Tips on how to make our votes count

Today is May 12th, the day of the Philippine midterm elections, so please make sure to go out and exercise your right to suffrage. Your vote matters!

As my daughter Gabbie and I drove to Baguio last month, she asked me if I already had my list of senatorial candidates. As I went over my list, I realized that I only had eight names. Interestingly, it was the same with Gabbie. She could only confidently name eight candidates who had her vote. And to think there are 66 senatorial candidates competing for just 12 coveted seats in the Philippine Senate!

Which is why I decided to compile a few tips from multiple sources on how to make our votes count. If you haven’t voted yet, please take a few minutes to read these.

Firstly, vote only for your high-conviction candidates. You do not have to vote for 12 senators on your ballot.

In fact, if you only trust four or five candidates, that’s more than enough. Here’s why:

Every name you write is a vote to help them win. If you’re unsure about someone, skip them. Don’t “accidentally” help candidates you’re only half-sure of.

Bullet voting (writing only the names you strongly support) helps those candidates rise in ranking. It’s not about quantity — it’s about focus, dedication and quality.

Skip the Top 6 to 7 survey leaders. They’re already safe. Your vote is more powerful when used to boost underdogs with proven track records who are on the edge of the Top 12 — especially those known for working quietly but effectively on education, clean audits, farmer support and good governance.

If you support four to five candidates with all your heart but then add five to six names you’re unsure of, you weaken the impact of your top choices — especially if those six are polling close to them.

Avoid voting for entertainers, dynastic placeholders and headline chasers. That’s how weak candidates sneak in — through name recall, not merit.

As Winnie Monsod so aptly put it: “Don’t vote for anyone who comes from a dynasty. Facts show that dynasties and development do not meet eye to eye. Dynasties are always anti-poverty. As for showbiz personalities, separate their persona from the roles they play.”

Remember, your vote isn’t just a list, it’s a filter. Use it wisely and block noise and elevate those who truly worked hard to uplift the lives of the majority of Filipinos.

Lastly, don’t overshade. It is OK to vote for fewer than 12 senators but if you shade 13 or more names, your vote for all those senators is invalidated.

As for party lists, we can only choose one. However, this is something I am strongly opposed to. Originally, the party list system in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was open to the underrepresented communities or groups including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural, women and youth.

However, in 2013, a Supreme Court decision clarified that the party-list system is a system of proportional representation open to various kinds of groups and parties and not an exercise exclusive to marginalized sectors. Because of this, many took advantage of this ruling and bastardized the original spirit of the party list system.

To paraphrase Christian Monsod — one of the framers of the 1987 constitution — “We overestimated the spirit of EDSA and underestimated the GREED of politicians.” That is why we saw a proliferation of party lists backed and funded by political dynasties. Take the case of the party list for security guards: their nominee is not even a security guard but a member of a political dynasty.

Initially, party lists were considered second class citizens in the House of Congress. Recently, however, party list representatives have become bolder, more powerful and more brazen, holding key and sensitive positions in various committees. Until the provision for party lists is amended or redefined, let’s be more discerning. Let’s take our cue from the conclave that gave us Pope Leo XIV a few days ago, and ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we exercise our right to vote today.

Confident and secure in his masculinity, Dennis Trillo has no qualms endorsing a product named Belle Dolls under BeauteDerm, which is founded by Rhea Anicoche-Tan.

Dennis Trillo for Belle Dolls

Switching gears to a lighter topic, last Thursday was the launch of the new brand ambassador of BeauteDerm’s Belle Dolls Zero Filter Sunscreen line, and it was none other than 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Actor Dennis Trillo. It was quite refreshing to see the talented and soft-spoken Dennis looking so confident and relaxed when he signed his contract with Rhea Anicoche-Tan, founder and CEO of BeauteDerm.

Confident and secure in his masculinity, Dennis says he had no qualms endorsing a product named “Belle Dolls,” especially since he is familiar with the effectiveness of BeauteDerm’s products. After all, his wife — the equally talented Jennylyn Mercado — has been endorsing the brand for years. Rhea recounted that it was Jennylyn who told her that Dennis is vain when it comes to his skin care.

But as Dennis pointed out, it was Jennylyn who educated him on the importance of using sunscreen to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays and the light that actors are bombarded with when they are taping or filming.

And because he and Jennylyn also enjoy riding motorcycles and going on outdoor adventures, taking care of their skin is of primal importance. “Napaka-essential ng pag-apply ng sunscreen sa mga balat namin bago gawin yung mga activities at trabaho,” he declared.

For me, getting Dennis to endorse Belle Dolls sunscreen is a smart move that will hopefully encourage more men to take better care of their skin. And who better to influence them than the handsome Dennis?

Though he turns 40-something today, he could easily pass for someone in his late 20s or mid-30s because of his well-cared for skin.

Let›s be more discerning. Let’s take our cue from the conclave that gave us Pope Leo XIV a few days ago, and ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we exercise our right to vote today.