Beyond the Ballot: Angara Calls for a New Revolution in Education After Historic Voter Turnout

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As the dust settles from the heated battlefield of the 2025 midterm elections, one voice rises above the celebratory noise—not in triumph, but in challenge. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, speaking in the wake of an electoral turnout that galvanized nearly 80% of the nation’s 68 million registered voters, offered both a message of gratitude and a powerful call to action: champion education, or risk betraying the promise of democracy.

In a moment that could have easily been consumed by political self-congratulations, Angara chose instead to shine a spotlight on the deeper meaning of democracy. “We are grateful to every Filipino who exercised their right to vote. Democracy is our people staying engaged, especially in causes that shape the future, like education,” he declared.

His words, laced with sincerity and urgency, served as both tribute and dare. If the vote was the spark, then education must be the fire that sustains it.

A Mandate Renewed, a Mission Reimagined

Angara aligned his sentiments with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s post-election message, calling the peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls a “renewal of our democracy.” But he did not stop there. “Now, we must channel that same commitment to the long-term work ahead, ensuring that every Filipino child has access to quality learning aligned with our Bagong Pilipinas vision,” Angara asserted.

His call comes at a critical juncture. The elections ushered in a wave of new leaders—some returning veterans of public service, others young reformists armed with idealism. But for Angara, hope is not enough. “Leadership needs clarity,” he said through Undersecretary Ron Mendoza during the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) national data dissemination forum.

He challenged the incoming public servants to translate data into action. Every number in a literacy report, every statistic on school access, every indicator of digital divide—they are not just metrics. “For the hands of newly elected leaders, every percentage point becomes a budget line, a classroom, a reading corner, a chance at a better life.”

Teachers: Unsung Heroes of Democracy

In an impassioned recognition of those who stand on the frontline of both education and civic duty, Angara lauded over 600,000 teachers and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel who served as poll workers across the nation. “Our teachers once again proved to be frontliners of democracy,” he said. “Their professionalism, calm under pressure, and deep sense of service are examples we can all learn from.”

The gratitude was not perfunctory—it was deeply personal. In a country where teachers often face low wages, limited resources, and unrealistic demands, their silent labor in ensuring peaceful and transparent elections speaks volumes about the soul of the nation.

The Ballot is Cast, But the Real Vote Is Daily

Perhaps the most profound message from Secretary Angara was that elections are not the culmination of democratic participation—but merely the beginning.

“The Midterm elections may be over, but the real work of nation-building continues,” he said. “We encourage everyone to be an education champion.”

It’s a rallying cry not just to elected officials but to every Filipino—to parents choosing between tuition and groceries, to students juggling studies and part-time work, to community leaders deciding how to spend limited barangay funds.

The underlying truth Angara wants the country to grasp is this: if democracy is to mean anything beyond the ballot box, it must be lived every day in our commitment to education.

From Civics to Classrooms: A Call to All Filipinos

As the nation reflects on a historic voter turnout and a largely peaceful electoral process, Angara’s message is clear and uncompromising—we must match our democratic will with educational resolve.

The classroom, not the campaign stage, is where the battle for the future will be won or lost. And if the Filipino people can rally behind a single day of elections, Angara believes they can—and must—rally every day for the future of their children.

After all, in the words of the Education Secretary himself: “Hope alone is not enough.”

This article was written by Ross Flores Del Rosario, founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, in support of nation-building through education and civic engagement.

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