You are one of the most prominent and outspoken defenders of liberal and egalitarian politics in the Philippines. Given how difficult this has been in light of the political context of the country, what motivated you in the first place to become an activist, and what continues to motivate her to persevere?
One instance that I cite as an early and important contributor to my political awakening was the assassination of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino and the subsequent People Power Revolution that it inspired. I was in college then and witnessing democracy come alive in that way set me on a path of public service after my studies. Taking that direction led me to my husband whose principles I carry with me ever since my entry into politics. It also led me to my work as an alternative lawyer through which I met Filipinos from all walks of life who were working hard to assert their rights. Seeing how much more has to be done for those who are left in the margins had a strong impact on my governance philosophy. I have continued to seek to listen such stories as I travel from province to province to conduct consultations with distant communities. As Congresswoman and Vice President, I have also met and worked with many people with principles similar to my own—those who advocate for true equality and service that is transparent and accountable. From that knowledge and comfort of solidarity I am able to draw my strength. My children also serve as my inspiration—they keep me grounded and I am constantly reminded that it is also for their future that I am trying to create what good I can for our country. The sum of my experiences as a public servant and the lives I can make an impact on serve as my motivation to work hard and always choose to do good.
You were a highly successful legislator prior to making the move from legislator to Vice President of the Philippines. How different were the two roles, and how did you cope with the transformation?
The main difference lies in the responsibilities that come with the position. As Congresswoman, my main task was to ensure the wellbeing firstly, of my direct constituents, and also of the rest of our countrymen. This was mainly done through having a direct hand in legislation, through authoring and advocating for laws to protect and promote their rights. In comparison, the Vice President does not have a Constitutional mandate outside of ceremonial duties. But there is still that same desire to reach out to and help our countrymen. This time, we had to find our own way to fulfill that, with limited budget and without the means of installing particular bills with firsthand impact. But in its own way, the position of Vice President holds significant political capital and that is what we wanted to use to be able to create a program that contributes to the country. We established the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP’s) flagship antipoverty program Angat Buhay (AB) to serve as a convergence platform for communities-in-need and the groups—government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), the private sector, among others—that would be able to help them. By serving as a bridge to encourage partnerships among different stakeholders, we were able to maximize the currency of trust afforded to our office. As of September last year, we have partnered with more than 250 organizations to help more than 330,000 beneficiaries in different areas across the Philippines. At least 270 million pesos’ worth of resources have been allocated for projects related to our core advocacies: food security and nutrition, universal health care, rural development, public education, women empowerment, and housing and resettlement. We have engaged with communities through Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation, AB Youth, AB Women, and Metro Laylayan.
What are the major challenges confronting the Liberal Party in the Philippines today, and how are you planning on leading the party to overcome such obstacles?
In the Philippines, memberships in political parties can be malleable based on the election results that dictate which one becomes the ruling party at the time. Following our most recent national elections, the Liberal Party (LP) membership shrunk significantly. While unfortunate, we decided to look at this as an important opportunity to rebuild. But before we could rebuild, we wanted to go back to the reason why the party exists in the first place. On which principles was it founded? Do we want to remain true to these? How do we espouse those values? At the end of that process of reflection, we decided to strengthen our identity as a grassroots movement—as a party that listens to understand so that we can represent the people well. From there, we rebuilt the party by calling those who have experience in that endeavor to join us. Professionals, instead of mere traditional politicians. Willingness to learn from the people, over just popularity. That difference is going to be evident in the months to come as another election season begins.
The LP as the current opposition, of course, does not enjoy popular support. More than this, the Party has been at the receiving end of baseless accusations by no less than pubic figures whom we expect to be honest and discerning. As the target of misinformation campaigns, our credibility is constantly under attack. Thus, one concern is how this drowns out our voices when we speak for certain principles and advocacies. A healthy democracy demands dissent but in speaking out, we instead experience backlash because people have been conditioned to discredit us just because of our party membership. It is a challenge, therefore, to get valid concerns across and hard to engage others in genuine discourse that is necessary to help our country’s development. This is an unhealthy trend but one important way to fight it is to constantly advocate for the truth no matter how difficult and frustrating it can be. It is in such insistence on what is right that we can get through to our citizens. It can be slow, but my belief is that what is good and true will always prevail in the end. In establishing genuine connections with others and learning about their concerns, we can further inform our advocacies. Through this, they would be willing to listen to us as well.
What do you think of the pivot towards authoritarianism and reactionary populism in global politics is merely a temporary phenomenon that will eventually fade, or if it is emblematic of deeper, more fundamental issues with Establishment politics on a global level?
I think the fact that the recent shift towards authoritarianism and populism has been a product of elections in democracies points more towards the latter. It is a reflection of the dissatisfaction of the electorate with what it sees as governments that prioritize the favors of a select few over the fundamental needs of the majority. Of course, part of that has been fueled by the rise of so-called post-truths which is an aspect that has to be addressed as well. But essentially, what we are witnessing cannot be brushed off as a phenomenon we should wait out; there is a cost to the inaction and complacency that comes with that thinking. Instead, recognizing this as symptomatic of a deeper, systematic problem is the first step towards a more empathic approach. I believe coming from a place of empathy is crucial in finding the best solutions for the problems that remain unaddressed. In the end, the root of our current global predicament is a failure to make our citizens feel that we care about them, that equality is a genuine goal. If we are able to get across the message that we are paying attention and take steps towards genuine empowerment for them, they would not have to pin their hopes on the promises of a single individual.
