PH Midterm Poll Results: There’s Hope for Good Governance
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Senior citizens vote at the Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City (Photo by Ben Briones | PNA)
Dark horse reformist senatorial candidates Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, both outside the magic circle of 12 seats according to pre-election surveys, emerged as top placers instead; numbers 2 and 5, respectively.
Returning Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (Source: Inquirer.net)
Also a pleasant surprise, democratic socialist Akbayan Citizens Action Party, after anemic showings in past elections, topped the party-list vote at 2.6 million, the highest yet in the history of the party-list system. (Disclosure: The author is a national officer of Akbayan.)
Still, the senatorial winners include both Marcos administration candidates and Duterte stalwarts, and Duterte Youth is the Number 2 party-list winner. This shows that the appeal of strong-arm populist rule persists among a large portion of the electorate.
It’s a consolation, however, that voters rejected washed-up movie actors and celebrities who were relying on winning Senate posts as lucrative retirement alternatives. A more discerning portion of the electorate is rising, perhaps.
Judging by the exuberance of the youthful campaigns for KikoBam and Akbayan, their energy was a carry-over of the reforming spirit of the “pink” movement
What makes the glass half-full and promising? The Aquino, Pangilinan, Akbayan victories reflect the voices of Filipinos starving for a modern democratic state that truly governs for the public interest.
Congress will now have Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan; Akbayan Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendana, Dadah Ismulah, Mamamayang Liberal’s ex-Sen. Leila de Lima; and Dinagat Rep. (and Akbayan leader) Kaka-Bag-ao, making up a social-reforming, anti-corruption progressive bloc in the Legislature.
Opposition lawmakers Senator Risa Hontiveros, Congressman Jose “Chel” Diokno, Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino, Congresswoman Leila De Lima, and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (Source: Rappler)
At a glance, their victories were propelled by the youth, many apparently new voters. Judging by the exuberance of the youthful campaigns for KikoBam and Akbayan, their energy was a carry-over of the reforming spirit of the “pink” movement awakened by the past Leni Robredo presidential campaign.
Perhaps we’re witnessing the start of a shift in Philippine political culture, a hopeful beginning for good governance and social change.
