address during the launching of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI) Asia-Pacific and the Global Interfaith Dialogue at the Manila Hotel, the President said that in a world gripped by poverty and haunted by destruction and terrorism, "faith has never been more central to the future of humanity as it is today."

"More importantly, interfaith understanding and dialogue have never been so essential to the stability and progress of the world," she said.

Reiterating her call at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting during the 60^th UN General Assembly in New York City last September, the President underscored the need for interfaith dialogues for better understanding among nations regardless of ethnic origin and religious beliefs.

She said "religious faith should be a source of individual strength and humanizing element that binds together all the peoples of the world, regardless of the prayer they utter or the name they give to the God that they obey."

"Regrettably, the inspiration of faith has too often become a source of despair and destruction among peoples and nations. Having faith should mean the confidence to listen and learn about what others think and believe," she added.

The Chief Executive urged the CDI leaders and leaders of different faiths to "bridge the valley that unnecessarily divide us…" through interfaith dialogue "so we can advance the common good of humanity."

She said the fight against terrorism and poverty is now the greatest challenge that faces the CDI and the great religions of the world and that "faith is greatest antidote to terrorism."

"We must turn up the flame of faith and understanding as our sword against poverty, destruction and terrorism. This must be built on tolerance, understanding and common interest, not just the promise of development or the threat of war," the President said.

She pointed out that understanding of one another’s faith and following one’s own faith are just like building up on a mighty military force that would fight terrorism and violence.

She cautioned that tolerance and understanding of other people’s faith and belief should not be a pass to sow terror and abuse.

"We must never accept terrorism and violence cloaked in religion by anyone at anytime. Terrorism is murder and no religion anywhere can abide by the faith of the faithless, valueless terrorists who kill in the name of a false god," the President said.

She urged the CDI and the religious leaders to "build a world of understanding based on hope, shared dreams and a common faith with each other."

The CDI is composed of 110 political parties around the world that adhere to the centrist democratic ideology in their respective countries.

Previously called the Christian Democrat International, it adopted the name Centrist Democrat International to reflect the growing participation of different religious faiths within the centrist political ideology.

Also present in the conference were Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD) chairman emeritus former President Fidel V. Ramos, Lakas-CMD president House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.,CDI president and former President of the Kingdom of Spain Jose Ma. Aznar, Pakistan Muslim League Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Cambodia’s Senior Minister and Minister for Education and Sports Dr. Peng Kol, former Belgian Prime Minister and now President of the European People’s Party Wilfred Martens, President of Inter-Parliamentary Union Ferdinando Casini and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

The Global Interfaith Dialogue, which the President and Speaker de Venecia originally proposed to the UN in 2004, was formally adopted by the General Assembly in November 2004, as a mechanism to mediate centuries old ethnic and politico-religious conflicts that continue to bedevil the nations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited this morning the important role interfaith dialogue plays in the ongoing peace process in Mindanao.

In her message during the opening ceremony of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI) Asia-Pacific Launching and the Global Faith Dialogue at the Manila Hotel, the President said she took the lead in holding the interfaith dialogue in the country with the quest for permanent peace in Mindanao uppermost in her mind.

"I have reached out to lead interfaith dialogue in the Philippines to bring peace and understanding in Mindanao, just as I have reached out to our friends and neighbors in Asia to conquer anything that divides us on ethnic or religious lines," she said.

She added: "And if peace is achieved it will be due to interfaith dialogue and the inter-governmental cooperation of friends and neighbors."

She cited the key roles Malaysia and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) are playing in the search for lasting peace in Mindanao.

The President thanked Mushahid Hussain Sayed, secretary-general of the Pakistan Muslim League, who said that the "vestiges of conflict in Mindanao are finally fading away."

She also hailed the role of those who "differ with us in faith," referring to Muslim extremists in Mindanao, in the breakthroughs achieved in the peace process.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said today Senator Alfredo Lim’s proposal for the government to grant amnesty to the Magdalo rebel soldiers who staged the so-called Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 is a prescription for more trouble instead of a cure for a social malaise.

In a radio interview, Ermita said he disagrees with Lim’s proposal because it amounts to condoning an illegal act and promoting double standard of justice since giving undue leniency for erring soldiers will radically contrast to strict law enforcement for ordinary citizens.

