MANILA, Philippines - Candidates have a few things to learn from senatorial candidate Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros Baraquel in winning political debates and getting on the good side of voters after she topped the ABS-CBN Harapan debate on Sunday.

Hontiveros won overwhelmingly in the online voting and the audience feedback tool called Wireless Audience Response System (WARS). She bested 11 other senatorial candidates who participated in ABS-CBN’s Harapan: Mga Isyu ng Bayan, a senatorial debate aired Sunday night over ABS-CBN Channel 2 and the ABS-CBN News Channel. (Click here for results.)

It's always good to know a lot about the subject matter in intellectual exchanges such as debates, but looking fresh and showing up in outfits that leave an impact help, too.

Campaign strategist Marilou Tiquia said Hontiveros’s performance showed that good looks and a calm voice also help.

The Akbayan party-list representative wore a bright yellow sleeveless dress, red shawl, and make-up that was right for TV. “Mukhang artistahin,” Tiquia said. “Malumanay, maayos mag-explain, at maganda ang projection."

A veteran broadcast journalist, who declined to be named, said Hontiveros "was calm but convincing, not to mention stunning that night with her fashion statement and regal bearing." She also "addressed the audience or her rival directly, or faced the camera and always had a smile!"

Similar feedback from netizens

Many who watched the debate had these to say about Hontiveros on social networking sites.

"Ganda ni ma'am risa," said Miguel Mercado on Facebook.

"Very articulate and intelligent," said Mich Enriquez, also on Facebook.

"Ganda ni risa hontiveros hehe. graceful pa mag deliver for sure mananalo to sa senate hehe," commented Ampkel on Twitter.

"In fairness ganda ng boses ni risa hontiveros," said Riannacamille.

Right words, diplomacy

A co-author of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, Hontiveros debated with former Marcos information minister and Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad.

Tatad is a member of the Catholic Church group Opus Dei, which is strongly opposed the bill on the ground that it promotes abortion.

Tiquia said Hontiveros succeeded in owning the issue. “She knew the right words to say without sounding like a politician."

“She projected herself differently from her posture as a congresswoman. In debates in the House of Representatives. Dati yan pag nanggi-gigil sya, nanlalaki mga mata nya. Last night, hindi. Malumanay sya kahit iniinis sya ni Tatad," Tiquia said.

"Diplomacy balanced with honesty and consistency in views seemed to me the effective formula for debate that night," said the broadcast journalist.

"I think it's easier to relate to someone like that who can bring the issue to the basics without making the issue seem above and beyond all of us. Even choice of words and how they say it, I think, can say so much about politicians, not just about their policies but where their heart and mind really lie. And people always relate to that," the journalist said.

Not coached

Tiquia said it seemed that Hontiveros was coached well, but a laughing Hontiveros denied getting help for the debate.

Hontiveros was the only senatorial candidate who got a rating of least 80% “truthfulness” in both the Wireless Audience Response System (WARS) and the online poll.

Hontiveros got an average rating of 85% in the WARS, a technology that allows the audience to vote if they believed the answer of the candidates. The debate had 2 rounds.

Tatad’s trust rating was an average of 39%.

Hontiveros also got a rating of 82% in the online poll, which allowed netizens to participate. She had the highest rating among the senatorial candidates who participated.

She ranked second in the SMS poll. She got 16.8% of the votes, next only to senatorial candidate Adel Tamano’s 18%.

Tamano, also a good-looking senatorial candidate, fared well in the WARS with an average of 88% in the two rounds. He topped the online poll with 18%. However, he didn’t do so well in the online poll with 68%.

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said her high ratings prove that the public is in favor of the reproductive health (RH) bill.

“Ibig sabihin, alam ng mga manonood na naging tapat ako habang isinusulong ko ang kontrobersyal na RH bill. At gusto nila nang ganitong ugali sa Senado para sa mga kinakailangang polisiya. Gusto nila ng pagbabago, hindi lamang sa Malacañang kung hindi sa Senate rin. Masayang masaya ako,” she told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak