A call for ‘Matalinong Boto’: Time to review your list

Today, make time to review the list of candidates for the midterm elections on May 12. In four days, over 68 million registered voters, more than 30 percent of them between the ages of 18-30, will vote for 12 senators, House representatives, Party List representatives, and local government leaders. Their choices will shape the country’s direction for years to come.

This election is not merely a political exercise, it is a defining moment for democracy. At its heart lies a powerful call: to vote wisely.

In the past months, Manila Bulletin has been going around the campuses holding forums to remind the young voters to vote wisely and look beyond slogans, jingles, and rehearsed performances. Its Matalinong Boto campaign calls on voters to engage in the electoral process thoughtfully, anchored on three core pillars: peaceful elections, respectful discourse, and facts over fake news.

First, peaceful elections are essential to a functioning democracy. Voters must reject any form of violence, intimidation, or vote-buying. Electoral contests must be free, fair, and secure, ensuring that every citizen can cast a ballot without fear or coercion.

In the last stretch of the campaign period, voters should review how candidates conducted their campaigns. Did a candidate use any form of intimidation as a way to court votes?

Second, respectful discourse should guide political engagement. Mud-slinging and character assassination only distract from the real issues. Voters should demand platforms, and not get distracted by personal attacks. Let us not be swayed by those who engage in tearing down another candidate’s character or platform without offering genuine solutions.

Did your candidates elevate the quality of our political conversations, addressing policies and programs, not personalities and grudges?

Third, in an age dominated by social media, we must champion facts over fake news. Misinformation spreads rapidly, clouding public judgment and undermining trust in the democratic process. Voters, particularly the youth who are digital natives, must be vigilant in verifying information, checking sources, and refusing to share unverified content. An intelligent vote is one informed by truth, not lies.

Did your candidates use fake news in their campaign materials?

In addition to those questions, here are three values deeply connected to the broader criteria that define a truly Matalinong Boto or intelligent vote: character, competence, and platform. We must choose candidates not for their celebrity status or entertaining campaign gimmicks, but for their integrity, ability to lead, and concrete plans for the nation.

Character means electing leaders who have demonstrated honesty, empathy, and moral courage.

Competence means choosing leaders who are capable of crafting sound laws or managing government units effectively.

And platform means supporting candidates with clear, well-crafted programs that address urgent national concerns such as poverty, education, healthcare, climate change, and job creation.

The youth vote holds the power to shift the nation’s future. But this power must be exercised with maturity, discernment, and responsibility. Until election day, we must reinforce the message: voting is not a popularity contest—it is a civic duty.

As we head to the polls on May 12, let us embrace the principles of a truly intelligent vote. Let us protect the peace, elevate the conversation, and ground our decisions in truth. Only then can we elect leaders worthy of the people’s trust—and build a Philippines that honors democracy not just in name, but in practice.