A project of the UP Diliman Department of Political Science seeking to promote clean, honest, and empowering elections.
Republic of the Philippines
Joined January 2013
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What did the results of the 2025 Midterm Elections say about our political landscape?
Read more from @upsystem OVPAA: ovpaa.up.edu.ph/research/the…
Local governance is not just about implementing national policies, they are important spaces where democracy is practiced, contested, and experienced.
Read Takblub Digital News’ coverage here: linkedin.com/pulse/rethinkin…
𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐦𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐚, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧.
Asst. Prof. Maria Elize Mendoza emphasizes the importance of accountability, fair electoral competition, and the people’s freedom to choose in a democracy.
She explains that the dominance of political dynasties often limits opportunities for competent aspiring public servants to run and serve.
Watch the full interview here: facebook.com/share/v/1c2j9tx…
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𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐍𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐠-𝐢𝐢𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧.
Asst. Prof. Maria Elize Mendoza points out how political dynasties continue to dominate many national and local government positions.
By prioritizing personal legacy and relying heavily on established family names, they become complacent, hindering genuine change and progress in governance.
Watch the full interview here: facebook.com/share/v/1c2j9tx…
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𝐀 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝.
Vin N. Buenaagua emphasizes that the partylist system has become a tool for continued elite domination and marginalization.
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Addressing this, however, requires looking beyond political dynasties to also examine businesses with ties to the government.
Access the full article, Congtractors: How Big Business took over the Partylist System, here: halalan.up.edu.ph/congtracto…
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𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞? 𝟐𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬? 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭.
Vin N. Buenaagua points out that forming a party-list is relatively easy, as long as an organization advocates an ideology or platform.
He warns that this makes the system attractive to businesses seeking political influence, as it offers a cheap way to access funding and project allocation.
Access the full article, Congtractors: How Big Business took over the Partylist System, here: halalan.up.edu.ph/congtracto…
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𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫?
With over 20% of partylist representatives being business executives or company owners, questions about the system’s representation of marginalized sectors continue to persist.
UP Department of Political Science alumnus Vin N. Buenaagua examines the problematic “elite capture” of the party-list system and how big business has come to dominate what was meant to amplify marginalized voices.
Read the full article here: halalan.up.edu.ph/congtracto…
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𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.
The 2025 election results carry significant implications for the 2028 presidential race. Prof. Arugay & Asst. Prof. Mendoza argue that the 2025 elections reveal how emotional & political factors to shape voter behavior.
Access the full article, Remorse, Resentment, & Resilience: The 2025 Midterm Philippine Elections here: tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1…
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𝐍𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐧𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭.
Amid the ongoing rift within the UniTeam, Prof. Aries Arugay and Asst. Prof. Elize Mendoza warn that if Marcos Jr. fails to restore public trust, Sara Duterte could turn the narrative to her advantage.
This, however, may shift if her father’s administration is incriminated.
Access the full article,Remorse, Resentment, & Resilience: The 2025 Midterm Philippine Elections here: tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1…
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𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.
Prof. Aries Arugay and Asst. Prof. Elize Mendoza explain how the results of the 2025 elections reflect the enduring influence of personalities in Philippine politics. Emotions are often mobilized to shape and reinforce loyalties.
Read the full article, “Remorse, Resentment, & Resilience: The 2025 Midterm Philippine Elections”, here: tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1…
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𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬.
Emmanuel Alba (UPD Teaching Assoc.) and Alexa Yadao (LENTE Ph Senior Program Officer) emphasized the power of people’s voice in elections during UST Central COMELEC’s 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐒: 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Last March 29, 2026, the UST Central COMELEC, in partnership with UP sa Halalan, conducted 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐒: 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧—an initiative aimed to foster awareness, discernment, and active civic engagement among citizens, especially the youth.
“𝐄𝐝𝐢 𝐚𝐤𝐨, 𝐩𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐧.”
Prof. Jean S. Encinas-Franco highlights how sexist and misogynist remarks from those in power are easily amplified on social media.
When such behavior is normalized by public officials, it sends a troubling message that if those in government can say these things, others may feel justified in doing the same.
Watch the full podcast episode here: youtube.com/live/bR6IxuIZbFA
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𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐨. 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥. 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐩 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐠.
Prof. Jean S. Encinas-Franco explains how gender discrimination often goes unnoticed because it has long been normalized in our society.
Often dismissed as satire or harmless remarks about women, these comments reflect deeper patterns of misogyny and gender inequality.
Watch the full podcast episode here: youtube.com/live/bR6IxuIZbFA
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𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡?
Prof. Aries A. Arugay shares his insights on how the opposition to VP Sara Duterte’s potential presidency should position itself. He believes in offering a credible alternative that delivers results without the chaos seen in the past.
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Watch Prof. Arugay’s full interview here (starting at 18:25):
web.facebook.com/share/v/1LJ…
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𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝?
Prof. Aries A. Arugay warns against manufactured narratives that shape how Filipinos perceive political figures and the broader political landscape.
𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞?
Aries A. Arugay discusses the implications of the recent announcement of VP Sara Duterte to run for president in the 2028 elections. He notes her strong control of the narrative, which mirrors the approach of her father.
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Watch Prof. Arugay’s full interview here (starting at 18:25):
web.facebook.com/share/v/1LJ…
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𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥?
Duterte’s success in weaponizing violent rhetoric has inspired other candidates to adopt a similar “violent populist” persona.
𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞?
As social media becomes the battleground of the Marcos–Duterte feud, what was once a powerful message of unity has gradually withered as political survival becomes more of their concern.
