Former senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has returned to public service as secretary and lead convenor of the Philippines’ National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), with Christian leaders urging him to serve vulnerable Filipinos with compassion, integrity and a commitment to God.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administered Pacquiao’s oath at Malacañang Palace on Sept. 8. He succeeds Lope B. Santos III, who served as NAPC secretary and lead convenor since 2023. The commission coordinates government poverty-reduction efforts, strengthens anti-poverty policies and promotes the participation of basic sectors in governance and development.
Malacañang cited Pacquiao’s experience with poverty and his history of helping marginalized Filipinos as among the reasons for his appointment. Pacquiao has previously recalled sleeping on cardboard, going without food and saving loose coins to help his family.
Bishop Noel Alba Pantoja, head of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, welcomed the appointment as an opportunity for Pacquiao to serve Filipinos who are “poor, vulnerable, and in need of hope and opportunity.” In a message following the appointment, Pantoja described Pacquiao as his “dear brother” and encouraged him to approach the new responsibility as an opportunity for Christian service.
Pantoja cited Colossians 3:23-24, which calls believers to work wholeheartedly “as working for the Lord,” and prayed that Pacquiao would receive “wisdom, strength, compassion, and integrity.” He also expressed hope that Pacquiao’s leadership would bring people together, strengthen communities, create opportunities and help develop lasting solutions to poverty.
Pantoja’s call to servant leadership echoes Pacquiao’s message at the Arise Asia 2026 Congress in Manila, where he challenged about 4,000 Christian leaders and young people from more than 50 countries to make their faith visible through service and the way they treat others.
Pacquiao, who spoke about turning from a past marked by drunkenness and gambling after surrendering his life to Jesus Christ, urged believers to read Scripture, pray and demonstrate their faith through their actions.
His new role puts that message of service in a practical setting, as the NAPC addresses poverty-related concerns including food, employment, education, housing and health under the Magna Carta of the Poor.
Pacquiao’s return to government follows his service in the House of Representatives and Senate, his 2022 presidential campaign and an unsuccessful bid for another Senate term in 2025.
As he begins his work at the NAPC, his personal experience of poverty and stated commitment to Christian service will be tested against the practical challenges facing millions of Filipinos. For Pantoja, the responsibility is ultimately an opportunity for Pacquiao to use public leadership to serve others and honor Christ.