"If every time soldiers revolt we just extend amnesty and forget their transgression of the law, what future awaits us all?" the Malacanang official replied in Filipino to a question on Lim’s proposal.

Ermita pointed out that the crime the mutineers committed was witnessed first-hand by the Filipino people who saw them on television occupying for hours the upscale Oakwood hotel in Makati City.

He recalled a similar mutiny staged at the Manila Hotel by soldiers led by then Constabulary Col. Reynaldo Cabauatan who were pardoned after they were penalized with just a few "push ups" which, he said, is often cited to malign the government.

Ermita said it is not true the government reneged on its agreement with the Oakwood mutineers as negotiated by retired General Roy Cimatu, which the rebel soldiers’ leaders often use to justify the escape from detention by some of their comrades.

The officers’ cases, he added, are now under litigation in various courts.

Senator Lim’s proposed amnesty for the Oakwook mutiny leaders led by Navy Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes III is also deemed untenable because under the law, amnesty can only be granted to convicted criminals.

ILOILO City – Unfazed by renewed rumors of destabilization plots against her administration, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow on a hectic two-day swing across Iloilo province to inspect government projects and take personal charge of her anti-poverty initiatives.

Shortly after arrival at the Mandurriao Iloilo City Airport, the President will motor to Concepcion town to inaugurate the P10 million concreted section of the Ajuy-Concepcion road, Agnaga-Calamigan road project.

She will also lead the groundbreaking ceremony for a farm to market road in Agnaga, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) roads in the area.

The President will also look into the status of government-funded housing, health, education, tourism and livelihood programs for the marginalized sector in the province.

After the inauguration and groundbreaking rites, she is scheduled to turn over Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-CIDSS sub-projects in seven barangays in Concepcion and 29 Gawad Kalinga housing units to recipient/beneficiaries.

Nineteen of the units were funded out of the President's Social Fund while the 10 other units were donated by various civic organizations.

From Concepcion, the President will fly to Guimbal town for the inauguration of Guimbal gymnasium. She will also inspect the Guimbal public market, and distribute Botika ng Bayan Certificate of Distribution.

In the afternoon, the President will lead the post centennial celebration of the Central Philippine University and the presentation of the Centralian Family Loyalty Award to the Zaldivar family.

President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo lauded today the statesmanship of the leaders of Centrist Democrat International (CDI whose meeting she joined this morning at the Manila Hotel.

CDI leaders, who include senior statesmen and active political leaders from various countries, met in Manila to launch the CDI Asia-Pacific (CDI AcPac) and its Global Interfaith Dialogue program.

President Arroyo also witnessed the signing by the group’s leaders of their Manila Declaration which dedicated CDI AsPac as a "channel of dialogue between and among governments" and as a "force and a catalyst for Asian stability."

The signatories to the Declaration include House Speaker Jose de Venecia, acting CDI Asia-Pacific president, CDI president Jose Ma. Aznar, CDI AsPac Acting Executive Secretary Francis Manglapus, incoming CDI president Ferdinando Casini and CDI Executive Secretary Antonio Isturiz.

Aznar is former president of Spain; Casini is incumbent head of Italy’s Parliament and president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. De Venecia is also incumbent CDI vice president.

The other signatories were Cambodia’s Senior Minister Dr. Pheng Kol who signed in behalf of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Speaker of the Cambodian Parliament; Pakistan Muslim League Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed;

Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party; and Agus Gumiwang Kartasamita, Deputy Chairman of Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs and Defense, who represented the Golkar Party of Indonesia.

The Declaration said CDI AsPac can also initiate and promote the tasks of harmonizing Asia’s growing inter-dependence, and help coordinate national, business, investment and financial regulations of Asian governments.

It also stipulates that CDI AsPac must adhere and pursue the seven vital roles CDI plays, including political leadership, anti-terrorism advocacy, poverty alleviation, and combat oppression, injustice and marginalization of peoples which facilitate terrorist recruitment.

To help end global poverty and build enduring peace, CDI has likewise endorsed the Debt-For-Equity Program initiated by the Philippines, and initiate proactive programs to promote justice and protect human rights.

CDI Aspac, the Declaration continues, hopes to make Asia a progressive continent "without dividing lines."

CDI which was founded in 1961, currently has 110 affiliate parties all over the world. It was formerly known as the Christian Democrat International.