The Wutz Up in the Philippines!

MANILA, Philippines—The ratings of former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Manny Villar are up in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on presidential candidates.

But Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is still the leading choice of Filipinos to succeed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The nationwide survey, conducted from Nov. 4 to 8, showed Aquino topping the list of three leaders vying to replace Ms Arroyo, with 59 percent of respondents choosing him.

Aquino was followed by Villar and Sen. Francis Escudero with 45 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

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The 11-day filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2010 polls drew more aspirants - from the serious to the bizarre - vying for national posts compared to the previous national elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

One presidential aspirant Rigoberto Madera Jr., for example, declared that if he gets lucky, he would move on to conquer the US, the United Nations, and eventually the world.

Another presidential hopeful, 73-year-old Manny Lopez, meanwhile, said he’s better than US President Barack Obama.

Alicman Ali, a Maranao running for vice president, said he has the ability to stop the decades-old war in Mindanao.

More established presidential candidates, meanwhile, resorted to gimmickry - from marathons to marching bands to rallies – to make the formalization of their bids noticeable.

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MANILA - Whether it’s botox injections, hair implants or a swank new wardrobe; presidential candidates have strategies for boosting their public image.

Projecting a good image during election time is very important in winning votes.

Winning the hearts and minds of voters, however, goes beyond just clothes and makeup, says image consultant Pat Castillo.

Though a candidate’s platform and stands on issues are more important than looks; factors like voice modulation, appeal, conduct in public and other visual cues can make up a candidate’s winning “package.”

“Image is everything that can be seen,” said Castillo, who is also a coach at John Robert Powers (JRP), an acting and modeling agency.

JRP offers speech, confidence-building and personality workshops for election candidates. Programs can be customized based on the recommendations of the candidates’ media handlers, chiefs of staff, or stylists.

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