Pacquiao belts out tunes in birthday bash

Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has celebrated his birthday in lavish style, belting out a series of songs in front of thousands of guests, roasting pigs and raffling a car.

About 3,000 people, including some of the nation's most powerful politicians, attended Pacquiao's 31st birthday bash on Thursday at a convention centre in his home town of General Santos.

The boxer, who last month won a historic seventh world title, performed 15 songs including a duet with his wife, Jinkee, at the party where 30 roasted pigs were served and a car was raffled off.

"I thank you for coming and I thank God because he is the one who gave me all my blessings and my skills for my achievements," Pacquiao, dressed in white and black, told the crowd.

Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, joined the celebration, entertaining the crowd with dance numbers, but she said her most fervent wish was for her son to finally quit boxing.

"He has everything in life, plus a perfect family. My wish for him is to let go of fighting Mayweather. I am afraid of what might happen," she said.

She was referring to the fight between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather Jnr to take place in March next year.

Pacquiao is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, a reputation Mayweather once enjoyed, and the fight could turn out to be boxing's richest bout.

After the party, Pacquiao returned to his mansion and took his oath as a member of millionaire property developer Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party.

Villar is running for president in the May elections, and Pacquiao is hoping to win a seat in the lower house of congress after failing at his first attempt two years ago.

Aside from being a boxer and an aspiring politician, Pacquiao acts on TV shows in the Philippines and has recorded his own album.

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines, Sunday AFP