How do you successfully deal with the backlash and resistance that have often proven to be very unpleasant? What lessons would you impart to progressive politicians and activists who face similar struggles?
The key to resilience is to never lose sight of what you are standing for and why. It does not make the regular experience of backlash in various forms—fake news, displays of sexism, attacks against my family—easy per se. And if the fight were only about me, I might have long been overwhelmed. But there is strength to be found in being clear in your principles and knowing that your struggles are for a good that is greater than yourself. I am sure that for those in public service, it was not easy to choose this life. But if you are still around, then there must have been a principle or an advocacy that you thought would be worth continuously making that tough choice. Focus on that reason and everything else that is irrelevant to your pursuit will be mere noise.
What are the major obstacles confronting women in politics, and how have you personally overcome them? What is there to be done specifically in the context of the Philippines?
While our country is often touted as an example to follow in terms of women participation in politics, there are still manifestations of sexism in this field. While there is no outright ban on women in office, and in fact, we have a lot of women both nationally and locally, there are more subtle forms of misogyny that are harmful all the same. Personally, I have been the subject of malicious rumors such as an alleged pregnancy and abortion. There are speculations about my personal relationships. I have been the subject of sexist jokes in public events, sometimes even in my actual presence. And when I speak against these, I am not taken seriously, called too sensitive, or even blamed. These experiences are not unique to me. I am sure many women in politics have gone through the same. It is ridiculous that attempts to discredit us come in such form when they have nothing to do with our professional work. Men are not targeted in the same way. You would not hear similar rumors about them, or have colleagues talking about parts of their bodies. And it is particularly insidious exactly because they can be lowkey. They can be in the form of so-called microaggressions fueled by negative assumptions about us and our competence simply because we are women. Thus, it can be hard for those who are not in our shoes to see how these can be hurtful, intentional or not. The way to counter this is to constantly speak up. In calling these things out consistently, we fight against the perpetuation of such a harmful culture. Like in most, if not all, parts of the world, in the Philippines, it begins with the kind of environment being cultivated. The obstacles women politicians face are symptoms of a more general, ingrained problem of misogyny in society. It is through constant education of citizens, both men and women, and even at a young age, that we can start cutting off the root of the problem. In empowering women to voice their concerns, we can establish just how urgent it is that we address them instead of brushing them off.
How do you envision Philippines-China relations as playing out over the next few years, and do you think they are trending in a healthy direction?
A friendship between our country and China would be very valuable. It would be beneficial to establish a healthy diplomatic relationship with them, given our geographic ties. More than that, we recognize that there is a lot we can learn from them. And the foundation of any healthy partnership is mutual respect. In between countries, the regard for each other’s sovereignty is paramount. Given the events in recent years, it is inevitable that the future of our relations would involve the dynamics related to the West Philippine Sea. I think it is reasonable to expect China to honor the arbitral ruling that has made our territorial rights clear. The greater international community has recognized the legitimacy of our claims, and China can set a significant example through their cooperation. From a place of mutual trust, we can maximize the engagement between our countries. But that friendship should never come at the expense of what is best for our country which would include the protection of our fishermen, our resources, our territory, and our economy. The Philippine government under the current administration and the ones to come should act consistent with that resolve. Whether or not we would have a healthy relationship with China rides on their willingness to respect our sovereignty and following that through with their actions.
What will be a political decision or action that she most regrets carrying out, and what would you have done differently in light of your current thoughts about it?
In my experience working in government immediately after college and then as an alternative lawyer, supporting my husband when he was mayor, and being Congresswoman and Vice President, I have learned that to make well-informed decisions is to make empowered ones. My entry into politics was not an easy choice and I was labeled a reluctant candidate when I first started campaigning for the Vice Presidency. There was truth to that, as the decision to run for national office was something my children and I thought very long and hard about, with them opposed to it at first. But in the end, for us, it all went back to the fact that there is something at stake that is bigger than our own comforts. Yet that conviction does not automatically make things easier. Even two and a half year into my term, to do this kind of work is still a constant, conscious choice. Whether it is in politics, in a school, or in a corporation, every kind of work has its own share of challenges. And in the particularly difficult times, it is only human to find yourself asking if you made the right choice after all. I have been fortunate enough to still feel affirmed in my decisions, especially in the past few years. I owe that in large part to those who work with me and support me and to the joy of witnessing how Angat Buhay has helped the lives of Filipinos in the margins. Despite all the challenges, I am continually grateful for the opportunity to create an impact this way. What is frustrating in the world of politics, especially in these times, is how sometimes good, hard work does not speak for itself. It is not enough to just get the job done because some would still refuse to recognize and even malign your work. Those who are out to criticize you for no good reason would try to discredit you no matter what. And when the programs and projects which are the collective effort of many good individuals and groups are vilified, you can feel regretful. Not regretful for doing the task but regretful that when tainted with politics, it can be difficult to convey the sense of hope we want to others. But we continue to step up to that task and we commit to work harder than ever to fight against a cynical system. To this end, we continue to work towards improving our decision-making for the benefit of the country and its people.