MANILA, Philippines -- Aspiring presidential candidates in 2010 should learn a lesson from losing US presidential candidate John McCain: learn to accept defeat immediately.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said whoever intends to run for the country's top post must also be ready to accept defeat as part of the ideals of democracy.

"That's democracy, the real democracy. Hindi kasi dapat kayo nag-aaway for power [You should not be fighting for power]. Democracy recognizes the sovereignty of the people...if you're convinced people have spoken, magconcede ka na. Dito sa atin hindi eh, sasabihin niya dinaya siya [you should concede. Here, that is not the case, a candidate will claim he was cheated]," Casiple told reporters Wednesday, after mock elections sponsored by the US embassy.

At the same time, potential candidates must also learn from the campaign strategy of US president-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American elected to the position.

He said Obama was "straightforward" and waged an "issue-based campaign."

"Reach out to people but don't make false promises. Make the system work. The problem in our country is they [politicians] want the system to work for them [which is not] the core of democratic ideals," Casiple said.

But while Casiple said Obama's historic win deserves to be celebrated, he fears call-center jobs in the Philippines might start to dwindle.

Casiple said since Obama would be pressured to produce more jobs, his policies could lead to more "in-house” jobs instead of promoting outsourcing.