“ANG kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”
This is just one of the famous lines of Dr. Jose Rizal and it remains to be true, especially for the 2025 midterm elections.
According to the Commission on Elections, up to 24% of the total number of voters this coming May will be coming from the Generation Z or those born between 1997 to 2012. This means that there are around 20 million Gen Z voters.
And this number can alter the course of Philippine politics.
In an interview with republicasia, political analyst Atty. Jesus Falcis said that right now, the political leanings or ideologies of Gen Zs are not yet clear; it will only be determined by the upcoming midterm elections.
Atty. Falcis emphasized that Gen Zs will pave the way to post-pandemic politics as the COVID-19 pandemic quite literally raised them. This means that Gen Zs became politically aware because of the government’s response during the pandemic and were not directly influenced by the past political dynamics like the Aquino-Marcos rivalry of the boomers and Dilawan politics of the millennials.
He shared his observation, saying, “Iba ‘yong values na pinanggagalingan compared sa mga previous generations because wala pa silang historical continuity or memory ng continuity doon sa mga nakaraang administration. Medyo clean slate sila based on experience. So ang pinaka-na-experience nila na pwedeng makapag-politicize sa kanila or makapag-radicalize sa kanila politically was the pandemic.”
“Ang role ng Gen Z now, more than – I think – combating fake news, is to chart a post-Aquino, post-Marcos, post-Duterte politics. Kasi while the 2025 elections is a referendum on the Marcos administration and the impeachment of Sara Duterte is also an election issue for 2025, for the Gen Z per se, they can elect candidates who will shape their future years, like ‘yong six years ng senator will go beyond Marcos administration. So the Gen Z, their role in this midterm election is to ensure at the local level – congressman, mayor – to elect leaders who can also be more progressive and at tune to the needs of the youth or kabataan,” Atty. Falcis explained.
But besides reshaping Philippine politics, Gen Zs have other roles in this election – and that has everything to do with them being digital natives or being born and exposed to computers and the internet.
And it may be quite challenging, especially since Gen Z’s news sourcing is mainly from the internet, compared to the older generations who grew up consuming the traditional media of television, radio, and newspaper.
“Ang news sources talaga nila ay not traditional media outlets that report on news by journalists that follow a certain code of ethics and interview sources. Ang news sources nila is either second hand or based on influencer. So, kung sino ‘yong napapanood nila sa TikTok, kung sino ‘yong napapanood nila sa YouTube na influencer or content creator that they follow, who happens to have a politician or issue na dinadala or may fineature or ginuest,” he observed.
So, as digitally literate creatures, the Gen Zs have the responsibility of being meticulous to online content. It is quite natural and easy for them to verify information and decipher which video materials are legit or made by artificial intelligence.
Having this innate critical eye, the Gen Zs should share the knowledge of identifying fake news and deep fakes to the older generations.
“Ang pagiging tech savvy ng Gen Zs ngayon will relate to not just combating fake news specifically, but managing AI. Aside from helping their parents or the older generation from navigating it but they themselves, how they will self-regulate or prevent the worse influences of AI and crypto while getting the maximum benefits from it,” Atty. Falcis said.
It is quite an exciting time to be a Filipino – we will see the future of our country unfolding right before our eyes and a big part of that is because of Gen Z voters.
A word from the wise to the Gen Zs: don’t waste this opportunity and vote wisely!
