But he will have to work hard forging ties with the traditional political elite
By most accounts, Senator Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party will be the next president. At a not-so-distant second are Manuel Villar, Jr of the Nacionalista Party and former president and movie star Joseph Estrada, of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
Aquino has had a strong showing during the campaign. Like other candidates, Aquino - also known as "Noynoy" - built his political platform around good governance and leadership.
But many suspect that his being ahead of the pack has more to do with the wave of public sympathy following the death of his mother Corazon, a former president, last August.
She is held in high esteem by Filipinos who regard her as the iconic figure of the "People Power" revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos' 20 years of authoritarian rule.
"Erap" Estrada is barking up the same tree he did in 1998, billing himself as the "real leader of the poor".
But given his pathetic stint at the helm a decade ago, the president who was ousted in 2001 for corruption will need a lot more than the country's poor to bring him back to power.
But while Noynoy has been criticised for his lack of experience and free-riding on the memories of his deceased parents, the narrative that got him here today is the exact same one that many of the voters grew up with.
In this respect, it is the family feud between the Marcos and Aquino clans.
Good vs Evil may come to mind in this equation but for the sake of the people of this nation, they deserve better than politics as usual. Hard issues such as comprehensive land reform must not be sidestepped.
As the people cast their votes today, it is still unclear if the contenders represent a new kind of politics distinct from Arroyo, whose administration always came up short, especially in the areas of good governance and human rights. According to World Bank figures, the Philippines is facing rising poverty - the worst situation among Asean countries.
One alarming thought is that the future is not so bright for the next leader. If Aquino wins, he will have to work hard forging ties with the traditional political elite.
One good thing about being single and a president, Aquino said recently, is that "you don't have the attendant problems of a first lady like Imelda Marcos".
Still, if he wins, he will have to deal with Arroyo, who will remain in politics, possibly as the speaker of the House. She is currently seeking a seat in Parliament and will have at least four family members in the Lower House with her, not to mention the well-positioned political network she has put in place over the past nine years.
Because the candidates are part of the ruling elite, there is a real possibility that nothing will change much in this country that desperately needs to do so and reclaim its greatness.
People in Thailand have come to know the Philippines from its superb institutions, think tanks, civil society, free press and medical and business schools. A strong and stable Philippines is good for the region as well.
Sadly, these great institutions do not translate into great leaders. If past history is any indication, there is also the possibility of business as usual with this election. All other candidates are part of the ruling elite. Whether they will advance politics beyond the interests of family, friends and allies remains to be seen.
It has been said that Noynoy's achievements are not that inspiring. While this may be true, at least he is clean. It may not be everything but at least it is a good start.