You can feel it in the air, even if no one says it out loud. The world is tilting, and tension is building between countries that no longer trust each other. The US and China—two giants locked in a stare-down—are turning tariffs into weapons. Everyone knows what comes next: slower global growth, just when the world is finally getting back on its feet after the pandemic.
And we Filipinos are standing in the middle, pretending we won’t get caught in the fallout. But we will. We always do.
Then there’s the West Philippine Sea. Ships, warnings, lines drawn and crossed. This isn’t just about territory—it’s about control. Control over strategic waters where a third of global trade flows. And it’s about whether our leaders know how to stand firm without lighting a match to the region.
At home, the economy is still struggling. Growth is not fast or inclusive enough to create jobs that make people think twice before leaving the country. The kind of jobs that last. Investors are cautious—and who can blame them? A rash of kidnap-for-ransom cases, political noise that refuses to die down, and a regulatory environment that shifts with every election. Would you risk your money on a system that resets every three years?
That is why this election matters. Electing qualified legislators—those who understand trade, diplomacy, and economics—is not a luxury. It is basic survival. We need lawmakers who read the fine print and plan three steps ahead. Not those who just know how to win a jingle or dance contest.
But we forget. We fall for famous names and cheap gimmicks. Who’s handing out jackets? Who has the most viral campaign video? Who tells the dirtiest jokes? Who could shed tears the quickest?
We treat the vote like a favor, not a duty. Kilala ko ’yan! Iboboto ko ‘yan!
This time has to be different. We are not just choosing lawmakers—we are choosing how our country faces an uncertain world.
We cannot afford to get it wrong, but maybe that is just a wolf’s cry to the moon—desperate, futile, and unheard.
