This is actually a linguistic feature unique to Philippine languages. The problem with using "before" is you will exclude the mentioned person (Benigno Simeon Aquino) from the count. On the other hand "ikapila" should include the mentioned person in the count. That would create inconsistent answers.

Does PNoy mean Benigno Simeon Aquino III?

I wonder if the indirect German translation is correct?

Der wievielte Präsident der Philippinen ist Pnoy?

https://tatoeba.org/eng/sentences/show/4668694

1)
PNoy means Benigno Aquino III

2)
I translated from Cebuano(4662409) directly into German(4668694), because I use English only subordinated.
According to the comment of Josefwintzent, "ikapila" includes the mentioned person in the count and it is the same in German: "wievielte".

4662409 Ikapilang presidente sa Pilipinas si PNoy?

4662412 How many Philippine presidents were there until Benigno Simeon Aquino III?
4667443 Manon a presidente ti Filipinas ti nagtakem sakbay ni Benigno Simeon Aquino III
4667448 Ilan nang pangulo ng Pilipinas ang nanungkulan bago si Benigno Simeon Aquino III?
4668694 Der wievielte Präsident der Philippinen ist Pnoy?

The Tagalog translation "Ilan nang pangulo ng Pilipinas ang nanungkulan BAGO si Benigno Simeon Aquino III?" would translate to "How many Philippine presidents were there BEFORE Benigno Simeon Aquino III?" and NOT "How many Philippine presidents were there UNTIL Benigno Simeon Aquino III?" :)

The Tagalog translation of "How many Philippine presidents were there UNTIL Benigno Simeon Aquino III?" could be "Ilan nang pangulo ng Pilipinas ang mayroon hanggang kay Benigno Simeon Aquino III?" which I find kind of awkward because I used "nanungkulan" ("have served"), so I used "bago" or "before".