The stakes of the midterm election held on May 12 were remarkably high as over 18,000 national and local positions were contested, including seats in the House of Representatives, and the influential Philippine Senate.
This political event was seen not only as a referendum on the leadership of President Marcos Jr. but also as a defining moment for the future of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The performance of Duterte-backed candidates, despite the legal troubles facing the family, signals that their influence remains potent.
This outcome could strengthen the hand of Duterte-aligned forces in shaping the opposition narrative.
They may also be able to field a viable Presidential contender, should Sara Duterte not survive her impeachment trial .
The 2025 midterm elections revealed a paradox, as it redrew the political landscape. Coalitions shifted. New energies reappeared.
A third force emerged as the Pink movement maintained its presence. It brought the Pink base into focus, a network of volunteers, supporters, and civic-minded citizens who had first coalesced around Leni Robredo’s 2022 presidential run. She may not have won that race, but the power and the influence of that Movement she sparked have not diminished.
As the campaign season began early this year, both Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan leaned into that energy, counting on it to help power their Senate comebacks.
It was a calculated move, and in many places, especially those where Robredo had polled strongly, it seems to have paid off.
The Pink movement miting de avance held in Naga City served as both a campaign finale, and a moment of symbolic continuity with the massive pink rallies of 2022.
It remains to be seen how this momentum carries into 2028, but for now, the endurance of the Kakampink vote is no longer a hypothesis; it is a political reality.
This year, Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, and even Heidi Mendoza — all Akbayan-backed, managed to carve out real territory, especially in places where progressive politics used to feel like an uphill push.
And maybe more interesting than the wins themselves is what they say about messaging: the campaigns focused on food security, education, and anti-corruption.
If 2025 proved anything, it is that change is possible but not guaranteed. The same conditions that allowed for breakthroughs also threaten to absorb them.
Without sustained organizing, deeper alliances, and long-term investment in democratic infrastructure, even the most promising signals may fade.
The results of the recently- concluded midterm national and local elections reflected the increasing polarization in Philippine politics.
As in previous elections, pro-Administration candidates were favored to win because of their access to government machinery and resources.
The opposition forces welcomed the surprise victory of the two Independent senators, and attributed their electoral success to the support of youth voters.
The Makabayan coalition said it secured at least two Partylist seats, and defeated the vicious efforts of militarists in government to wipe out the so-called leftists in Congress.
What the midterm election results showed was the rise of young voters clamoring for change, wherein the Pink movement is emerging as the third force.
But everything remains fluid. As 2028 is fast approaching, it is hard to predict now what could happen in the Presidential elections.
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Author’s email: whelmayap@yahoo.com
