By Mark Vincent A. Durano

Opposition-backed former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino emerged as the most preferred senatorial candidates in the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE) by Far Eastern University students, according to a mock election survey by voter advocacy organization TAMang Boto.

Pangilinan led with 571 votes, while Aquino followed with 567 votes. Former Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza ranked third with 511 votes.

Partido Lakas Masa duo labor leaders Luke Espiritu and Leody De Guzman ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Five out of 11 Makabayan Coalition senatorial bets entered the Tamaraws’ ‘Magic 12.’ Peasant leader Danilo Ramos led as sixth, former BAYAN Rep. Teddy Casiño as seventh, Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas as eighth, ACT-Teachers Partylist Rep. Teacher France Castro as 10th, and fisherfolk leader Ronnel Arambulo as 11th.

Meanwhile, labor leader Sonny Matula and animal welfare advocate Norman Marquez also topped the polls, ranking ninth and 12th, respectively.

For the party-list survey, the Chel Diokno-led Akbayan Partylist topped with 306 votes.

Other party-lists that also obtained at least two percent of the total votes include ML Partylist and the current constituents of the Makabayan bloc in the 19th Congress: Kabataan Partylist, GABRIELA, and ACT-Teachers.

Notably, 57 students answered undecided for their party-list, while seven abstained.

The poll, open from February 24 to March 19, garnered 609 respondents.

FEU Advocate is also currently conducting its own mock election survey for the 2025 NLE.

The midterm elections will take place on May 12, with an expected turnout of at least 68 million Filipino voters.

(Photos courtesy of TAMang Boto)