Manny Pacquiao comes home today to another hero’s welcome that is expected to surpass previous ones laid out for the iconic Filipino boxer who recently won an unprecedented fourth world title.

The Philippine Airlines jumbo jet carrying Pacquiao and his entourage is expected to land in Manila at 5 a.m. under cover of darkness, after a grueling 16-hour trip from Los Angeles.

Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee, some relatives and friends will be met at the airport by a horde of well-wishers, mediamen and just anybody else who wants to be seen around the 29-year-old superstar.

The three Pacquiao kids, Emmanuel, Jimwell and Princess, are expected to be there, too. They haven’t seen their father since he left for Los Angeles on May 12 to train for the David Diaz fight.

Pacquiao will be asked to deliver a speech at the arrival area of the airport, and probably stay a few minutes at the VIP lounge. Then they take off in a convoy of SUVs and police escorts.

It’s going to be a long, hectic day for the champion.

Eric Pineda, Pacquiao’s business manager, said from the airport, he will go straight to the Renaissance Hotel in Makati for some rest. It will be Pacquiao’s official residence the next few days.

“We expect this one to top previous welcome ceremonies for Manny considering that what he achieved last week in Las Vegas is unprecedented in Philippine history,” said Pineda.

“No other Filipino, and no other Asian at that, has won four world titles in different divisions. And the manner he won it over Diaz is very convincing compared to his last two victories,” he added.

Later in the day, he will receive the Sportsman Award from Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte who will also present the boxer a key to the city.

At 9 a.m., Pacquiao will visit the Quiapo Church for a Thanksgiving Mass. More fans, at least in the hundreds, will be there to welcome the new World Boxing Council lightweight champion.

At 10:30 a.m. he will proceed to Malacañang where Pacquiao, the first Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight classes, gets to meet President Arroyo and another set of fans.

From the Palace, the boxer who used to work on construction sites and sell cigarettes on the street to survive heads to the GMA-7 headquarters for a live appearance at the talkshow Sis.

By 11:40 in the morning, according to plan, Pacquiao should be at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Bldg. in Quezon City for a press conference.

Lito Atienza, DENR secretary and one of Pacquiao’s staunchest supporters, will host lunch for the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter who knocked out Diaz last week in Las Vegas.

A press conference, Pineda added, is also set at the government building.

A motorcade, depending on the weather, will take Pacquiao through Quezon City, Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong and Pasig, all the way to the San Miguel Corp. main office in Ortigas.

Pineda said Pacquiao will meet briefly with SMC president Ramon Ang.

Pacquiao will be taken to the Araneta Coliseum at 4 p.m. to receive the award from Mayor Belmonte.

And from there, Pacquiao will go back to his hotel, for the needed rest, in preparation for more parties in the days before he flies to Gen. Santos City, his proud hometown.