Philippine senatorial choices: Popularity over capability
January 28, 2025
MANILA – As we brace for the 2025 Philippine senatorial elections, a troubling trend reveals itself: a plethora of aspirants is gearing up to benefit from transient popularity rather than showcasing the essential capabilities demanded of lawmakers. It is increasingly apparent that celebrity culture is infiltrating governance, where legitimate lawmaking is overshadowed by the mere pursuit of votes founded upon name recognition and superficial charm.
What we are witnessing on the electoral landscape is a brand of politics that elevates showmanship over substance. Candidates who often lack the foundational knowledge necessary for the gravitas of senatorial roles pepper the electoral slate, their platforms mere echoes of sound bites and catchphrases. They occupy the public stage with slogans and exaggerated promises that draw attention but offer little in genuine legislative depth. In stark contrast, candidates with actual leadership qualities fall into the shadows, drowned out by the clamor of those whose fame outshines their qualifications.
In just four months, we will be tasked with selecting the future occupants of the new Senate Building—a structure that encapsulates both the controversies and expenses associated with our government’s budgeting choices. Initially projected at P8.9 billion in 2008, the cost ballooned to P23.5 billion by 2018 and now stands at an eye-watering P31.6 billion. With a per-square-meter price point of P240,000—far exceeding the Arcadis Philippines Inc. Construction Cost Handbook’s recommended figure of P183,000 for quality high-rise offices—it’s evident that fiscal responsibility has been cast aside.
The latest survey results reflect our harsh reality: we face an overwhelmingly