Blue wave, Filipino bills

What does an American election have to do with the price of diesel in Iloilo?

More than we might think. Imagine a virtual assistant in Iloilo waiting for work from a client in California. A nurse checking the status of a U.S. visa application. A family worried about a relative who might be deported. Even Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea have reasons to care about what Washington decides.

America is far away. Its politics rarely stays there.

The November 3 midterm elections brought what American commentators called a blue wave. Democrats won both chambers of Congress, including some seats Republicans had long counted on. Starting in January 2027, Trump will have to deal with an opposition-controlled Congress. His remaining two years in office could get rather interesting.

Beyond the political drama, though, I was struck by how familiar the voters’ worries sounded. Americans were worried about food prices, jobs, fuel, and the war with Iran. They had their political disagreements, of course, but they also had bills to pay. Apparently, even in America, people eventually grow tired of hearing that the economy is doing well when their grocery bills tell them otherwise.

Here at home, we may have to wait before seeing what the blue wave actually changes. American trade and foreign policies affect markets far beyond Washington, and Democrats may now be in a better position to challenge some of Trump’s decisions. But cheaper diesel in Iloilo just because Democrats won? That would be nice. Unfortunately, oil prices do not follow election results that neatly.

When an American company cuts spending, a Filipino freelancer may lose a client, or a BPO worker may lose an account. Exporters can receive fewer orders. Families relying on remittances have their own worries. A change in Congress does not automatically make life easier for any of them.

I have my own reasons for following American politics. My daughter and son-in-law work in the United States. I also have three aunts who are American citizens and five cousins living there. So when something happens in America, I think beyond the headlines. I think of people I love, how they are doing, and how decisions made there might affect their everyday lives.

For some Filipino migrant families, the worries go beyond work and income. Those with relatives facing possible deportation may welcome stronger congressional scrutiny of Trump’s immigration policies. But Democrats cannot simply order enforcement to stop. Trump remains president, and much of that authority stays with his administration. There may be room for hope, but families waiting for relief will need more than election results.

There was encouraging news, too, about Filipino-American participation in politics. Mark Pulido was leading his race for the California State Assembly, while Melissa Ramoso was among the leading candidates for the Artesia City Council in the same state. It is nice to see Filipino names on American ballots. But as we know back home, a familiar surname tells us little about how someone will govern. The real test, of course, is what they do if elected.

Then there is the West Philippine Sea, where American politics becomes a matter of national security. The United States remains an important defense partner, and Congress has a say in military funding and foreign-policy oversight. But it would be a mistake to assume that Democrats will automatically be better for Philippine interests. Both American parties have concerns about China, and both ultimately answer to American voters. Our interests often overlap, but they are not always the same.

I have also seen Filipinos comparing the blue wave with what might happen here in 2028. I understand the interest. Even loyal voters can change their minds when they become unhappy with their leaders. But America has its own political history and institutions. We have ours, with all the complications that come with them. Their experience is worth studying, though I would be careful about expecting the same story to unfold here.

Besides, winning an election is one thing. Governing afterward is another. Trump will still have his veto power. Democrats have disagreements within their own ranks. There will be hearings, negotiations, compromises, and probably enough political drama to fill the evening news. Having a majority in Congress does not automatically produce laws that improve people’s lives. We Filipinos know something about that.

What interests me more is what happens after the cheering stops. American voters will eventually want to know whether groceries have become more affordable, jobs are more secure, and government is doing what it promised. Those are ordinary expectations. We ask much the same questions of our own leaders.

I find it unsettling, though, how much of our daily life can depend on decisions made elsewhere. Imported fuel, overseas employment, outsourced jobs, and even our national security can be affected by political developments in a country where Filipino voters have no say.

Of course, we cannot simply turn away from America. Our economic ties, defense relationship, and family connections run too deep. I know that personally. But I sometimes wonder how much less vulnerable Filipino households might be if our own economy could better withstand political and economic changes abroad.

So I return to that diesel question.

A jeepney driver in Iloilo may have little interest in which party controls the U.S. Senate. He will still have to buy fuel, collect fares, and bring home whatever remains after a long day.

Somewhere in Washington, politicians are celebrating a blue wave.

Here, the driver is counting his change.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a “student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.