March 13, 2025 l Manila Bulletin
The dilemma of whether voters will be influenced by “national ignorance” or educated judgment persists as the Philippines’ national elections in May 2025 get near. Historically, the latter has frequently won out, with politicians taking advantage of cognitive weaknesses.
Several concerning trends indicate the prevalence of misinformation. According to a 2022 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, while awareness of some national issues has improved, critical gaps remain, particularly in understanding complex topics like economic policy and foreign relations. This implies that although information is becoming more accessible, people’s capacity to evaluate and contextualize it is lagging.
Recent data also reveals that many Filipinos still overestimate the country’s economic performance compared to regional neighbors. This exaggerated view may cause complacency and a lack of urgency when calling for economic reforms and improved governance.
Moreover, spreading false information on social media continues to be a serious issue. According to a 2024 study by the think firm Stratbase ADR Institute, many Filipinos find it difficult to distinguish between reliable and fake news sources, particularly on social media sites like Facebook and TikTok. Research from 2023 indicates a decrease in trust in traditional media outlets, exacerbating this susceptibility and making social media an even more powerful but possibly untrustworthy source of information.
This condition may be made worse by specific cultural characteristics of Filipinos. Even though they are frequently viewed as assets, traits like high emotionality, a propensity for overconfidence, and the widespread use of social media make an environment easy to manipulate.
Filipinos use social media for an average of four hours a day, making the Philippines one of the most popular countries in the world. Social media can be an effective tool for sharing knowledge, but it also reinforces preexisting biases by spreading false information and creating echo chambers.
Furthermore, poverty rates are still a major problem, even though they have somewhat decreased. According to recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, a significant section of the population continues to live below the poverty line, which restricts access to trustworthy information, healthcare, and education. A 2023 World Bank study reaffirmed the connection between poverty and cognitive function, emphasizing how financial difficulties might affect one’s capacity to make decisions.
Misinformation, cultural inclinations, social media saturation, and ongoing poverty, when combined, create a hazardous environment that politicians can take advantage of. Our leaders must adopt policies that encourage critical thinking and concentrate on real challenges.
A multifaceted strategy is needed to break this pattern. Education reform must be a top priority for the Department of Education to improve media literacy and critical thinking abilities. Civil society organizations must step up their efforts to counteract misinformation and encourage ethical social media usage. Additionally, the government must keep working to reduce poverty and increase access to economic and educational possibilities.
In the end, it is up to the Filipino people to hold their leaders accountable and transparent and to make decisions based on facts. The 2025 elections offer a chance to make a different decision that puts reasoned judgment ahead of “national ignorance” and opens the door to a more wealthy and just future.
***The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. For comments, email rey.lugtu@hungryworkhorse.com. Photo is from Pinterest.