[Be The Good] Let’s not rely on Leni Robredo

She has spoken. The ship has sailed. Those hoping Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo would run for a national post in 2028 got a reality check on Monday, November 9. This whole fixation on Mayor Robredo though also got me thinking of a related issue: the shallow bench for alternative candidates.

When we look to one person, we miss the opportunity to cultivate a wider selection of politicians. Perhaps this decision of Robredo’s is a chance to widen our horizons and look to new faces. More importantly, it should allow us to examine ourselves. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, should we not become the change we want to see?

I just came from a week in Cape Town, South Africa with Rappler’s scholars to the One Young World 2026 Summit. JJ Agustin, Gybel Agregado, Kit Posadas, John Mauro Manuel, and Jasser Mohammad are examples of young people who are becoming the change they want to see. They live it every day, in their work in youth political participation, agriculture, women empowerment, and data-driven storytelling. At the summit, which gathered 2,000 young people from over 190 countries, we listened to fellow youth leaders tell stories of the hardships they overcame, the challenges they continue to face, and the hope they keep alive for their communities and countries.

One speech at the summit resonated with me – that of Anna Strolenberg, who, at 31 years old, is one of the youngest members of the European Parliament.

Anna was recognized as one of the Politicians of the Year, an award given out at every One Young World Summit.

Like most of us, she used to think politics was a dirty word, “something for men with big egos and bad suits.”

But, when she was 24 years old, she decided to become a politician, not because she thought she’d be good at political maneuverings, but simply because she was fed up with the status quo.

“Many of you told me you have lost trust in politics because politicians are corrupt, or don’t represent you. And I want to tell you this: do not accept it. Go there yourself and make them change,” she said, to resounding applause.

I know many Filipinos don’t trust politics. Most of us are cynical, or have lost hope and have simply checked out. I get it. The headlines scream with reasons to be jaded: the massive flood control corruption, the poor services and facilities, the red tape and incompetence, the grandstanding with nothing to show for it. We rail against these failures of governance all the time. We are adept at outrage. If dissatisfaction with the status quo was a marathon, we would’ve won it a thousand times over.

But Anna said this cannot be enough.

“I have a warning, because our passion for protest doesn’t translate to a passion for politics. Young people have the most to gain, but by not being present, we accept that other people put us last,” she said. 

Anna refused to accept this. Not even 30 years old, she set aside her nerves and doubts, and decided to join Volt Europa, a political party. The story of Volt is in itself striking. It was founded by three young people who met while studying at Columbia University and who decided they wanted to create a truly pan-European progressive political party that would push back against the nationalist, right-wing movements gaining ground in the region.

That was in 2017. Today, Volt has over 30,000 members from all over Europe, 400 members elected into office, including five in the European Parliament. Anna is one of those five. 

“I know that politics is often a dirty word, but I think it’s up to us to change it. I am proud to say I’m a member of the European Parliament, that I’m changing politics – step by step, but I’m changing it,” said Anna at the One Young World Summit.

All over the world, we are seeing young people stepping out of their comfort zones, and getting some power in return. From France, to Nepal, to Bangladesh, to Serbia, youth-led protests and movements have sparked change, replaced regimes, or at the very least, catalyzed urgent conversations.

In the US, the youth vote played a decisive role in the blue wave that has given back power to the Democrats. Some 66% of voters aged 18 to 29 voted for Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives. 

For sure, it is a difficult, even dangerous, road to take back power. In the Philippines, the electoral system is such that massive resources are needed to run for public office. But people with extremely limited resources can change the fate of a nation. South Africa gives us the best example. Nelson Mandela and his fellow freedom fighters against apartheid were facing deadly state force and next to no funding, not to mention a whole ecosystem of discriminatory laws, yet still managed to bring down the repressive system. It came at a great cost. But it was a cost they took on because the dream was worth it.

What dream for the Philippines is worth the cost? What cost are you willing to pay?

You can start by registering to vote in the 2028 elections, if you haven’t yet. Voter registration resumed on Monday, November 10 and will continue until July 30, 2027. You can register to vote at any Comelec office and certain malls, from 8 am to 5 pm. Here’s the directory of Comelec offices nationwide. 

Social Good Summit: We, The Humans

Ten days to go before Social Good Summit: WE, THE HUMANS! See the full program and speaker line-up here. Tickets are still available.

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Aries Rufo Fellow Mark David Silencio brings us to Bulakan, Bulacan where a confluence of failures has led to severe flooding.

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– Rappler.com

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