Although dismissed as young and inexperienced, Philippine presidential candidate Benigno “;Nonoy”; Aquino III is the best person to reform a corrupt and scandal-plagued government, some Filipino community leaders in Hawaii insist.

“;I think people are looking for a change,”; said Geminiano “;Toy”; Arre Jr., president of the Filipino Community Center in Hawaii. “;I think people are sick and tired of reading in the paper about people in high government doing nothing but enriching themselves.”;

The son of the late democracy activist Benigno “;Ninoy”; Aquino Jr. and former Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who died last year, Aquino is leading in the race to become the 15th president of the Philippines.

The continued reverence for his late parents works in his favor, Arre said.

“;He wants to be more transparent than this past administration,”; he said. “;People have the perception that he will do well in terms of running an honest government, looking after the needs of the people first.”;

Belinda Aquino, professor emeritus of the School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said, “;He has no baggage yet in terms of corruption and all this wheeling and dealing. He's an old name but a new face.”;

“;He's a decent fellow,”; added Aquino, former director of the UH Center for Philippine Studies. She is not related to the candidate.

Raymund Liongson, assistant professor of Philippine studies at Leeward Community College, said, “;I'm extremely happy that the results are turning out that way. He seems to be the candidate who could provide a good chance for the Philippines to recover politically and economically.”;

The Marcos family continues to maintain a political presence with former first lady Imelda Marcos, 80, vying for a congressional seat to represent a district in Ilocos Norte. Her son, Ferdinand “;Bongbong”; Marcos Jr., is faring well in the race for one of 12 seats in the Philippine Senate, while his sister Imee is running for governor of Ilocos Norte.

“;It's really outrageous, if you ask me,”; said Aquino, adding that the dictatorship of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is fading in people's memories. Members of younger generations are largely unaware of his dictatorship, when thousands were tortured or executed, she said.

With their fame and wealth, the Marcos family has maintained loyalty and power.

“;There will be a layer of people who will go with them, right or wrong,”; she added.

World boxing champion Manny “;Pacman”; Pacquiao is leading in the congressional race to represent the Sarangani province of Mindanao, but some say he should stick to the ring. This is Pacquiao's second run for Congress after he lost in 2007.

While he has brought honor to his country through the sport of boxing, there are ways other than politics to help the community, said Aquino. “;What does he know about policymaking in Congress?”; she asked.