By Juliane Judilla
The campaign period for senatorial and party-list candidates in the 2025 midterm elections officially began Tuesday, Feb. 11, with major coalitions and political groups launching their opening salvos across the region.
In Panay, the MAKABAYAN Coalition-Panay kicked off its campaign with Byaheng Makabayan, a send-off caravan from Jaro Plaza to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol. The event introduced the coalition’s senatorial slate of 11 candidates and four party-list groups: Kabataan, Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, and Gabriela Women’s Party. Similar caravans were held in Capiz and Aklan.
In addition to its four current party-list groups, Makabayan is also campaigning for the Health Workers Party-list.
“Our campaign is centered on fighting for the rights of marginalized sectors—workers, teachers, youth, and women,” said Irma Espinosa, Bayan Muna’s seventh nominee.
“We are bringing our platforms directly to the people, ensuring their demands are heard in Congress,” she added.
“Kabataan Party-list has long championed the voice of the youth in communities, schools, workplaces, and especially in Congress,” said Crimson Labinghisa, Kabataan’s ninth nominee.
As part of their grassroots efforts, volunteers from various sectors conducted rekoridas, flyering, and house-to-house campaigns to promote their candidates’ people-centered advocacies.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party’s Iloilo chapter launched its campaign with a motorcade, endorsing senatorial candidates Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, along with its party-list bet, Mamamayang Liberal.
With the midterm elections just three months away, the battle for Senate and party-list seats is expected to intensify as candidates continue their nationwide campaigns.