Why the Filipino youth are our strongest roots for a better tomorrow?
Three years ago, we planted seeds.
We didn’t comprehend it at the time — not entirely. But there was something in the air during those campaign rallies. They weren’t just political events. They were gatherings of hope. Of courage. Of awakening. You could feel it in the songs, in the pink, in the sea of young faces standing tall beside their parents and grandparents, shouting for a kind of leadership that felt different — true service.
Most of them couldn’t vote yet.
They were Gen Z—students, volunteers, fresh graduates—still too young to be counted on the ballot but already fully aware of what was at stake. They handed out flyers, painted murals, organized house-to-house campaigns, and stood under the sun with homemade placards because they believed in something bigger than themselves—bigger than one candidate, bigger than one election.
That candidate didn’t win.
It was heartbreaking, yes. But even in that defeat, something remarkable happened: seeds were planted—seeds of awareness, activism, and conscience.
And in 2025, those seeds broke through the soil.
🌿 From Awakening to Action
In the most recent elections for senator, congressman, and local officials, something extraordinary unfolded—the youth showed up. And not just on TikTok or hashtags. They showed up at the precincts, ballot in hand, with clear eyes and strong voices. They educated themselves on the issues. And this time, they could finally vote.
They voted wisely.
They voted with memory — remembering those sleepless nights and painful realizations when truth clashed with power.
They voted with clarity — separating noise from substance, platform from popularity.
And they voted with purpose — because they now understood that change doesn’t come from just one election but from never giving up on the process.
Suddenly, the map looked different. Many independent, reform-minded, and community-rooted leaders either won or unexpectedly garnered significant votes– defying earlier survey results, largely due to the youth’s informed and strategic voting decisions. Political dynasties were shaken. New names rose — not because of money or machinery, but because of the movement born three years ago.
🌻 This Is What Growth Looks Like
In gardening, we know that growth doesn’t always happen right away. You bury a seed in dark soil, water it, talk to it, protect it from pests—and for days, weeks, sometimes even months, it looks like nothing is happening. But underneath, life is stirring. The roots are forming. The soil is shifting. Until one day, it breaks through—strong, green, ready to reach for the sun.
That is what happened with this generation.
The Filipino youth didn’t lose faith when the first plant didn’t bloom. They kept tilling the ground, they kept learning, and they grew up—not just in age but in wisdom, conviction, and courage. Their resilience is a testament to their strength and determination, making us, the older generation, proud and inspired.
We, the older generation, often say, “The youth are the nation’s hope.” But now we see — they’re no longer just the hope. They are the action. The momentum. The moral compass.
🌸 Looking Toward 2028: A Harvest of Hope
2025 gave us a glimpse of what’s possible when an awakened generation claims its voice. But this is not the end — it’s the beginning of a long-overdue harvest.
The 2028 national elections are coming. And I’m hopeful. Deeply hopeful. Not because I expect perfection, but because I’ve seen the power of seeds sown in faith. Because I’ve watched teenagers grow into voters, volunteers into leaders, dreamers into doers. The potential of the 2028 elections fills me with hope and optimism for the future.
And because I believe that when you plant with love, water with truth, and protect with community, something good and lasting always grows.
💚 Keep Planting
To the youth: thank you. Thank you for reminding us what hope looks like when it wears sneakers, brings reusable water bottles to rallies, and studies the candidates’ platforms like final exam reviewers.
You may have been too young to vote back then, but you’ve already shaped the nation. And you will continue to do so — because your roots are deep, your minds are sharp, and your hearts are awake.
To the rest of us: keep planting. Keep mentoring, guiding, and standing beside them. The harvest we hope for — a clean and transparent government — won’t happen overnight. But it will happen, if we continue to believe, organize, and grow.
Because the seeds have already been planted.
And this time, they’re not just sprouting.
They’re rising.
