BY ALEX ALAGON
MANILA – Against a backdrop of persistent corruption scandals, declining trust in top national leaders, and fragile business and investor confidence, a majority of Filipinos remain pessimistic about the country’s prospects heading into 2026.
Six in ten voters (58%) say they are pessimistic about the state of the country as the new year approaches. While this marks an improvement from 70% last quarter, it remains significantly higher than the 49% recorded a year ago—underscoring that pessimism, though easing, continues to dominate public sentiment.
Optimism has rebounded to 42%, up from 30% last quarter, but still below last year’s 51%. This improvement is largely driven by more favorable expectations for the national economy and household finances, which appear to be cushioning the negative effects of ongoing political and governance concerns.
Governance concerns outweigh economic worries
Despite improving economic expectations, Filipinos increasingly view the current state of the nation as weak and moving in the wrong direction, with both indicators now at their highest levels since tracking began. Only 24% describe the country’s condition as strong (down from 27% in Q3), while 49% consider it weak (up from 45%). Similarly, just 31% believe the country is headed in the right direction, down from 33% last quarter.
Notably, this pessimism is not primarily driven by economic anxiety. Looking ahead, 37% expect the national economy to improve in the next quarter, while an even higher 55% anticipate better household financial conditions—clear signs of short-term economic optimism.
The disconnect points instead to a deepening erosion of public trust, fueled by unresolved corruption controversies, weak accountability among top officials, and uncertainty over political leadership. These governance issues continue to undermine confidence despite improving economic signals.
Regional and sectoral divide in confidence
Pessimism is most pronounced in the Visayas and Mindanao, among the youth sector (ages 18–20), high-income earners, government workers, non-OFW households, and respondents with no formal education or a college background, reflecting stronger dissatisfaction with governance and national direction.
In contrast, South Luzon and Visayas register the highest optimism regarding economic and household prospects for the first quarter of 2026, highlighting a growing divide between economic expectations and confidence in national leadership.
PEOY-2025 is an independent, non-commissioned nationwide purposive sampling survey conducted from December 7 to 10, 2025, comprising 1,500 respondents who are registered Filipino voters, randomly selected from the market research panel of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with global operations and a regional office in Singapore.
A CONSUMER group is urging power distributors and electric cooperatives to end what it calls the annual “January Brownout” tradition while urging the power sector to come up with a reliability plan to prevent this from happening.
In the last two years, the Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) noted that, at the turn of the New Year, there have been seemingly more frequent and widespread power outages in January.
On Jan. 2, 2024, just a day after New Year celebrations, Western Visayas, including Panay and Guimaras, was plunged into a massive blackout. The outage lasted for several days, affecting around 4.5 million people and causing hundreds of millions in estimated economic losses. Full power was restored only by January 5.
In early January 2025, consumers again endured a wave of scheduled and unscheduled power interruptions in parts of Luzon and the Visayas. Maintenance work and system issues forced many families to adjust their work, school, and small-business operations around hours without electricity.
Filipino households have now welcomed both January 2024 and January 2025 in the dark. Blackouts and prolonged interruptions turned what should be a season of joy into a period of anxiety, lost income, and daily disruption. As the country enters January 2026, consumers expect a power sector that prioritizes reliability over excuses and press statements, and that treats every home as a priority rather than collateral damage of a fragile energy system.
Nic Satur Jr., chief advocate officer of PARE, emphasized that the recurring pattern of holiday and New Year outages is unacceptable. He noted that households already pay one of the highest electricity rates in Southeast Asia.
In Western Visayas, the January 2024 blackout left Panay and Guimaras in darkness for days. Residents and businesses were severely affected, exposing how vulnerable the grid becomes when multiple power plants trip simultaneously.
“Families who faithfully pay their bills each month should not have to welcome the new year worrying about whether the lights will stay on,” Satur said.
“For two straight years, Filipino families have started January with brownouts instead of stability,” Satur added. “This 2026, consumers are not asking for miracles. We are asking for a power sector that does its basic job and keeps the lights on.”
For PARE and allied consumer groups, January 2026 should serve as a test of whether government and industry have learned from the Panay crisis and subsequent interruptions.
