DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – “It’s not important how you came into this world. What’s important is what you did with your life.” With these words, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas shed the signature yellow -t-shirt of the Liberal Party and donned a Batman suit.

Roxas’ statement came during last night’s third and final Philippine presidential debate after  fellow candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago questioned him about being elitist.

Roxas’ new image is a last-ditch attempt to appeal to Filipino voters who will troop to the polls on May 9 to elect their next president.

Since the start of the presidential campaign period, Roxas has been trailing behind revials Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The Roxas campaign has acknowledged that the party’s “Daang Matuwid” message has not resonated among Filipino voters who have been clamoring for a radical change in their economic life and personal security as well as an end to continued government corruption.

By portraying himself as a superhero out to save the Philippines from “the gates of hell,” Roxas hopes to play catch up with the frontrunners in the presidential race. President Aquino’s ‘anointed one’ says that in the remaining days of the campaign, he will focus on earning the trust and support of the country’s young voters and comic book fans.