PEACE-MAKER
As the political campaign heats up, we are once again seeing the country gripped by division, mudslinging, and personal attacks. The atmosphere has become toxic — full of noise, anger, and venom.
This is not what our democracy should be about. Healthy debate and differences of opinion are necessary. But when the campaign becomes more about tearing each other down than offering solutions, we lose sight of the bigger picture — and the people suffer. Let us be reminded that if our country sinks, we will all sink — regardless of party, position, or political color.
While politicians trade blows, millions of ordinary Filipinos struggle each day. Prices of food and basic goods continue to rise. Many families still live in poverty. Healthcare is expensive, public education needs reform, and housing remains out of reach for the poor. These are the real issues that should be at the center of the national conversation. But too often, they are pushed aside by personal rivalries, sensationalized stories, and the pursuit of short-term political gains.
We must break this cycle.
Our country’s problems are not new. They are deep-rooted and require serious, long-term solutions — not band-aid measures or promises made only for the campaign season. We need leadership that is willing to do the hard work, to think beyond the next election, and to build programs that will last beyond one term.
We need to invest in education that equips our youth with real-world skills. We must support farmers and small businesses so they can thrive in a changing economy. We must modernize infrastructure, reform our healthcare system, and ensure that no Filipino is left behind. These cannot be solved overnight. They require steady leadership, national unity, and the political will to rise above personal ambition.
Unfortunately, politics in our country often focuses on the immediate win. It is shaped by slogans, popularity, and short-term thinking. But real leadership is not about who wins the loudest argument — it’s about who delivers results that matter.
Politicians come and go. Elections come and go. But our country remains. The Philippines is bigger than any one person, party, or political movement. The institutions of democracy, the welfare of the people, and the future of our children — these are what must endure.
Those who seek public office must remember that they are only temporary stewards of power. Their legacy should not be measured by how many votes they got, but by how many lives they improved.
As someone who has been in public life for many decades, we have seen many administrations rise and fall. We have seen alliances formed and broken. But what matters in the end is whether we moved the country forward, whether we brought people together, and whether we left the nation stronger than we found it.
We appeal to all candidates, supporters, and voters to engage in this campaign with dignity and respect. Let us focus on issues, not insults. Let us choose vision over division, and solutions over slogans.
We only have one Philippines. And the responsibility to protect and improve it rests on all of us. Let us not waste this moment. Let us choose unity, service, and the long view — for the sake of the generations yet to come.