CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Administration coalition Team PNoy heads to northern Mindanao on week 3 of the campaign period.

They stop at Misamis Oriental before heading to Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.

Based on the 2010 votes, it’s opposition country.

But the results of the latest SWS survey are welcome news to President Aquino’s candidates.

Natashya Gutierrez files this video blog:

Spirits are high here among Team PNoy as the most recent results of the Social Weather stations Survey reveals 9 members of the coalition are in the Magic 12.

Presidential cousin and social entrepreneur Bam Aquino is the biggest winner, rising 8 percentage points and cracking the magic 12 for the first time.

From rank 15 in January, Aquino is now 9-10, something he says he is grateful for. He attributes the rise to his volunteers and the higher attention voters are giving to the track record of candidates.

Consistent top ranker Loren Legarda says she will continue pushing for her advocacies, and vowed to help other Team PNoy bets who have yet to make the top 12 including former senators Jun Magsaysay and Jamby Madrigal, and former Akbayan rep Risa Hontiveros.

Magsaysay, who has not moved in rankings and remains at 16, says he is not discouraged by his failure to rise. He says he will work more to reach out towards the youth.

The survey results are welcome, especially on the day the coalition visits Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro, both of which voted for former president Joseph Estrada and vice president Jejomar Binay in 2010. Both are stalwarts of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

But the crowd here shows little sign of the 2010 trend. Thousands of CDO supporters have come out to see the coalition, enthusiastic, energetic and decked in yellow.

Bets consider the survey and the crowd as a good sign — they say voters now understand what Aquino can do, something they hope will translate to votes for the coalition.

Natashya gutierrez, Rappler Cagayan de Oro. – Rappler.com

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