They argue that this year should bring fewer large-scale outages, faster restoration times, lower system losses, and clear, verifiable plans to prevent a repeat of January 2024 and 2025. “If after all the Senate and Congress hearings and statements we still start 2026 in the dark, then the government has chosen excuses over consumers,” Satur said.
The group is calling on DOE, NGCP, ERC, NEA, and distribution utilities to jointly publish a January reliability plan jointly. This plan should detail available reserves, contingency measures, and safeguards for vulnerable islands and provinces. It should also ensure that critical power plants follow approved maintenance schedules, that workable backup options are in place when large units trip, and that transmission constraints do not once again turn January power interruptions into island-wide blackouts.
BY ALEX ALAGON
SET TO take office on Jan. 1, 2026, the Zohran Mamdani administration augurs a new era of democratic socialism in the heart of America’s capitalist Mecca.
Initially, many jaded observers ignored Mamdani’s campaign– until he won the Democratic primary in June 2025, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo, and was elected mayor in the November general election.
As a one-time New Yorker, I see it as the first campaign in decades that actually reflects the full diversity of the city, where almost 40 percent of the residents are foreign-born.
Unity amid polarization
In a time of cold conservatism, deep divides, and bloodthirsty xenophobia, Zohran Mamdani’s campaign proved triumphant. He offered an entirely new economic blueprint and a sense of unity across class, gender, and race.
New York City exhibits extreme income inequality, perhaps the highest in metropolitan America, characterized by a wide gap between high-wage earners in sectors like finance and a large portion of the population struggling with the city’s high cost of living. In such an environment, Mamdani’s message on affordability resonated widely.
During the campaign, he faced huge political obstacles. NYC’s billionaires and business leaders contributed over $40 million to anti-Mamdani political action groups, including $8.3 million by former mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But even the billionaire class is no longer united. Some figures, such as the hedge fund hawk Bill Ackman and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, have publicly offered to work with the new administration, suggesting a split in the unified opposition.
A campaign of equity, hope, and future
Impressively, Mamdani campaigned on socialist ideas that mainstream Democrats have shunned for too long (and even European social democrats prefer to disguise). He supports LGBTQ rights and broad public safety reform.
As Mamdani said after his win, “I am Muslim, I am a democratic socialist and most damning of all I refuse to apologize for any of this.”
His platform zoomed in on affordability, supporting fare-free city buses, universal public child care, city-owned grocery stores, a rent freeze on rent-stabilized units, additional affordable housing units, and a $30 minimum wage by 2030.
Central to his platform are plans for universal free childcare and free buses, which require tax increases on corporations and wealthy New Yorkers, and state approval.
Mamdani plans to invest $100 billion (including $70 billion in municipal bonds) over the next 10 years to build 200,000 permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes.
Progressive international outlook
Resting on his democratic socialist views, Mamdani’s international outlook centers on prioritizing local action for global justice and connecting local issues (housing, policing) to international struggles against oppression, emphasizing “morality in our foreign policy.”
In particular, Mamdani condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza, supports the boycott movement against Israel (BDS), and advocates for Palestinian rights.
Recognizing NYC’s unique international connections, he hopes to challenge U.S. policies abroad by fostering solidarity and applying pressure from the municipal level.
Amid Trump’s crude autocratic policies and xenophobic Christian nationalism, Mamdani’s win has been seen as a victory for progressive politics, challenging mainstream Democratic stances and empowering youth and minority voters.
Then again, socialist ideas are far more typical to 21st century America than official stances might lead one to presume.
Socialism is rising, especially among the young
Despite anti-Mamdani campaigns funded by the Big Apple’s billionaire class, times are changing. In the recent September 2025 Fox News poll, the NYC voters held a slightly more favorable view of capitalism (48% favorable) compared to socialism (41% favorable).
However, these ratings differ significantly across various demographic and ethnic groups, primarily along lines of political party, gender, and age.
Democrats, who account for two-thirds of New Yorkers, have not only a net negative view of capitalism but a net positive view of socialism (49% favorable to 35% unfavorable). This gap is even wider nationally, with 66% of Democrats viewing socialism favorably.
