File photo show Filipino boxing hero and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao waving to supporters as he started his campaign for a seat in congress in Sarangani province in Mindanao. (AFP)

MANILA, May 2, 2010 (AFP) - The world's best boxer, a woman with 3,000 pairs of shoes, military rebels and an alleged mass murderer are among the characters contesting more than 17,000 positions in the May 10 Philippine elections.

Here is a list of 10 of the most interesting personalities:

BENIGNO AQUINO, III., 50. The balding, chain-smoking, bachelor son of the late democracy heroine Corazon Aquino is set to win the presidential contest by a landslide, according to opinion polls.

MANUEL VILLAR, 60. Self-made property developer millionaire who is one of Aquino's main rivals. But his popularity ratings have plunged in recent weeks amid allegations he used his posts in parliament to enrich himself.

GLORIA ARROYO, 63. The president for the past nine years is controversially seeking a seat in the House of Representatives in what her critics allege is part of a bid to eventually return to power as prime minister.

IMELDA MARCOS, 80. The ex-first lady left 3,000 pairs of shoes when she fled Malacanang palace during a popular revolt that toppled her husband, Ferdinand Marcos. She is standing for a Lower House seat partly to win redemption for her late husband.

JUAN PONCE ENRILE, 86. The wily survivor wants to return as president of the Senate after a long career that saw him outlast his former bosses-turned-foes Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino.

ANDAL AMPATUAN, SR., 65. Head of a powerful Muslim clan, he is running for vice governor of Maguindanao province while in jail with his sons awaiting trial for the murders of 57 people in an election-linked massacre last year.

MAR ROXAS, 53. The grandson of a former president curbed his own ambition in favour of Benigno Aquino. He now leads the polls in the race for the vice presidency.

MANNY PACQUIAO, 31. The seven-time world boxing champion is seeking a Lower House seat three years after being knocked out in a similar attempt.

ALFREDO LIM, 80. The ex-police chief hopes to keep his post as Manila mayor. Known as "Dirty Harry," he gained fame by closing down red-light districts in the 1990s and shaming suspected drug dealers by spray-painting their homes.

DANILO LIM, 54. A decorated hero in the campaign against long-running communist and Muslim insurgencies, the army general is seeking a Senate seat while in jail and being tried for allegedly leading two failed coups.