Two opposition leaders bested 11 of others as the “best leaders to succeed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2010″, findings of a third-quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Sen. Noynoy Aquino, who was the preferred choice of 60% out of 1,800 respondents nationwide, did even better than in previous surveys by other pollsters. Sen. Manny Villar  improved his rating but was still a far second.

Sen. Noynoy Aquino, after the final proclamation last Sept. 9, 2009 of running as president suddenly boast its ranking. People of the Philippines do love his father and mother so much! After the death of his mother “Cory Aquino”, he and his family decided noynoy to run as president because it is what people want after all.

Sen. Noynoy Aquino was consistently the preferred choice of over half of respondents in many surveys taken since early of September, even before he had officially signaled his intent to run for higher office on September 9. But the SWS survey was the first that had Aquino break the 60% preference mark.

The said survey was conducted last sep. 18-21 via face to face interviews with 1,800 adults nationwide, showed Sen. Noynoy AQuino, standard bearer of the liberal party, as the choice of 60% of the respondents, even as he was not included in previous surveys in this issue.

The second most preferred successor was Sen. Manuel B. Villar, Jr., who led in the last survey. Mr. Villar got 37%, up three points from the 33% he got in the June survey. Villar is very happy for the improvement of his ranking.

Lists are shown as follows according to SWS survery:

• Sen. Noynoy Aquino 60%
• Sen. Manny Villar 37%
• former Pres. Joseph “Erap” E. Estrada 18%
• Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero 15%
• Sen. Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas II 12%
• Vice-president Manuel “Noli” L. de Castro Jr. 8%
• Sen. Loren B. Legarda 5%
• Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. 4%
• Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson 2%
• Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay 2%
• Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani F. Fernando 1%
• Jesus Is Lord Movement leader Bro. Eduardo “Eddie” C. Villanueva 1%

Respondents were asked in Filipino: “Under the present Constitution, the term of President Arroyo is up to 2010 only, and there will be an election for a new President in May 2010. Who do you think are good leaders who should succeed Pres. Arroyo as President? You may give up to three names.” No list of names was provided to prompt the respondents.

Six percent could not give an answer, while 4% had no one to recommend.

Who will be the next president of the Philippines? Open your heart and mind and vote for the change of the country! If you are going to ask me who I want to vote, I would love to asnwer it with a proudness! It’s Sen. Noynoy Aquino!