Moreover, polling data, while more national, shows a strong age progression, with younger voters’ (under 35) more favorable views of socialism.
Some preconditions of success
If Mamdani is to succeed, he must find a way to implement key parts of his agenda and deliver tangible results for working-class New Yorkers and gain broad public support.
Reflecting their diverse challenges, Mamdani’s team is a curious mix of new progressive activists and old and experienced government veterans like First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan and Budget Director Sherif Soliman. These two sets of actors must balance zeal and experience.
Mamdani’s policies on affordability, such as a rent freeze on rent-stabilized units and creating city-owned grocery stores, must prove effective to resonate with voters and result in widespread public backing to allow him to overcome political opposition.
More broadly, success requires effective state-level cooperation with Governor Kathy Hochul and the state legislature. The new administration must win their approval for major priorities like free city buses and raising taxes on the wealthy to fund universal childcare.
Then, there’s the thorny federal relationship. Despite high-profile public conflicts during the campaign, his relationship with the Trump administration started with a surprisingly cordial and productive tone on shared interests like housing development and general economic health, which could ensure continued federal funding.
From headwinds to tailwinds?
Conversely, a full-blown war with the federal administration would result in federal incursions, including the ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) police, which many New Yorkers regard as “Trump’s Gestapo,” or the withdrawal of vital federal funding, which would cripple NYC’s budget and resources.
As the Mamdani era begins, all gloves will be off. Due to their deep ties with NYC’s financial giants, the entrenched political class, including conservative Democrats, will do anything they can to shoot down the new administration’s initiatives.
Whatever the effective future of the Mamdani administration, its rise reflects new political winds in America, deeply polarized by untenable class conflicts, gender divides, age-old race bias, and profound splits on immigration.
If Mamdani can make it in New York City, his followers can make it in America – and elsewhere in the world.
Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognized strategist of the multipolar world and the founder of Difference Group. He has served at the India, China and America Institute (USA), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net
VINFAST, the rising Vietnam-born Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) brand, is strengthening its presence in the Southern Philippines with the opening of its first dealership in Mindanao. In partnership with HighGear Concepts, Inc, VinFast’s new dealership located at Santa Lucia Mall, Buhangin District, Davao City, brings its popular future-ready automotive innovations closer to Davaoeños.
The rising EV car brand entered the Philippines in 2024 and has since made bold expansion strides in the local market with the successful opening of its 23 showrooms in Manila. Less than a year since its market entry, VinFast has steadily grown its presence in key cities outside Metro Manila and is expected to open 30 dealerships nationwide by the end of the year.
The automaker’s latest expansion milestone in Davao City reinforces VinFast’s commitment to propelling Filipinos and the Philippines forward through sustainable mobility. The dealership houses VinFast’s popular BEVs, including the VF 3, VF 5, VF 6, VF 7, and VF 9.
“VinFast’s range of new-energy automotive innovations complements Davao City’s sustainable mobility transformation. We are elated to be the first to bring and introduce VinFast’s next-generation mobility solutions to Davaoeños,” said Mr. Lyndon Ong, spokesperson of HighGear Concepts, Inc.
The Davao-based VinFast Dealership HighGear will also serve as the service center for the EV units, offering after-sales support through HighGear’s expansive network of services in Davao City.
“Our new dealership in Davao City marks the start of VinFast’s expansion in the region. We hope that our presence here will bolster the city’s mobility transformation and help make green mobility more accessible for more Davaoeños and Mindanaoans in the years ahead,” said Toti Zara, CEO for VinFast Southeast Asia.
METRO MANILA — In many Philippine cities, daily mobility is a familiar part of urban life, yet it is far from simple. In Manila, Cebu, and Davao, residents continue to rely heavily on jeepneys, habal-habal, tricycles, and traditional taxis because these options are affordable and easy to access. For many communities, these remain the most practical ways to commute, take children to school, or manage daily livelihoods.
