Senator Lito Lapid (left), former senator Manny Pacquiao (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga--Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao wowed the campaign crowd here by giving a flawless rendition of beloved folk song "Atin Cu Pung Singsing".

So good was Pacquiao’s singing that it amused Kapampangan reelectionist Senator Lito Lapid, who began to call the former eight-division boxing champ, "Si atin cu pu".

Pacquiao, Lapid, and the rest of the administration-backed Alyansa held a campaign rally at Bren Guiao Convention Center here, where they were hosted by Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda.

Pacquiao, a former senator, had just finished his usual campaign speech on his goal of lifting Filipinos out of poverty, when he told the predominantly female crowd, "Kakantahan ko po kayo (I will sing for you)."

The candidate, who previously had a recording career, then sang Atin Cu Pung Singsing, which literally means "I have a ring."

The song is about a woman who is looking for a missing ring given by her mother. She offers her love as a prize for the man who can find the ring.

What elated the crowd was Pacquiao’s decision to sing the entire song, and not just a few lines of it. By the end, the Kapampangans were singing and clapping along with the "People's Champ".

Closing out the program on stage was Lapid, who was the most popular among the Alyansa bets locally. He is a former multi-time provincial governor.

Lapid, a former movie star, gave props to Pacquiao's singing and even offered to perform the song again with him.

In the end, the crowd went home happy after Pacquiao's tip of the hat to them.