During its national convention at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila on September 28, the Makabayan Coalition formally announced its platform, senatorial candidates, and nominees for party-list groups that will run under its banner in the 2025 elections. The event was attended by nearly 3,000 coalition supporters and members.

In his speech, Ka Paeng Mariano, peasant leader and one of the coalition’s chairpersons, shared that their campaign will focus on the people’s struggle for national democracy, for urgent relief, and the country’s sovereignty.

The coalition is aware that the election is dominated by political dynasties and traditional politicians who represent the interests of oligarchs, landlords, and foreign exploiters.

The coalition will field 11 senatorial candidates and four progressive party-list groups that represent women, teachers, youth, and other democratic sectors.

The coalition’s senatorial candidates are Teacher France Castro, Rep. Arlene Brosas, Jerome Adonis, Liza Maza, Ronnel Arambulo, Teddy Casiño, Danilo Ramos, Jocelyn Andamo, Mody Floranda, Mimi Doringo, and Amirah Lidasan. Atty. Neri Colmenares will be the first nominee for the Bayan Muna Party-list, former Rep. Sarah Elago for the Gabriela Women’s Party, former Rep. Antonio Tinio for the ACT Teachers Party-list, and Atty. Renee Co for the Kabataan Party-list.

In the gathering, senatorial candidate Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan sent a message of solidarity. The newly formed Health Workers Party-list expressed its full support for the coalition’s candidates. The party’s first nominee is Robert Mendoza, a midwife and Alliance of Health Workers national president.

The convention was formally closed by Ka Satur Ocampo, one of the coalition’s pillars and its president emeritus, and Rep. Raoul Manuel, one of the newly elected chairpersons of Makabayan.

The Makabayan senatorial candidates filed their certificates of candidacy on October 4.

Local Elections. The coalition will also field candidates in local elections. On September 30, Makabayan-National Capital Region (NCR) announced its six candidates for councilor in Caloocan District 1, Marikina District 2, Valenzuela District 2, Muntinlupa District 1, and Taguig District 1. They were introduced at the regional assembly in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

According to Makabayan-NCR, the 2025 elections are an opportunity to highlight the people’s issues in the region. “From the Senate to the council, let the people win!” is the group’s rallying cry.

Marcos and Duterte candidates

In stark contrast to the Makabayan ticket, the Marcos regime introduced its senatorial bets for the 2025 elections in a political rally on September 26 in Pasay City. The administration’s 12 senatorial candidates include representatives of landlords, comprador bourgeoisie, and bureaucrat capitalists from political dynasties.

Marcos’ bets are under the newly formed “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Alliance for a New Philippines), composed of five parties. The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP), and National Unity Party (NUP) all joined forces to form the notorious coalition.

The alliance shows how these political parties have come together in bowing to Marcos, but the CPP expects it to break apart soon like Marcos’s “uni-team” with the Dutertes in 2022. All those in the alliance are driven by self-interest to partake in the benefits of corruption and privilege, and will eventually go each other’s way to pursues their own political interests.

Meanwhile, the Duterte faction will field no less than four candidates for senator under the PDP-Laban party.