The Saga of Philippine Elections
Unpacking the electoral landscape of the Philippines.
In the archipelago of over seven thousand islands, the Philippine elections unfolds like a grand, chaotic epic - replete with hope, and the weight of its history. It seems like every 3 years, the nation pauses as millions cast their ballots in a ritual that is both a feature of democracy as well as a mirror to its numerous frailties.
The 2025 general elections, held on May 12, 2025, was a significant midterm event with a record voter turnout of 82.31% from 69,673,655 registered voters. This high participation reflects strong public interest in shaping the country's political future.
To understand the elections is to understand the Philippines itself: a land of resilience, contradiction, and unyielding dreams.
HISTORY
Before the Spanish arrived in 1521, governance in the archipelago was localized, with datus and rajahs ruling through kinship and consensus. It was only during the American occupation in 1898 that the seeds of modern electoral politics were sown.
The 1935 Constitution, which was crafted under American tutelage, formalized elections as the cornerstone of governance, but it only highlighted the fact that a feudal economy could only lead to the birth of patronage politics.
Candidates wooed voters not with policies nor engaged them regarding pressing issues. Instead, they promised favors - jobs, infrastructure, protection. Ironically, the ballot became both a symbol of democracy as well as a currency of exchange.
Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship brought about by the subsequent declaration of martial law in 1972, exposed the fragility of democratic institutions. The 1986 snap election, which led to the rise of Corazon Aquino and toppled Marcos in the People Power Revolution, remains a defining moment - a testament to the Filipino’s capacity and potential to reclaim democracy through sheer will.
Yes, even today, present realities exist - dynastic rule, vote-buying, and the specter of electoral violence.
PRESENT
The 2025 elections were once again a spectacle of sound and fury. Dynasties dominated with majority of elected officials hailing from political families, their surnames etched into the national consciousness like household jargon.
Meritocracy in most cases was stifled with patronage and name recognition often trumping competence. Yet, the electorate is not entirely blameless. Vote-buying remains rampant, and in a country where 26% of the population live below the poverty line, the temptation to trade a vote for immediate gratification is a stark reflection of economic desperation.
Yet there is hope. The implications of Philippine elections ripple far beyond the counting of ballots. It is a chance to change the nation’s trajectory. Elections are the greatest equalizer where the vote of a billionaire counts only as one - similar to that of a pauper.
But the burning question remains - can elections engender a political culture that will value accountability over allegiance?