As cities grow denser, the limits of these familiar options have become increasingly apparent. Urban mobility studies show that commuters in major Philippine cities spend more than 2 hours a day traveling. Nearly 70% of passengers report combining two or three modes of transport in a single journey to arrive on time. This highlights a widening gap between everyday mobility needs and existing public transportation capacity.
That gap is particularly evident to visitors. Many travelers are open to experiencing jeepneys as part of local culture, but long journeys in open vehicles without air conditioning during heavy traffic can feel tiring and unsafe. “I enjoy the energy of the streets, but during rush hour, I really wish for a closed, air-conditioned ride where I can rest,” said Daniel Wong, a visitor from Singapore.
Similar sentiments are increasingly expressed by residents online. In a public discussion, a Facebook account named Maria Lopez noted that people should remain open to positive change, provided new options make daily travel more convenient and do not impose additional burdens on passengers. In this view, improving mobility means complementing existing modes rather than replacing them.
From another perspective, a Facebook account named Adrian Cruz suggested that competition, when properly managed, benefits passengers by increasing choice and accessibility and encouraging gradual improvements in vehicle quality and service standards.
As mobility needs continue to diverge, gaps in everyday travel experiences have become more visible. When not every trip is defined solely by speed and affordability, a growing segment of commuters begins to seek options that feel more manageable, particularly as urban density increases and travel times lengthen.
In this context, the arrival of electric vehicles is not about replacing familiar modes of transport but about addressing unmet needs in specific situations. For many passengers, especially older commuters, families with children, and visitors, electric vehicles offer an additional option that makes journeys less taxing, with enclosed cabins, consistent air conditioning, and a clearer sense of comfort during peak hours.
These shifts in passenger expectations also have direct implications for drivers. As travel experience becomes more relevant, operating costs and income stability move to the forefront. Amid fluctuating fuel prices, a Facebook account named Paulo Reyes, in a public post, noted that reducing reliance on conventional fuel can help drivers better manage expenses and maintain more predictable earnings over time. Lower operating pressure allows drivers to structure their working hours more sustainably, which in turn supports better service quality for passengers.
Alongside cost considerations, vehicle quality has increasingly entered public discussion. A Facebook account named Jonathan Lim noted that many older taxi units have been in service for over a decade and often fall short of current expectations for cleanliness and safety. From this perspective, gradual fleet upgrades, including more environmentally friendly options, are not simply about technology but about improving the everyday travel experience.
Viewed more broadly, mobility for most Filipinos is not an abstract policy debate. It is a practical, daily concern. Where public transport remains insufficient, the coexistence of multiple transport options becomes inevitable. When managed effectively, this diversity can deliver the most significant benefit to passengers while creating room for drivers to improve their working conditions. In cities defined by constant movement, what people ultimately seek is straightforward: journeys that feel manageable and trustworthy enough to sustain daily life.
DAVAO Light and Power Co., Inc., through its Metering Support Department (MSD), held a gift-giving activity for the elderly at Golden Haven Retirement Homes in Riverside, Calinan, Davao City, on Dec. 11.
The activity fostered camaraderie, respect, and faith among MSD team members while sharing care and compassion with the community.
THE DEVOTEES of the Poong Jesus Nazareno in Davao City will celebrate the 11th Fiesta of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno on Jan. 9, 2026, Friday.
The official replica of the Mahal na Poong Jesus Nazareno is enshrined in Our Lady of Peñafrancia GKK Chapel, DECA Homes Esperanza Tigatto, Buhangin, Davao City. The chapel is under the canonical jurisdiction of San Alfonso Maria de Liguori Parish, Mandug.
The official replica of the Mahal na Poong Nazareno will visit the selected parishes of the Archdiocese of Davao during the Novena days leading up to the fiesta.
- On Jan. 3-5, the Nazareno will visit San Pedro Cathedral.
- On Jan. 6-7, the Nazareno will visit Our Lady of the Assumption, F. Torres St.
- On Jan. 8, the Nazareno will visit San Alfonso Maria de Liguori Parish, Mandug.
