Youth vote helps shape Philippine election results amid traditional politics

By Diana G. Mendoza

Manila– The Philippines saw an unprecedented shift in the country’s political environment after the May 12 midterm elections, in which candidates who did not perform well in early surveys pulled off a surprise victory.

While the shape of the election outcome is distinct, it is still occurring under a polarized setup created by the political elite, evidenced by former president Rodrigo Duterte’s reelection as mayor of Davao City despite his arrest and detention in The Hague for the killings under his drug war.

The reelection of two senators who were both critics of Duterte—Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan—was a “game changer” delivered by youth votes, according to Ana de Villa-Singson, communications director of the Catholic Church-allied poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. 

“The youth delivered the votes,” said news stories quoting Singson. “It’s a result of a combination of factors, from voices of the Gen Z and millennials being heard” to strategic ground campaigning and support for candidates not aligned with longtime political families and dynasties such as the Dutertes.

“There might probably have been a youth vote involved already. If there is, they’re a very potent force and a major force to look out for,” Singson said, adding that the election results did not surprise her.

“The youth are different because they show us their votes. You should see the votes in the schools. They are very different from the ones you see in the surveys."

A tableau of rivalries is also occurring on the part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose lineup battled it out with Vice President Sara Duterte 's allies.

Eric Alvia, secretary general of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, said both political families’ showing could be a reflection of voters’ view of the Marcos administration and their resentment of the Dutertes’ style of politics.

“Partly the weak results from the (Marcos) candidates may be a referendum on his performance; another is a clear message of support, especially in the D/E classes and the Mindanao vote from Duterte,” he said.

Davao City and Mindanao are strongholds of the 80-year-old former president and his children, Vice President Sara, Rep. Paolo and Vice Mayor Sebastian, who will take his place in his absence.

The next Congress will seat the warring Marcos-Duterte allies and the progressives who will call out for better health, education and employment policies and more radical approaches to regional issues such as Chinese territorial intrusion on Philippine waters.

Across provinces, cities and towns, new faces beat their rivals who have been holding the same posts for decades.

This result provides a fresh image of what might happen next in this country, with a population of 115 million, facing a crisis in youth education, affordable and accessible health services and the economy.

But one thing that dominated the election outcome was the hope provided by the young population, who rejected traditional, money-based patronage politics and political dynasties.

Jules Marcelo, a 68-year-old voter accompanied by his Gen Z grandson voter to the polling precinct, said he asked for the youngster’s voting choices and made them his own.

“My grandson helped me shade the names of his choice candidates on the ballot,” he said. “He is an intelligent young citizen who, I believe, is already fed up with the political dynamics that he and his friends see every day.”

“I voted for his choices because this is no longer my generation’s future. It is theirs now,” he said.

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