By Prince Rodvil Pangga

The 2022 Election hype can now be felt like the hot sunny day of March. A lot of candidates are now visiting provinces to rack up supporters. The bulk of the voting populace in the next elections will be made up of young individuals. There are 65 million registered voters, including 32.7 million aged 18 to 30. 5.4 million, from the youth group, they are all voting for the first time. A huge increase from the last 2016 Presidential Election with a total of 55.7 million registered voters. The desire in involving youths in voter turnout and political engagement is crucial, not just because of the prospect of a “youth vote,” but also because of the role that youth play in the democratic process, values and nation-building. An excellent question comes to mind: How does the youth vote impact the outcome of the approaching national election? So I asked a few young individuals from various political spectra how they felt about the forthcoming election, and their reaction astonished me.

The first question was clearly, “Why do you think it’s vital for us youths to vote?” Ms. Bermudez, a Legal Management student at De La Salle Lipa responded. She stated that the younger generation is much more empowered and critical at the stage of enlightenment to understand what is really going on around them, which is why social media platforms are making sensible noise about what is righteous, and, essentially, the role of the youth is critical to the change we seek. 

In this day and age, youths can evaluate facts above subjective prejudices. However, the youth must utilize their right to vote firmly and only on the basis of the platforms, rather than the candidate’s personality. While we all have the right to our own beliefs, many individuals have a set point of view on politics. Everyone has the right to accept new knowledge, especially when provided with facts. With youth involvement, comes a direct influence on the 2022 national election. Since it promotes human rights and civic obligation as citizens, given that we live in a democratic society. Ms. Bermudez clearly underscored the significance of human rights and how it is a civic obligation as a member of this democratic society. Youth can recognize the difference between what is true and what is not, but it is also important to note that our thoughts on ensuring our future are contained inside ourselves, not merely on white paper.

The second question I posed was, “What is the difference between the previous Presidential Election in 2016 and the forthcoming Presidential Election in 2022 for us young people?” Mr. Junio, a Political Science student at UP Manila responded. In his opinion, the upcoming elections in 2022 will be more important to the youth sector than it ever has been. This will be the period when the younger generation – notably our generation – will have a larger role in choosing which candidate is most suited for the pinnacle throughout the land. Newer generations of technologies are becoming more relevant during the campaign season, and definitely up to the election period. 

The 2016 campaign era, when cellphones and social networking sites were only emerging in the Philippine market and culture, would be far from different in the approaching 2022 elections. A plethora of internet campaigns have been created for candidates of all ideologies. Malpractices arise in addition to the emergence and use of technology in campaigns. This election season will be extremely different from the 2016 elections due to the rise of misinformation and disinformation on social networking sites. Political campaigns by candidate supporters frequently use the free speech afforded by social media to disseminate false material that propels their candidate’s name to prominence. This misinformation and disinformation malpractice may lead to potential voters voting for a politician who is distant from what is depicted in misleading and deceptive internet posts. 

I would like to highly emphasize that, as members of the youth community, we should be in charge of policing this inaccurate information and preventing the spread of misleading political remarks on the internet. Mr. Junio, is correct as disinformation and revisionism have become the standard for political assaults, we must be cautious and careful about what we read and see online.

My third question came not from me, but from a college professor who frequently speaks out against the education crisis in the Philippines, and it goes like this: what principles should future educators of society learn while voting for the proper candidates? Ms. Macatangay, a Physical Education major at Laguna State Polytechnic University, was intrigued by this question. She emphasizes that we have the ability to vote for anybody we wish. She believes that the principles that every youth should acquire while picking a candidate are to be informed, ethical, and committed enough to choose the best one. When young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a sizable section of the population has little or no say or influence in choices that impact the lives of members of the group. 

Many youths have their own thoughts and interpretations of things when it comes to social media, which impacts their mental ability to choose the proper candidate. I can say that her response focuses on principles, ideals, and the protection of basic human rights must thrive, and that young people must vote wisely. In terms of mental thinking, the cause will always be what you know, and it will be difficult to change those perceptions if they are corrupted.

My last question is aimed at a current youth leader who advocates for free speech and transparency, as well as equality and growth. So, how can they, as youth leaders, continue to engage in the present election process? And this was addressed by none other than Mr. Allano, a trustworthy industrial biology student and President of the College of Sciences Student Council at the University of Santo Thomas. He noted that there are several ways for every individual to engage in what is going on around us at this time, but he feels that the most important role we have is to be aware of what is going on around us, as generations of Filipino youth have played crucial roles in critical movements that have altered social and political landscapes throughout Philippine history. This may be done in talks anytime you have the opportunity at home or when you go out and meet new people. It is critical to underline that it is easier stated than done, but we must organize and collaborate in order to realize our common objective of a brighter and better future.

