what made noynoy aquino the leading presidential candidate on may 2010?

There is no gauarantee however that if his parents were good public servants, Noynoy would do the same. The best Noynoy can do is to show to the entire Filipino nation that he is not only a shadow of his illustrious parents but a leader of his own creation.

I will likely vote for Noynoy but I haven't made up my mind yet. But I want to be careful about making assumptions based on someone's parents. Kids don't always turn out like their parents, no matter how good an upbringing the parents tried to provide. there is much hope in Noynoy though. The reason i want to be wary of automatically someone is a specific way by virtue of their parents is that I don't want to do it on the negative side too. Like for example, are we to assume that the ampatuan children (as in those really young right now) will grow up to be warlords like their elders? Kawawa naman sila diba. We have to evaluate Noynoy as his own man.

This is from a former deputy secretary-general of the ASEAN, it might help his case: http://noypi-ako.com/noynoy-aquino-is-the-most-competent-and-credible-candidate-to-be-the-next-president-of-the-philippines/ I was never impressed nor put off by his pedigree. The sad this about him is that there are voters who would vote for him simply because of that while others won't because of precisely the same. I'm in a foreign think tank and I have had the chance to work with foreign leaders and government when it comes to policy. I've had the chance to know some of those in the inner circle of the current batch of presidential hopefuls. The most feasible and comprehensive plan of action (as it is not just a platform in his case, there is a plan of action) I've seen so far is Sen. Aquino's. At the MBC, his economic policy was lauded. At a forum on education, PACU gave his educational policy the highest marks. His policies does not promise to bring the country to rainbowed lands and golden fields. They just simply aim to make democracy work for everybody: young and old, rich and poor. No man left behind. The best leaders and those that really deliver are those best at putting together a team. Those that recognises strengths and makes use of it. If you want to know what kind of people Sen. Aquino surrounds himself with, take a look at his senatorial slate. His has got almost every aspect of governance covered: health, education, environment, economy, legislation, budget, peace process, gender equality, human rights, business, defense, employment, people empowerment, agriculture, law and order among others. It is a sad thing that voters in this country are not voting on policy. For me the real essence of democracy is to be able to have a say at how you want your country to be run for at least the next administration. But in a country where politicians can and will make promises so easily in the soapbox and break them even quicker in office, how do you know if he will stand by his policies and commitments? Look at their track records. For those who served as legislators: look at their voting records, the bills they authored and co-authored, the resolutions they have sponsored; for those who held administrative post: look at how they handled office--elective or otherwise. Did they flip-flop in their 'advocacies' and 'principles'? Character and principle first. Make sure they really do stand by their policy and commitments because, in the end, what is a platform but a useless sheet of paper if the candidate does not believe in it in the first place. And from there choose the set of policy and commitments you wish for this country. The kind of change you want to see. And then you vote. And if they win you hold them to be accountable to bring the change they promised.

You have a very valid points there which would some up Pinoy Politics as all about name recall. The more popular the candidate is, the higher the chances of the candidate to get elected into office.