LUBAO, Philippines - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo ignored a rebuke by the influential Roman Catholic church and the fury of her opponents Tuesday as she launched her campaign to become a member of parliament.

The 62-year-old registered her candidacy for a seat in the House of Representatives, an unprecedented move her critics charge is aimed at trying to hold on to power by changing the constitution and becoming prime minister.

Arroyo was blessed and sprinkled with holy water during mass at the farming town of Lubao's old Saint Augustine church in her home province of Pampanga, as her supporters gathered outside.

She later told about 5,000 supporters during a political rally at the church courtyard that she was not ready to move out of politics next year when the constitution required her to step down as president.

"So I have decided to respond affirmatively to your call," she said to cheers and chants of her initials "GMA".

"We have gone too far and too much is at stake now for us to waver in my commitment to the nation."

Arroyo, who became president in 2001 after Joseph Estrada was ousted in a bloodless coup, then motored with her husband to an election office in nearby San Fernando city to formally register her candidacy.

Arroyo's move drew immediate condemnation from her many critics, including the church leadership, who believe she plans to introduce changes in the constitution and move the country from a presidential to parliamentary system.

The church and her political opponents allege that she would use her position in parliament to seek to become the Philippines' first prime minister, with the president relegated to a ceremonial role.

Estrada, who is seeking a second term as president in the May elections, reacted immediately on Monday after Arroyo announced her intentions by describing the move as a "brazen attempt to stay in power forever".

Signalling a clear break from the self-proclaimed devout Catholic president, bishops called Tuesday on Arroyo to quit the race and retire.

"I wholeheartedly suggest she gives others a chance to serve and not give in to temptation of power," Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said in a statement.

Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, also a member of the conference, said Arroyo's congressional bid was "motivated by political survival".

"She manifests addiction to power, exhibits lack of propriety and remains fixated to have (charter change) once elected as soon as possible, to target the office of Prime Minister," Cruz charged.

The Philippines is Asia's bastion of Catholicism, with over 80 percent of the 92-million population following the religion.

The church's stand on various issues often shapes public opinion in politics.

It has rallied its flock to help oust two presidents - dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and graft-tainted Joseph Estrada in 2001.

Despite Arroyo's claim to be responding to the clamour of Filipinos, her decision comes amid surveys saying she is the most unpopular president since Marcos.

Fifty-one percent of Filipinos do not approve of Arroyo's performance as president and 52 percent have little or no trust in her, according to the latest survey by polling and research company PulseAsia released last week.

Her drop in ratings is partly due to unproven allegations of corruption and accusations that she stole the 2004 presidential election.

However, Arroyo's local church in the hometown of her father, the late president Diosdado Macapagal, let it be known to its parishioners that it fully backed her bid to remain in politics.

At the end of morning mass the president went up the altar and was sprinkled with holy water as the 30 priests who celebrated the mass put their outstretched palms above her head.