With the elections over, time to get the country back on track

Democracy was in full display during the May 12 elections that saw more than 55 million Filipinos exercising their right to vote. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that the 81.65 percent turnout (out of the 68.4 million registered voters) was the highest ever recorded for a midterm poll exercise, where the participation rate is usually 63 to 65 percent. During the 2019 midterm elections, the voter turnout was around 70 percent.

According to reports, millennials (those born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s) and those belonging to Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) made up over 60 percent of the voting population. On the other hand, Generation X accounted for more than 22 percent, while the Baby Boomers or those aged 60 and above constituted 17 percent of the registered voters. Along with PWDs (persons with disability) and those belonging to the vulnerable sector, the seniors trooped to the polling precincts as early as five in the morning to cast their votes.

A reader emailed me that while there were still issues such as vote buying, incidents of violence and technical glitches (like paper jams and ink smudging), the outcome of the elections – where no party dominated, particularly in the Senate race – belies the claims of those who were so ready to accuse the poll body and the administration of cheating. The choices also reflect growing maturity among the Filipino electorate, the email sender noted.

The incoming batch of senators is composed of some “balikbayans” and reelectionists, while a number of them are newbies. While some analysts interpret the result of the senatorial race as proof of further polarization among Filipinos, what’s important is that they reflect the choices of the majority of voters who believe the comebackers and reelectionists have proven themselves to be effective, while the new ones that the voters elected are perceived to have a strong connection with the people.

Many agree with Senate President Chiz Escudero (who cautioned against characterizing the elections as a showdown between the President and the Vice President) that the ultimate winners are the nation, the people and democracy. Although people may disagree and fight over certain issues, we have proven that Filipinos can carry out peaceful elections where the voice of the people is heard, Chiz said.

In his statement, President Marcos called on newly elected officials to “move forward together – with open minds and a common purpose.”

“Governance is a shared responsibility, a mission that requires unity and burden sharing for the common good,” the President highlighted.

“If we are to prevail, we must prevail as Filipinos – for it is the only way to endure. If we are to attain our goals, we must march forward, not to the past but to the future… And we must do this as one family, a nation united,” the President said, emphasizing that public service goes beyond elections and that the work of nation-building needs all who are ready to serve.

For the President, the bottom line is that he is willing to work with anyone regardless of political color or affiliation. And with the midterm elections now over, the only colors people should be thinking about are the red, white and blue of our national flag as we all rally behind it – because there are so many challenges that the country is facing not only internally but externally. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to know that the country has suffered so much because of the unending political division among Filipinos, which is why it is time to get the country back on track.

As I have been telling the members of the Filipino-American community and those who have migrated or are planning to migrate, everyone should work together to make sure that the Philippines remains a free and democratic nation. “Just love the country even 20 percent” is what I always say. After all, it’s still home to many even if they have lived abroad most of their life or have already settled in another country.

Actually, we have seen a surge in the number of dual citizenship applications at the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC. In 2024, the embassy approved a record high 3,235 dual citizenship applications, which shows a growing interest among Filipinos to maintain strong ties to their national heritage even as they embrace their US citizenship. The embassy also started the year with a historic moment when a 100-year-old woman became the first dual citizen this 2025, while last March, 35 women reacquired their US citizenship in time for the celebration of the National Women’s Month.

Many young Filipino-Americans who were born in the United States are also very eager to visit the Philippines and get to know more about their roots and at the same time, experience Filipino culture. This is the reason why we have launched the VIP Next-Gen initiative – a new iteration of the annual Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour that gives Filipino-Americans and foreigners an opportunity to visit various tourist destinations in the Philippines and experience Filipino culture and hospitality.

The VIP Tour highlights the soul of the Philippines and allows our citizens to reconnect with their family and celebrate the ties that bind. Filipinos all over the world have such a remarkable reputation for being the most hospitable, hardworking individuals with such a pleasant personality. This was the description given to us by one leading diplomat here in Washington. I therefore see no reason why this asset cannot be translated into something good for the country.

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