SPEAKING OUT
In the past week, Manila’s media has been ablaze with stories that range from impeachment raps against high officials to rising unemployment figures, from corporate scandals to leadership conferences promising “authentic communication.” For many ordinary Filipinos, however, the question is simple: How do these headlines touch our daily lives?
Politics and distrust
The impeachment noise surrounding high-ranking officials and the dismissal of cases against others has left many citizens weary. Each headline seems to confirm what the ordinary Filipino already suspects—that politics is a game played above their heads, with little regard for their daily struggles.
Yet distrust in institutions is not just about politicians. It is about the erosion of confidence in systems meant to protect us—whether courts, regulators, or even the media itself. When leaders appear more concerned with survival than service, the Filipino on the street asks: Who is speaking for us?
Economics and survival
The latest figures show 2.26 million Filipinos jobless as of December, a sobering reminder that behind every statistic is a family struggling to pay rent, buy rice, or send children to school. Rising fuel costs and unstable wages compound the anxiety. For jeepney drivers, vendors, and call center workers, the headlines about economic frameworks or corporate disputes are less important than the price of diesel and the security of tomorrow’s paycheck.
The hunger for authenticity
It is no accident that events like SpeakersCon 2026, themed “Redefining Authenticity,” are gaining traction. Ordinary Filipinos crave leaders who speak plainly, act transparently, and connect sincerely. Authenticity is not a buzzword—it is the antidote to distrust. When a barangay captain explains flood control in simple terms, or a teacher reassures parents about school safety, that is authenticity in action.
What resonates most
For the ordinary Filipino, the resonance lies not in the spectacle of impeachment hearings or corporate scandals, but in the lived reality of survival and dignity. What matters is whether leaders can translate power into protection, rhetoric into rice, and promises into paychecks.
The challenge for our institutions is clear: to rebuild trust by speaking the language of the people, and by acting in ways that tangibly improve their daily lives. Until then, headlines will remain noise, and the Filipino will continue to look elsewhere—for authenticity, for hope, and for solidarity. ([email protected])
