Story by Japheth Tobias
With only three days remaining before the 2019 Midterm Elections, the Filipino Youth need only not to vote smart on May 13, but also need to double-time in convincing fellow youngsters to participate and make wise decisions in this year’s polls. As a generation known for our cramming skills, the time to double our efforts is now.
Just recently, several results of Mock Elections held in various universities around the Philippines have caught the attention of many online, and the results speak of how much effort should we still do as young voters to ensure that the Filipino youth will maximize their capability as catalysts of change this May 13.
The Filipino Millennials and Gen Z, tagged as temperamental brats, entitled people, and toxic woke kids, are now left again with a great challenge we have to collectively face—the challenge of choosing the right people for our country. The stakes are high in the upcoming midterm elections as there is a great need for a truly independent senate that would not succumb into being a mere echo chamber of the administration. There is a necessity to have public servants who would actually vow to defend the rights of the People. We are in desperate need of people who would protect the sovereignty and democracy of our country from the forces that try to steal it from us. We are in dire need of principled senators who would genuinely serve and champion the interests of the Filipino people.
The stakes are just too high. Too high that we cannot afford to lose votes of our fellow youth with our unnecessary antagonism, condescending tones, and sometimes, toxicity. Let us face it, the woke kids of today have the tendency to sound too condescending as we try to send our messages across. Now is not the time for that antagonism, because if there's one thing we can agree on, that would be the fact that antagonism will not win our candidates . Rather, we have to give our utmost dedication in engaging our fellow youth, convincing them why we need to vote smart, and making them realize that the voice of Filipino youth is needed more than ever.
But as young people, for sure we have lots of questions running in our heads.
“Why us? Why are you putting too much pressure on the youth?”
Well, not that they put too much pressure on us, but we have to acknowledge that in every election, there is always strength in numbers. The participation of young voters is said to determine the outcomes of the upcoming 2019 elections since according to data of the Commission on Elections, 53. 2 % of the registered voters is comprised by both the Gen Z and Millennials. To put it in figures, the Gen Z and Millennials are expected to deliver around 61.8 Million votes, including the young people born in mid 90s-2000s which comprise 18 million of the registered voters, enough to make some of the favorable candidates win.
“I’m not informed so I shouldn’t vote.”
There are lots of available information about the candidates online that can help you in making a list of people you would vote for. You can check their candidates’ respective facebook pages for some of their accomplishments, platforms, and other campaign materials. Some independent and non-partisan organizations have also posted series of materials that show the track records of the candidates, including their stances in various issues.
Here’s some that you might want to check out: Candidates Info by Youth For Human Rights and Democracy (Y4HRD) Stances on Issues by Ronald Gem Celestial (@ronaldgem on twitter)
“Why would I bother voting? It’s just one vote, it won’t make a difference anyway.”
Cliché as it may sound, but one vote matters. If not for yourself, vote for the farmers and fisherfolks whose concerns are not being addressed. Offer your vote for the women and LGBTQ+ who face issues of discrimination and oppression every single day in this patriarchal society. Cast your vote for the kids whose lives are in danger once the minimum age of criminal liability is lowered. Vote for the workers, who are not only victims of contractualization, but are also left with no choice but to work under poor conditions. Go out and vote for the people. Go out and vote for the nation. Because the election has always been more than about ourselves. It has always been more than us.
Few days left before the election, and the young Filipino voters are once again burdened by great expectations. As the “Pag-asa ng Bayan” or Hope of the motherland, we, the Filipino youth, need to fulfill the meaningful responsibility of voting. In doing so, not only do we need to arm ourselves with the right information, but also with the right perspective. In the remaining days before the elections, we will choose optimism over cynicism. We will choose to get off our chairs, and face the challenge of being the Pag-asa ng Bayan.
Stay pressed, our fellow young, wise, woke kids.
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