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MANILA: Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao flew home to a hero's welcome Monday after defending his world title and immediately began a political fight he said was aimed at helping the nation's poor masses.
Wearing a coat and tie and accompanied by wife Jinkee, Pacquiao was met at Manila airport by a throng of press photographers and a group of politicians wanting to share the limelight with boxing's best pound for pound fighter.
"I am very happy that I have returned to the Philippines to be with my children. I thank everyone who supported and prayed for me in my last fight," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao defeated Ghana's Joshua Clottey in Texas last week to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
Opposition senator Manuel Villar, a millionaire property developer who is one of the leading candidates for the presidency in the May 10 national elections, was among those who met Pacquiao at the airport.
Pacquiao, 31, is running under Villar's Nacionalista Party for a House of Representatives seat in the southern Philippine province of Sarangani.
"What we need now is a man who rose from poverty, who understands the call of the poor like myself," Pacquiao said in an obvious reference to Villar.
Villar, a son of a fish dealer who rose to become one of the country's most powerful men, has made poverty alleviation his central platform.
Pacquiao, who similarly lifted himself out of deep poverty to become ultra-rich, has said helping the poor is also his main motivation in running for Congress.
From the airport, Pacquiao and his contingent rode across town aboard luxury vehicles for an early morning breakfast at a five-star hotel.
He was scheduled to visit a popular Catholic church in downtown Manila later in the day as well as meet with President Gloria Arroyo.
The avid singer was set to also hold a free public concert for his fans to top the day, before flying to his southern hometown Tuesday, aides said.
- AFP/sc
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