Another shot at genuine revolution

By Michael Henry Yusingco, LL.M

Interestingly, we can find parallels between now and the colonial era of Andres Bonifacio. A pillaging elite oppressing the population. A corrupt government machinery plundering the beauty and bounty of the country. Evidently, the revolutionary fire in the bellies of indios of yore is now intensely burning amongst Gen Z and Millennials.  While we do not need to unsheathe our bolos, we do need to confront the enemy—dynastic politicians behind the pork barrel cartel. This time we do so as voters.

Parents should be talking to their children every night about the evil of corruption, not as an abstract idea but as a concrete force that steals their future. Titos and Titas should be confronting nephews and nieces about the expenses, shortages, and dangers created by corrupt governance. Lolos and Lolas must be telling their apos the stories of what this country could have been if plunder had not derailed so much of our progress. The goal is to fuel in this generation an unquenchable hatred for corrupt politicians.

For sure, teachers and professors are devoting time in their classes to explain how corruption destroys societies—how it collapses bridges, floods cities, weakens hospitals, and keeps millions trapped in poverty. And journalists help parents, teachers, and communities understand the details by explaining how procurement works and how budgets are manipulated. This is not about being anti-government or being seditious; this is about building a society equipped to reject corruption at every turn.

The desired outcome is a polity that is unwilling to tolerate corruption. This is the cultural foundation necessary for true reform—a society where corruption is not just illegal, but socially unacceptable. Though a fundamentally corruption-averse civic consciousness is only one piece of the puzzle. The political arena itself must transform as well. And this is where Akbayan Party-list has a rare opportunity, one it cannot afford to waste. It is presently a political party that can spur profound change in electoral politics.

Akbayan is uniquely positioned to spearhead a shift away from personality-driven politics toward party-centered governance. In the recent midterm elections, they proved that disciplined organizing, clear policy positions, and constituency-building will resonate amongst Gen Z and Millennial voters. They succeeded where many others stagnated, showing that more Filipinos are willing to support leaders who stand for something more substantial than branding and theatrics.

Akbayan has the credibility, the grassroots machinery, and the policy expertise to lead this shift. But it must resist the temptation to play the old game. The anti-corruption fight is bigger than individual star candidates. It requires a slate of disciplined, data-driven, community-engaged leaders who can expose and unseat the entrenched pork barrel operators—not just for moral victory, but to rebuild the institutions they have sabotaged.

Now, with 2028 approaching, Akbayan faces a critical choice. It can fall back on traditional shortcuts—charismatic personalities, celebrity endorsements, quick fixes—or it can embrace the harder but more transformative path: grooming genuine reform champions capable of challenging dynastic incumbents in both the Senate and the House. The reality is this is the only way to achieve the systemic changes many Filipinos are demanding.

The pork barrel cartel has been exposed in a way that Filipinos can no longer ignore. Media is running round-the-clock coverage. The Ombudsman is aggressively pursuing cases rather than dismissing them.  Indeed, if there was ever a time to push for a political reset, it is now, when public anger is palpable, when corruption is the top national issue, and when ordinary citizens are clamouring for accountability.

If this anti-corruption rage is allowed to fade, we just return to the same cycle of suffering. But if it is harnessed, this very moment could be the beginning of a generational transformation—one driven by families inculcating democratic values, schools nurturing citizenship, media inspiring vigilance, and political parties manifesting good governance. The fury inflamed by rallies must be cultivated further in our homes and inside classrooms. Because genuine revolution will happen not in our streets, but in kitchen tables and chat groups.