Pac-Man for Philippine parliament

The world welterweight boxing champion wears jeans and a blue T-shirt with the name of his political party, the People's Champ Movement. Manny Pacquiao has come a long way from his earlier life as a poor labourer. Today, he's considered to be the world's best boxer. He's also one of the wealthiest men in the Philippines. Now he's trying to turn his popularity into votes in the 10 May general election.

The pounding beat of "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III blasts from the speakers before Manny Pacquiao speaks to the crowd in San Miguel, a remote village in Sarangani province. "I don't want to be just your boxing idol. I also want be your idol in public service," he says.

If successful on Monday, Pacquiao, or "Pac-Man" as his fans call him, would join many other former Filipino athletes who have also won seats in Congress — a change from the past, when politics used to be the exclusive world of powerful dynasties and clans.

"I could just sit back and relax and not have anything to do with politics. I could just travel around and enjoy my life with my family," Pacquiao told The Washington Post. "But I came from a very poor family, and I cannot turn my back on the poor."