Makabayan bloc fields grassroots leaders, 4 lawmakers for 2025 Senate race

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven senatorial aspirants from the Makabayan Coalition, an opposition bloc, filed their certificates of candidacy before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, October 4. 

Under the “Taumbayan sa Senado” banner, the slate of senatorial aspirants is composed of sectoral leaders from marginalized groups in society. 

This is in contrast to the administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” which has a lineup of familiar faces in government, many of whom are members of political clans.

After previously fielding only one to three senatorial candidates, the Makabayan bloc said that they learned how “it will not work” unless they run as a team and field a whole slate.

Lawmakers and grassroots leaders. Four of those vying for a Senate seat were three-term minority lawmakers in the House of Representatives under party-lists of the Makabayan bloc. 

Two of them are incumbent representatives: Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party and France Castro of ACT Teachers Party-list. Both lawmakers have served in the lower chamber from the 17th to 19th Congresses. 

Seeking a comeback in government. Two three-term lawmakers are looking for a return to Congress, but this time in the Senate. These are former party-list representatives Liza Maza and Teddy Casiño. 

Maza represented Bayan Muna during her first term in 2001 and subsequently served two consecutive terms with Gabriela from 2004 to 2010. 

Among the notable bills she has passed are the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, the Magna Carta for Women and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Before becoming chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in 2023, Casiño represented the Bayan Muna party-list for nine years, from 2004 to 2013.

The former lawmaker passed laws that reduced the financial burden of low-income earners. These laws include The Tax Relief Act of 2009 and The Rent Control Act of 2009. 

Seven grassroots leaders. The other seven senatorial hopefuls of the Makabayan bloc are ordinary people who have witnessed first-hand the struggles that their respective marginalized sectors endure daily. 

These are labor leader Jerome Adonis, peasant leaders Danilo