#BotoNgKabataan2025: Millennials and Gen Z might be the game changers for the coming 2025 elections

“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”

(“The youth is the hope of the nation.”)

We’ve heard Jose Rizal’s phrase so often that it’s starting to lose its weight, reduced to nothing more than a punchline for memes and online jokes. But with the upcoming 2025 elections, this phrase once again takes on a deeper significance as Millennials and Gen Zs make up the majority of voters. 

According to a report from the GMA News Research, Millennials and Gen Z will comprise 63% of the voting population in the upcoming May 2025 elections. 

Over 21.87 million or 28.78 percent of the voting population are Gen Z (1997 – 2007) while 25.94 million or 34.15 percent are Millennials (1981 – 1996).

But if the Millennials and Gen Z are at the forefront of the voting population, it begs another question: what issues matter most to these younger generations, and what kind of candidate will earn their vote?

As digital natives, will Millennials and Gen Z prioritize leaders who tackle pressing issues like climate change, economic opportunities, social justice, and education reform? Will they seek candidates who not only understand their struggles but also embody the progressive aspirations and inclusive future that define their generations?

To answer these questions, republicasia interviewed Millennials and Gen Z voters from different backgrounds. We asked them what issues matter the most to them, and what attributes would they like to see from their ideal candidates. 

Issues that matter

When asked about the issues they want the government to prioritize, Millennials and Gen Z often point to public transportation as one of their top concerns.

“Commuting in this country is not very efficient. I believe that a lot more could still be improved,” said Sean Ronas, a 20-year old student from University of Santo Tomas. 

As a student who often uses public transportation, Sean has firsthand experience on the challenges it presents such as the unreliable and inconsistent services, high cost, and safety concerns due to ill-maintained infrastructure. 

But the challenges are not limited only to that. Urban challenges such as the heavy traffic are among the most notorious problems that the younger generation wants to get resolved. 

“I have been a commuter since elementary,” Dan Benignos, 24, shared. “And mula no’n, palala lang nang palala ang problema sa traffic.”

The frustration was evident in Dan’s words. He was now a graduate, working as a Multimedia Specialist, but heavy traffic still plagues the roads of Metro Manila where he currently works at. 

What frustrated him even more were the “regressive plans” focused on private utility vehicles, which would further disrupt public transportation. 

“Isa sa effective transpo for me is ‘yung bus. And now, there’s a chance na tatanggalin pa?” said Dan in dismay. 

Another concern raised by Dan has something to do with the country’s healthcare system, particularly the issues on PhilHealth. 

“For one, I feel like I can’t trust Philhealth with my health insurance,” Dan admitted. “Sa lahat ng issues and inconsistencies na naibabalita, nagko-cause sila ng gano’ng mindset sa tao.”

Dan expressed his dismay in rhetoric. 

“Mapagkakatiwalaan ba talaga sila sa pera natin na buwan-buwang kinakaltas sa sahod natin?” 

He was also concerned with matters on agriculture and the security of Philippine territories. 

“I feel strongly for these issues mainly because most of them, problem na ng Pinas kahit sa mga nakaraang administrations pa. Hanggang ngayon, problem pa rin,” said Dan. 

Meanwhile, Sean’s concerns also echoes that of Dan, although it extends more to the government corruption as a whole. 

“Personally, it causes me great distress knowing that an unimaginable amount of money goes to the pockets of a few instead of for the benefit of everyone. Every time I watch the news and see that another billion or so has been left unaccounted for, I feel very stressed,” said Sean. 

He also raised concern about the current education system in the country and how it affects the Filipino culture, specifically the frequency of the anti-intellectualism movements. 

“Smart shaming and lack of education are normalized. I’ve personally been a victim of the former,” he said. 

Another concern he raised was about the disaster management in the country— or the lack thereof. 

“It’s sad to see entire towns disappear due to floods. It could have been avoided if proper DMIs (Distaster Management Infrastructure) were in place,” he said.

Emerging issues

While Sean and Dan raised concerns about the age-old problems faced by the country, Abel Mejico, 24, thinks that it’s time the government take mental health issues seriously. 

“One of the social issues I champion as a person from Generation Z is the normalization of mental health care. Just recently in a lab class, our data set confronted us with the reality of social loneliness,” said Abel. 

Abel, a sociology student from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), said that she learned from her class that social loneliness can now be considered as a health epidemic. In the Philippines, she cited the report of Global State of Social Connections, where 57% of Filipino Gen Zs admitted to feeling fairly to very lonely. 

“Despite these statistics, access to healthcare for mental wellness—including acquisition of medication and affordability of prices and treatment—remains a challenge for the general populace. And even beyond the few subsidiaries, mental health struggles remain stigmatized by older, ‘pragmatic’ generations,” said Abel. 

Who would Gen Z vote for?

With the issues they have raised, we also asked the interviewees about their ideal candidates. 

Sean has his own criteria. 

“I would vote for someone with a clear SALN (statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth), proper and relevant educational background, and not a member of a political dynasty,” he said. 

With political dynasties notoriously dominating government seats while most problems remain unresolved, Sean has lost all faith in them.

“I also want someone who I think would prioritize the welfare of the Filipino rather than a singular left/right wing agenda or favor with a person of power,” he added.

In the same vein, Dan is also looking for someone with an excellent track record. 

“I will vote for someone who has an excellent track record— ‘yung may mga totoong projects na nagawa that contributed to the welfare of the people. And most of all, ‘yung may accountability,” he said. 

Abel also threads the same line, although she acknowledges that no candidate would be perfect. 

“A candidate that aligns with my political views is already a given. But what I aspire to see in the line-up is a figure who is capable of accountability: No public figure, much more a person involved in politics, will ever maintain a squeaky clean reputation,” she said.

“Even the figures we used to revere are demystified by the shortcomings they failed to hold themselves accountable to. Such dissemination of information is already widespread in this age of social media.”

But for her, a candidate need not be perfect to take accountability and serve the people. Abel’s hope is still alive that somewhere out there, there are still individuals who run for the seat not to advance their hidden agendas but to really serve the public. 

“Indeed, for once, in the sea of egotistical, self-preserving politicians, I aspire to see a candidate with humility, dignity and a modicum of self-awareness; a reception to criticism, but not a doormat to public opinion,” she said. 

For Sean, Dan, and Abel, as part of the youth, they still believe they are the hope of the nation—but by voting right for the upcoming election, they, too, are hoping for the nation to give them hope for their future.