Editorial

ON May 12, the Filipino people will once again exercise one of the most consequential powers vested in a democracy: the right to vote. As we approach the 2025 national mid-term elections, voters will decide who among the 66 COMELEC-certified candidates vying for 12 seats in the Philippine Senate are worthy of their trust — entrusting them not only with legislative authority, but with shaping the soul and direction of our nation.

At the Rotary Club of Manila, we believe in service above self, guided by the principles of truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all concerned. These same principles should guide us, and the electorate at large, as we consider our choices in the coming elections.

This week, we are honored to welcome several senatorial candidates to our Weekly Membership Meeting — men and women who have accepted our invitation to share their platforms and vision with us. Most of those who have confirmed their attendance are relatively unknown nationally. They come not with fanfare, but with the courage to present themselves for public scrutiny, knowing that they are measured not by popularity but by purpose.

In contrast, those who enjoy national prominence have, by and large, declined our invitation. Whether by scheduling conflicts or political calculation, their absence speaks volumes — not only about their priorities, but about the widening chasm between the electorate and those who seek to lead them.

This disparity compels us to reflect more deeply. Fame, after all, is not synonymous with fitness to govern. Name recall is not a substitute for character, competence, or commitment to public service.

We must ask ourselves: do we vote for those who are most visible, or those who are most prepared? Do we entrust our democracy to the well-known, or to the well-intentioned?

Let us not be lulled by catchy campaign jingles, ostentatious sorties, rehearsed debates, sizable monies used for vote-buying or partisan loyalties. Let us demand substance over spectacle. Let us reward courage — the courage to engage, to explain, to be held accountable. And let us, as Rotarians, model informed and principled judgment, as we have always aspired to do.

May this week’s dialogue with the candidates serve not just as a Rotary program, but as a reminder: our choices this May 12 will echo far beyond the ballot box. They will define the kind of governance we expect — and the kind of nation we seek to become.

Let us choose wisely. Let us choose well.