Ultimately, the last election demonstrates the importance of the youth vote in determining who will win or lose. Today, an increasing number of individuals, particularly teenagers, are dissatisfied with how the government views difficulties and the inappropriate actions it takes. The question is whether the political atmosphere today has begun to shift in such a way that the election-induced politicization of younger generations can persist and develop, transforming those who voted for reform into a force for progressive change? Yes, it is possible. But only if adults act and think as mentors rather than aggressors on a regular basis, rather than just every six years. This impending election in 2022, as well as my own personal experience since 2016, clearly suggests that the younger generations are receptive to change. They do react to adult leadership and assistance when it provides optimism and empowerment, as well as specific training in the growth and execution of our fundamental liberties. Of course, it is unclear if adults will rise to the mentoring task. 

However, doing so is critical because it may assist young generations to stay actively involved in creating politics and social policies. Their continuing participation is critical if we are to tackle the societal challenges that are becoming more pressing by the day. Their enthusiasm and idealism, when channeled for change, maybe a motivating factor for young people like me and you.

I will end this with this note:

The potential for a youth vote to arise is tremendous, but so is this generation’s enthusiasm, strength, and capacity to lead change and preserve democracy. As one we must, As one we can.

Editor’s Note: Prince Rodvil Pangga is Co-Convenor of Stop Corruption Philippines Youth Movement, an adjunct group of Stop Corruption Philippines founded in 2013. He is currently taking up Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at the University of the East (UE) and looks forward to joining the diplomatic corps. He has a strong interest in solving global issues using diplomatic discourse and proper negotiations. Currently, he is undergoing his practicum at The Philippine Business and News https://www.facebook.com/thephilbiznews

As the registration for the 2022 general election commences, the ineffective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of the administration to prioritize the livelihood of our Kabaybayans are at the front of our minds. We will remember these failures at the polls. This coming election will be defined by the selection of a leader who will lead us in our recovery and, hopefully, into a new era of progress.

Of all the eligible voters that will create change with their vote, now is the time to highlight the role of the youth. Recall the last Presidential election: 18.3 million registered voters were between the ages of 18-29 or 33% of the total number of qualified voters. When considering that 16.6 million voters chose our current Commander-in-Chief, the ability of the youth to determine our future cannot be ignored.

The younger generation is nothing if not passionate; in a time where social media dominates our society, with the “millennials” and “Gen Z” leading the charge, social justice warriors are adamant to post the daily news of injustice all around the world. This could very well spell the difference during our next election. The level of social awareness is considerably higher and their ability to easily exchange ideas online will spell the difference between leading the country and licking your wounds during a recount of votes, three years later.

Though we cannot generalize the motivations of the entirety of the youth vote, they will likely determine the outcome in 2022. The former chairman of COMELEC has been cited as saying that if 75% of the youth vote chose a particular candidate, he or she would most likely become our President. Truly, the fate of our nation rests in the hands of those who can count the number of Presidents that have lived in their lifetime on one hand.

Some might be quick to say that the youth could not possibly know what they want, having had a shorter time on this earth than those of us with knee problems. But, they have grown up in the age of information. I could even argue that they are more knowledgable than a generation still trying to figure out the internet. Yes, we lived through more, but they have the potential -right at their fingertips- to see where we could go. The youth are not easily swayed by personality politics or empty promises, they easily search for substantial factors such as the candidates’ specific positions on issues. It is true that their generation does not have a monolithic experience, but they will challenge each other to dig deeper than we ever could and, hopefully, break out of the echo chambers that have held the other generations from progress.

Though we have over a year before the end of voter registration, we must act now. In 2019, our voting population grew by an additional 9 million and, earlier this year, COMELEC announced a projection of 4 million new registrants. Though the number of additional voters since our last election has, indeed, increased, there are still tens of millions of eligible voters who are predicted not to register. The next election is too important to ignore; make sure your voice is heard. Aside from registering, we must do our part to engage in discourse – remembering that civic engagement is not limited to the polls. Though our right of suffrage is, considerably, the foundation of our democracy, there is still more than can, and should, be done.

Our participation in politics does not begin, or end, in May of 2022, the youth, and indeed the entirety of the country, registered or not, is not restricted to only participating in the elections. Our ability to effect change must go beyond registering, and voting, and move towards continuously raising the discourse. Whether you are pushing the boundaries through a “tweet”, “on the gram”, or through good old-fashioned “snail mail”, voting is only one way of promoting the welfare of your fellow Filipino. Make your voice heard through your vote and on your platforms.