Philippine elections are more than just a process—they’re a reflection of who we are as a nation. In a country where 99% of the 114-million population owns a smartphone, and 7 out of 10 use the internet via mobile phones, our digital habits have redefined the political landscape. Our collective obsession with outrage and spectacle, served up daily on our screens, has created an environment where public officials mirror our perpetual indignation and thirst for intrigue.
Leaders like Rodrigo Duterte, Raffy Tulfo, and Robin Padilla are not anomalies. They are the embodiment of our collective appetite for drama over depth. Their rise is not the fault of a select few but a reflection of a society hooked on the chaotic messiness that consistently tops pre-election surveys. We can’t stop watching the circus, and as a result, we continue to elect performers rather than problem-solvers.
Algorithms
Social media has turned personal branding into an art form, and politicians have become its masters. Just as we curate our posts for likes and comments, candidates tailor their campaigns to feed their audiences’ desires. The Dutertes, for instance, have mastered this feedback loop, validating their followers while being validated in return.
But there’s a deeper truth here: our lives are increasingly guided by algorithms that do more than reflect who we are. They shape who we become. These platforms have trained us to prioritize what gets traction online, filtering our opinions through the lens of viral content. Is it any wonder that we’ve empowered leaders who thrive on soundbites instead of solutions?
Take Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency as an example. He capitalized on our love of conflict and outrage, creating a stream of scandals that kept us hooked. Every angry share or heated debate about him became free advertising. Outrage, after all, is a powerful currency in today’s attention economy.
But in focusing on the spectacle, we neglected the quiet, unglamorous work of democracy: volunteering, engaging with local governance, and offering constructive solutions.
Literary Proficiency
Meanwhile, the state of literacy in the Philippines paints a sobering picture. While the Department of Education reports a basic literacy rate of 88.5%, pockets of illiteracy persist, with over 1 million pre-literate individuals and 6 million deemed functionally illiterate. Even among the so-called literate, many lack the critical thinking and literary skills needed to engage deeply with political discourse. This creates fertile ground for leaders who prioritize catchphrases over comprehensive policies.
As more Filipinos consume news via social media, their opinions are increasingly shaped by algorithms designed to amplify biases rather than encourage dialogue. Intellectual rigor has given way to overconfidence in half-formed opinions, creating a society that rewards surface-level engagement and punishes complexity.
Demagogues and populists thrive in this environment, further eroding respect for expertise and meaningful dialogue.
Elections And Faith In The System
Our democratic institutions are suffering—not because of any single leader but because we’ve stopped showing up for them. We’ve lost faith in the systems that bind us together, yet we expect them to function flawlessly. When these institutions falter, we throw up our hands in frustration instead of rolling up our sleeves to fix them. What’s more damning than their failures is our growing apathy toward addressing them.
Outrage won’t save us. No amount of social media grandstanding can undo the damage caused by years of neglect. Performative resistance—shouting into the void for likes and shares—rarely leads to meaningful change. The path forward requires re-engaging with our communities, not for virtual validation but because it’s the foundation of a stronger Philippines.
If we want to see real change, we need to start small but meaningful. Attend community meetings or demand their existence. Support local nonprofits. Volunteer for initiatives that strengthen the fabric of our neighborhoods. Listen to experts, contribute thoughtful perspectives, and prioritize solutions over ideology. By investing time and energy into our institutions, we can help them regain their integrity and effectiveness.
Faith in democracy is a two-way street. If we abandon our systems, they will fail us. But if we nurture them, they can thrive.
The leaders we elect next elections will reflect the work we’ve done—or the work we’ve neglected. It’s time to stop wasting energy on outrage and start channeling it into rebuilding our communities. Not for the applause, but because it’s what makes us stronger. The future of the Philippines depends on it.
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