The Philippines is one of many countries that suffer from political incompetence, dominated by political dynasties and political patronage.

If you ask any Filipino what they think about the Philippine government, they would express their frustration with the system and how, most particularly, the minority, the less fortunate, and the lower and working classes often suffer the most. From job hunting and public transportation to stretching a minimum wage through relentless inflation and finding housing.

They are the ones who cannot afford privilege.

They will go on and on about why they don’t feel safe, secure, and supported by the very government that is meant to serve them. They suffer from the choices they did not have.

It is understandable why some people choose not to vote and choose silence. It is easy to look at an election and feel a deep sense of political fatigue. Given the systemic corruption and a political system that often feels disconnected from what its people go through in their daily lives, stepping away from the voting process is an understandable response.

For many citizens, non-voting or abstention does not stem from laziness or civic apathy, but from a silent protest against an already broken system, reflecting low political efficacy.

However, if we analyze the electoral systems and socioeconomic structures more precisely, it becomes clear that the real privilege a person can have is being able to step out of politics without suffering significantly adverse effects. Something that most communities simply cannot afford.

True, the lack of political education and awareness during elections, as well as the country's low educational attainment, are simply some of the many factors that lead Filipinos to vote for popular candidates: those with established names through Philippine media, such as movies or teleseryes, and those from well-known families with histories of elected government officials, like the Marcoses, Tulfos, Romualdezes, Villars, and Dutertes.

It is not the people who are failing, but rather a systemic failure of the government to invest in accessible education and civic awareness.

In 2015, the Los Baños Times published a study on why voters don’t vote. The study found that national events and public trust often directly influence how many Filipinos show up to vote on election day. It also stated that major historical events right before an election heavily influence whether people feel excited or discouraged about voting.

Hence, when a scandal breaks out and reveals that the system is rigged, inaccurate, and does not serve the people, voters lose enthusiasm.

However, even if it is an understandable choice, it is not a valid one. Sitting out an election is not a neutral choice, but a luxury and an acceptance of the doomed daily lives of low-income earners.

Those who don’t vote are surrendering their most basic form of democratic participation. Giving up is how politicians come to power. Politicians who serve their own business interests and needs often win because many people choose not to participate.

In 2021, COMELEC presented data showing that there were 73 million eligible voters in the country, but only 58 million were registered.

A common argument for non-voting is that abstention serves as a strategic protest. But politicians do not see it as a profound protest. Non-voters are simply invisible.

Surrendering one’s basic democratic participation means handing over power to self-serving leaders.

Democracy does not happen when you accept what seems to be inevitable. You lose the moment you choose not to fight for the people who put rice on your table.