ALABEL, Philippines>> Manny Pacquiao has taken his oath as a Philippine congressman, bringing the boxing star into a political arena that he said seemed more daunting than stepping inside the ring.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao, looking a bit uneasy in an elegant formal shirt and leather shoes, pledged on today before about 1,000 spectators in Alabel in the southern Sarangani province to be a good, God-fearing civil servant.

Talking to reporters later, Pacquiao said he was nervous that he could not accomplish much but he promised to try his best to ease the widespread poverty gripping his province, about 600 miles south of Manila.

It was a triumphant second try at local politics for Pacquiao, who was soundly defeated in his first run for the House of Representatives in 2007.