Otso Diretso candidates downplay latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey, remain hopeful as their awareness levels are increasing. pic.twitter.com/LkmvayIppY

— Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) April 11, 2019

KALIBO, Aklan -- Opposition candidates from the Otso Diretso slate remained hopeful of winning seats in the Senate in May's midterm polls, despite their dismal performance in a voter preference survey.

Only 2 opposition bets, re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, were among 16 candidates with a "statistical chance of winning," according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

• Mar slips in Pulse Asia survey; 2 more Hugpong bets in 'Magic 12'

“Masaya po kami sa survey, it’s just what we expected, every week umaakyat po kami,” Otso Diretso's Samira Gutoc told reporters here.

(We are happy with the survey... we are rising.)

“Marami pang puwedeng mangyari sa susunod na araw dahil inaasahan namin na sa pagtatapos nito ay magtatagumpay din kami,” said human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.

(A lot can still happen in the next days because we expect that in the end, we will triumph.)

The slate will continue campaigning in communities like the El Niño-stricken areas in Iloilo that they visited on Wednesday, said Senate hopeful Erin Tañada.

“Kailangan sipag pa rin dahil ang reaction naman kapag kami ay bumababa, tinatanggap po kaming mga Otso Diretso,” he said.

(We need to persevere because the reaction when we go down, the Otso Diretso is being well received.)

Senior citizen advocate Romy Macalintal, meanwhile, said his survey performance does not personally disappoint him, but he admitted to being sad for the sectors he hoped to represent.

“Ang ikinalulungkot ko d'yan ay sino na ang magtatanggol sa senior citizens at persons with disability? Sino na ang magtatanggol sa ating pananampalataya?” he said.

(What makes me sad there is who will defend senior citizens and persons with disability? Who will defend our faith?)

Former Solicitor General Pilo Hilbay, for his part, said more voters were "aware" of him and his preference rating has doubled, based on the latest survey.

RISING RATINGS FOR DUTERTE

The slate also shrugged off a rise in President Rodrigo Duterte's trust ratings in the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

“The high trust rating does not reflect that they (voters) don't want independent senators,” Gutoc said.

The President's trust score is separate from the public's stand on issues like killings, charter change and the West Philippine Sea, said Hilbay.

“Matalino ang mga Pilipino, kaya nilang ipaghiwalay ang kanilang tiwala sa Pangulo sa taya nila sa mga isyu. Kami naman ang taya ng Otso Diretso na issue based ang aming kampanya hindi base sa personality,” he said.

(Filipinos are intelligent. They can separate their trust on the President from their take on issues. Otso Diretso's campaign is based on issues, not personality.)

The slate visited Aklan with Vice President Leni Robredo.

LOOK: Otso Diretso candidates campaign in Altavas, Aklan where a bust of Gen. Ananias Diokno, who fought the Americans and grandfather of Chel Diokno, is located. pic.twitter.com/e6QzSZIAdN

— Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) April 11, 2019

LOOK: VP Leni Robredo with Otso Diretso candidates in Kalibo at the Ahon Laylayan Koalisyon launch in Aklan. pic.twitter.com/xwSpQsDn9o

— Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) April 11, 2019