Brother Eddie, the outsider predicting an Almighty surprise

Colourful campaign posters for congressmen, senators and presidential candidates line pavements and boulevards throughout Manila's sprawling suburbs ahead of today's general election.

'There is no point voting, they're all crooks,' said a taxi driver, pointing out a bright yellow billboard showing a smiling political hopeful giving the thumbs up, as he continued navigating his cab through the city's crowded, smog-choked streets.

Such cynicism among ordinary people is commonplace in a country seemingly paralysed by graft.

It also sets the stage for a candidate that a sector of the Philippine population believes could provide the answer to their prayers and the nation's problems: enter televangelist Eduardo Villanueva, popularly known as Brother Eddie.

When Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced Joseph Estrada as president nearly three years ago there was hope the hard-nosed technocrat would be able to lead the country to prosperity.

But, dogged by corruption, she has struggled to counter the effects of high unemployment, a loss of workers to jobs abroad, a weakening currency and one of the highest per-capita public debts in the region.

'This country is in crisis,' said Brother Eddie, who founded Jesus is Lord, the fourth largest independent church in the world, 25 years ago. 'What it needs is not a politician, it needs someone who can generate hope.'