The Midterm election is practically 3 weeks away, and it’s high time to finalize the list of the Senators to vote for 2025. I will include the Party list, too, because as an overseas absentee voter, I can also vote for a Party list. Overseas voters cannot vote for any local positions. The Midterm election does not include elections for the President and Vice President. But the result could either strengthen or weaken the reigning political party so it is an important test of political power.
Why am I listing down my Senators?
This is the first time I am making a list of the senators to vote for 2025. I didn’t find it necessary before. My vote was my personal preference. This time though, I have an 18-year-old son who’s going to vote for the first time in his life. Though he hasn’t lived in the Philippines save for that one year when we stayed in Iloilo, he is still a Filipino with all the rights of one. He can vote! And he will vote. He went on his own to the Philippine Embassy here in Jakarta on the last day of registration for overseas voting.
My son is not familiar with Philippine politics either. He is a third-culture kid whose worldview is shaped by his own unique environment. But as a parent, I can guide him through my recommendations. And this is a role I take seriously because my choices will reflect my values and my own views of Philippine politics and personalities. I want my son to choose wisely, so I will lead by example.
My list will not just include the names of candidates I will vote for. I will back it up with my reasons why I will give my precious vote to a candidate. This way, he gets to decide whether the reasons I have for voting coincide with his own set of standards, too. And he will hopefully see the seriousness of an election.
I hope those of you who will take the time to read will also be able to see why we should take our right to vote seriously. This is an exercise where we need to focus on qualifications, leadership, capability, and expertise. I know you wouldn’t want to be led by someone less capable than yourself, right? We want to be led by people we respect and whose knowledge we admire and believe in.
Work of a Senator
Let’s start with the duties of a Senator so we know what to look for from each candidate. To be more precise, here are the powers and responsibilities of a Senator: (source)
- Create bills, resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions
- Debate measures in respective committees and during plenary sessions
- Conduct inquiries in aid of legislation
- Propose or concur with amendments in the appropriation of funds by the House of Representatives
- Try and decide cases of impeachment
- Declare the existence of a state of war (two-thirds vote along with the House, voting separately)
- Authorize the president to exercise powers to carry out a declared national policy “for a limited period and subject to restrictions” in times of war or other national emergency
- Revoke or extend the president’s proclamation of martial law
- Concur with or reject amnesty by the president
- Concur with or reject treaties or international agreements (two-thirds vote)
- Propose amendments to the Constitution through a constituent assembly or constitutional convention
- Make full disclosure of financial and business interests, and notify the chamber of possible conflicts of interest when filing legislation of which they are authors
Nowhere in the responsibilities does it say they are there to dance and sing so we are entertained. The weight of a Senator’s responsibility requires a lot of intelligence and knowledge of the law. This is the legislative department, so we should put people who have the necessary qualifications so they can perform their duties very well.
With these guidelines, here are the candidates that I will vote for this May 2025.
Senators to Vote for 2025
Heidi Mendoza. She is an advocate for good governance. Her track record at the Commission of Audit shows her fearless stance on Accountability. Accountability is what the current officials lack! She also served as the Undersecretary-General for the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services from 2015-2019 strengthening her expertise on government funds accountability.
Kiko Pangilinan. Pangilinan has always been consistent with his support for agriculture and food security. He is a working senator who has passed laws that impact the people’s everyday life. He has 150 Laws passed spanning agriculture, justice, women’s rights, public works, and services. You can check out this list of legistation online.
Bam Aquino. The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or the “Libreng Kolehiyo” is Aquino’s most impactful sponsored law. He is against political dynasty so I have high hopes he is one of the few who can actually come up with a law explicitly banning political dynasty.
Luke Espiritu. He sounds aggressive but he represents the labor sector. He has radical ideas but he is also a lawyer so his legal knowledge will tame his radical stance. His legal background will, hopefully, help discussions related to the sector he represents.
Teddy Casino. He has long been very active in politics, though on the left side. The Senate is a platform for him to learn to forward their causes and he will be up to negotiations, discussions, and compromises. His presence will be an interesting addition to Senate floor discussions.
Hopeful.
We can choose to give up and just go about our own life. But much as we don’t like it, we are a part of this country. We are affected, directly or not, by the leaders imposed on us by popular votes. We might as well do our part. And that is to vote. And hope.
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Kay gandang basahin po itong blog nyo maam. Dapat talaga tayong maging mapanuri sa iboboto para sa ikabubuti ng bansa. Ako po nangingilatis at iniistalk ko po yung ibang kandidato kung tama ba na iboto ko .