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DIVIDED The contrasting priorities between competence and popularity in the upcoming 2025 elections highlight a pressing issue for Mambajaonons. Survey results reveal a stark divide: while MNHS students push for informed voting to secure the nation's future, the influence of media visibility continues to dominate decision-making among many residents in Balintawak. .........

1 A Generation’s plea

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MNHS students urge voters to prioritize the nation's future over fleeting fame, emphasizing the need for competence in leadership.

2 The Risks of Fame

The 2025 elections are viewed as a gamble, with unqualified candidates ........................... potentially gaining office due to media-driven popularity. .....

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3 The Power of Education

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People nowadays vote for who they like, and not for who is right, and it’s alarming how popularity has overshadowed competence, putting our future at risk, that’s why we need to choose leaders who can truly serve the people.

Through discussions and initiatives, MNHS advocates for informed voting to break the cycle of superficial electoral choices.

4 Democracy in their hands

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First-time voters in MNHS highlight the critical role of discernment and education in shaping the nation's trajectory.

DENDO BOLO SSLG President

INFORMED CHOICES

’s e r u fut oice ch

Mambajaonons sound the alarm on 2025 electoral gamble, calls for informed voting and change by DHANIELA BIANCA ABIAN

ith the critical 2025 national elections looming, students of Mambajao National High School are sounding the alarm as uninformed voting still threatens the nation’s future. Led by the Supreme Student Government (SSLG), they urge voters to break free from the cycle of uninformed decisions and choose wisely —a plea to break free from the shackles of ill-informed electoral choices.

In a powerful demonstration of civic awareness, Mambajao National High School students are calling attention to the risks posed by uninformed voting. Through discussions, surveys, and advocacy efforts, they hope to influence the electorate—especially first-time voters like themselves—to prioritize competence and integrity over fame in choosing leaders for the 2025 National Elections. The concern stems from the publication’s recent survey conducted in Balintawak, Mambajao, which revealed a worrying trend: a significant portion of respondents admitted to being swayed by social media personalities and popular figures when selecting candidates. “People nowadays vote for who they like, and not for who is right. It’s alarming how popularity has overshadowed competence, putting our future at risk. We need to choose leaders who can truly serve the people”, remarked by Dendo Bolo, SSLG President, during in an interview. The sentiment resonates deeply with the SSLG's ongoing campaign for informed voting. These young advocates view the upcoming election as a pivotal moment—a high-stakes gamble that could define the nation's trajectory. They see the electorate’s inclination to choose based on charisma, name recognition, or media presence rather than capability as a cycle that needs to be broken.

2024 RSPC

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Popularity VS Competence A stark contrast emerges from the survey: 85.6% of MNHS students prioritize competence in candidates, but 88.9% of Balintawak residents still lean heavily toward candidates with media visibility.

First-time Voter Insights Among first-time voters in MNHS, 67.3% shared their anxiety about the possibility of unqualified leaders gaining office due to fame and media exposure.

Social Media’s Impact 74.2% of MNHS students believe social media platforms play a significant role in shaping public perceptions of candidates, often amplifying their popularity over their qualifications.

BREAKING FREE The SSLG believes that this effort to educate and empower voters is a step toward untying the binds of ignorance, ensuring that future elections are decided by informed minds rather than fleeting popularity. "When we vote with knowledge and wisdom, we are choosing freedom— freedom from mediocrity and the chains of poor governance,” Bolo concluded. This initiative marks a pivotal moment not just for Mambajao but for the nation, as these young advocates prove that breaking free from ignorance is within reach. A CALL FOR CHANGE For Mambajaonons, the stakes are too high to ignore. The SSLG's efforts aim to inspire critical thinking and discernment among voters—not just students but their families and neighbors as well. The campaign includes voter education sessions, community discussions, and interactive surveys to emphasize that the power to break free from poor leadership lies in informed choices. As one student put it: “We cannot afford to be strangled by our own choices. This election isn’t just about today; it’s about our tomorrow.” The youth of Mambajao have made their call clear: it’s time to break the loop of uninformed voting and choose leaders who will steer the nation toward a brighter future.

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