Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Sunday, May 11 reminded voters to  exercise their right to suffrage as the nation gears up to vote for the country’s next leaders on May 12, 2025.

“Ngayong ika-12 ng Mayo, gamitin po natin ang karapatang bumoto bilang patunay na tayo’y malayang mamamayan, bilang paggalang sa ating mga bayani na ipinaglaban ito (On May 12, let us exercise our right to vote as proof that we are free citizens, in honor of our heroes who fought for this),” Escudero said.

“Sa araw lang ng halalan tunay na nagkaka-pantay ang bawat Pilipino, kung saan mayaman man o mahirap, makapangyarihan o karaniwang mamamayan, nakapag-aral o hindi, ano man ang kasarian o hitsura, ang boto ng bawat isa sa atin ay tig-isa lamang, magkatumbas lang (Only on election day are every Filipino truly equal, where whether rich or poor, powerful or ordinary citizen, educated or not, regardless of gender or appearance, each of us has only one vote, equal to all),” Escudero said.

“Gamitin natin ang ating karapatan na pumili ng nais nating iboto dahil walang sinumang tao ang pwede magsabi na mas alam nila kung sino ang mga karapat-dapat na manalo dahil lamang mayaman, makapangyarihan o mas nakapag-aral sila (Let us exercise our right to choose who we want to vote for because no one can say that they know better who deserves to win just because they are rich, powerful or more educated),” he stressed.

Exercising one’s right to vote, the Senate leader stressed, is the foundation of any working democracy. 

“Ito ang pundasyon ng isang demokrasya. Ang tanging nasusunod ay ang boses ng mas nakararami kaya’t bumoto po tayo para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak at sa kapakanan ng ating bayan (This is the foundation of a democracy. The only thing that counts is the voice of the majority, so let us vote for the future of our children and the welfare of our people),” he stressed.

That’s why on Monday, Escudero said each Filipino should remember that the country’s future is in their hands. 

“Sa darating na Lunes, isusulat natin sa balota ang isang bagong kabanata ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa at nasa ating mga kamay ang landas na tatahakin ng ating Lipunan (On Monday, we will write a new chapter in the history of our country as we complete the ballot, and the path that our Society will take is in our hands.

“Sa ating mga kandidato na humaharap sa dambana ng balota, mapayapang bigyang galang natin ang halalan at ang boses ng taumbayan (To our candidates who are facing the altar of the ballot, let us peacefully respect the election and the voice of the people),” Escudero appealed.

“Nawa’y maging mapayapa ang ating halalan at tanggapin nating lahat ang pasiya ng sambayanan anuman ito at kanino mang panig sila nakahanay (May our election be peaceful and may we all accept the decision of the people regardless of what it is and whose side they are aligned with),” he stressed.