The latest government statistics show a similar positive trend in poverty levels. From mid-2012 to mid-2013 the poverty rate fell from 27.9 per cent in the first semester of 2012 to 24.9 per cent in the first semester 2013." However, Filipinos' perception of themselves as poor continues to remain stubbornly high despite three years of above average real GDP growth and government poverty statistics. According to the Social Weather Stations' quarterly polling on self-rated poverty, over half of Filipinos rated themselves as poor (mahirap), with this already high percentage inching up over the term of President Aquino.