Philippine Political Campaigns: Democracy or Just a Show?

Every few years, the Philippines explodes into a frenzy called the elections. Streets turn into battlegrounds of tarpaulins, jingles blast from loudspeakers at full volume, and social media becomes a warzone of memes, trolls, and misinformation. But behind the fireworks, we have to ask: Is this democracy at work, or just a well-rehearsed circus?

Politics is a Popularity Contest

Let’s be real—most Philippine campaigns are not about issues, they’re about faces. Voters often know the jingle before they know the candidate’s platform. If you're famous (or infamous), you already have a head start. Movie stars, athletes, even comedians run for office—and win—not because they have political expertise, but because Filipinos already love them.

Most campaign promises? Fluff. Big words with no solid plans. Candidates know that detailed platforms don’t win votes. What wins is "utang na loob" (debt of gratitude), "pakikisama" (personal connection), and yes, a catchy dance on TikTok.

The Shamelessness of Political Dynasties

Political dynasties are not just surviving—they’re thriving. You can’t call it democracy when the same families have controlled entire provinces for decades. In some areas, your choices on the ballot are literally one family name versus another.

The Constitution bans political dynasties "as may be defined by law." Guess what? No law has ever been passed. Why? Because the people who are supposed to pass it are the same ones who would lose their seats.

Vote-Buying: Everybody Knows, Nobody Stops It

Vote-buying is illegal on paper, but on the ground, it's tradition. In many places, a few hundred pesos in an envelope can swing an election. And no, it’s not always poor voters’ fault—they’re surviving in a system that offers them very little, and politicians exploit that desperation with a smile.

COMELEC talks tough every year about monitoring election spending and vote-buying. Yet, year after year, the cash flows, and the winners swear their victories were pure and organic. Sure.

The Dark Power of Social Media

Social media was supposed to empower the people. Instead, it became a dirty weapon. Troll farms are real. Fake news spreads faster than real journalism. Candidates with the biggest budgets dominate the algorithm, not the candidates with the best ideas. And while some voters are awake to this reality, many still fall victim to outrage bait, disinformation, and propaganda disguised as "opinion pieces."

Filipinos Deserve Better

The Filipinos deserve better leaders, but the system is rigged to make sure we rarely get them. It’s a cycle—dynasties breed more dynasties, money decides campaigns, and every election becomes a reset button for the same old promises. But there’s a crack in the system. In every election, a few brave, smart, and honest candidates fight against the tide.

In every generation, there are voters who wake up, ask the hard questions, and say, "Enough". Maybe not today. Maybe not in the next election. But when Filipinos finally demand better, not just wish for it, real change will come—and it will be unstoppable.