- On Jan. 9, 2026, Friday, there will be a Solemn Traslacion Procession which will start at San Alfonso Maria de Liguori Parish, Mandug, and will end at Our Lady of Peñafrancia GKK Chapel, DECA Homes Esperanza Tigatto. It will start at 8 a.m.
A fiesta mass will be celebrated after the procession at 10 a.m. Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D., of the Archbishop of Davao will be the main celebrant.
There will be another fiesta mass at 6 p.m.
All devotees are encouraged to bring images of the Poong Nazareno to be blessed by the priests after the fiesta mass. Hundreds of devotees and faithful will join in the said festivities.
By Lynnyth Valera Aguilar
MINORITY Care International is not just helping us but also teaching us how to give back to the community. That’s one of the most important principles I have learned. MCI provides guidance and inspiration that leaves a lasting impact on my life and future career path.
As a scholar and a political science student, I have come to understand that education is not meant to be kept for oneself alone. It is a responsibility, one that calls us to serve, to uplift, and to give back to the people and the place that shaped who we are. These lessons are often never forgotten
Through MCI, I was given countless opportunities to grow, not only academically, but as a leader, a speaker, and a servant. Minority Care International is a platform that cultivates purpose-driven individuals. Success is not just about personal wealth, having big cars, big houses, or career accomplishments, but as an opportunity to help others and leave a legacy.
I must first do something good, like what Sir Aland and my community did for me, and that will benefit the people who need it most. Our country is facing a leadership crisis, characterized by widespread public distrust fueled by high-profile corruption, scandals, lack of moral and personal integrity, and accountability.
I remember a long time ago, in one of our fellowships, Sir Aland shared with us that MCI believes every one of us has a place in society. That part cannot be played by anybody else in the world. Being poor and underprivileged does not really matter. What matters is that MCI provides an opportunity for motivated young people to obtain an education that will enable them to make the most of their individual gifts. It is great to see that each one has unique gifts with none having exactly the same ones.
Besides teaching the students to use their skills and gifts, MCI helps students fulfill their dreams. MCI is a place where those dreams can be achieved, and hope can grow. Today, the blackboard is clean; the lessons still have to be written.
MCI believes that scholars are not just achievers, but future servants of their communities, and that belief changed how I see myself and my role in society.
One of the most transformative experiences was being chosen as a representative in a Cultural Exchange Program in Greenville, Texas, during the summer of 2025.
There, I had the privilege of working in a law firm, where I learned firsthand how a legal office operates, how cases are processed, and how justice is pursued through integrity and service. By allowing me to experience international standards and perspectives, MCI empowered me to envision better systems and more inclusive leadership for my own community. That experience strengthened my passion for governance, law, and community-centered leadership.
This recognition is a blessing, not only for me, but for the organization and community I represent. I do not see it just as an award, but as an achievement that inspires me to continue honoring my roots. Through MCI, I was able to present my culture internationally and carry with me the values of being a Tupinian.
I no longer see myself as an ordinary citizen, but as a woman committed to contributing meaningfully to her bountiful community.
Beyond this achievement are the people who wholeheartedly supported this journey: the MCI benefactors; the RBC community filled with people close to my heart; my employer, Atty. Holly Gotcher; my host family, Ma’am Betty Moody; Dr. Gloria Brun-Amaya; Ma’am Kay Mizell; Atty. Susan Cariaga, and my mentor, the president of MCI, Dr. Aland Mizell. Through the glory of God, these remarkable individuals have been instruments of grace in my life.
Tupi is where my growth was witnessed and where my values were shaped. It is the community that nurtured my dreams long before the world recognized them, and the place I will always return to with gratitude and humility.
Because of Minority Care International, I now carry not only opportunities, but a purpose to transform what I have learned into service and leadership. I remain committed to always bringing back whatever I gain, knowledge, global perspectives, opportunities, and hope to uplift future scholars and inspire the next generation to believe that they, too, can serve beyond borders. I want to thank Dr. Mizell, who guided me, directed me, and continues to correct me when I am not doing right.
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Lynnyth Valera Aguilar is a third-year BS in Political Science student at the University of Mindanao and a recipient of the Minority Care International Student Exchange Scholarship to the USA
