Not by destiny, but by design

In my column last Tuesday, I wrote about my recent trip to South Korea, where I visited the RCE Sejahtera Forest and Center in Tongyeong. Seeing South Korea for the first time offered a refreshing glimpse into a society shaped by decades of consistent planning, accountability, and a long-term vision for development.

Now back in Cebu and reflecting on the just-concluded mid-term elections, I find myself filled with cautious optimism. The results reveal not only our deep divisions and systemic challenges, but also emerging pockets of promise. And yet, there is a nagging sense that our national progress continues to rise and fall with every election cycle. Leaders promise much, start strong, but deliver little. New faces emerge, or old ones rebrand and return to power, only to be drawn back into the same old ways and systems that have long stalled our development.

Amid the usual noise of our elections, I believe something crucial stood out in the recently-concluded polls: many candidates pulled off major upsets against well-entrenched incumbents and dynasties. In the Senate race, few expected former senators, and now senators-elect, Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan to make it to the top 12, let alone place second and fifth, respectively.

At the local level, outgoing Cebu City Councilor and now Mayor-elect Nestor Archival scored a stunning upset against incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia. That victory was only overshadowed by an even more dramatic upset pulled off by Governor-elect Pam Baricuatro, who unseated a dominant local figure, outgoing Governor Gwen Garcia.

Many political analysts have since pointed to the usual explanations: widespread public discontent, the lingering “Duterte factor”, and the influence of young Gen-Z voters, who were particularly decisive in shaping the outcome of the Senate race. These are all valid and observable trends. But what often goes unacknowledged is the hard, unglamorous work done on the ground by the parties and candidates themselves, especially those who relied not on spectacle, but on strategy. And I believe data-driven strategy was a major factor in the victories of Archival and Baricuatro in Cebu.

I was privy to --or perhaps it’s more accurate to say I caught a glimpse of-- some of the most successful campaigns this election cycle, and I can say that they were not reactive but deliberate. They studied community dynamics early, grounded their messaging in reliable data gathered from the field, and made strategic shifts months before the formal campaign period even began. These victories did not come by accident or sheer luck; they were built patiently and intentionally, with egos set aside in favor of a deep understanding of voters and a readiness to adapt.

It’s a lesson often overlooked in post-election commentary, but one that perhaps offers the most insight into how real change can be won. I’ve long observed that we are a nation deeply drawn to drama, emotional narratives, and even superstitious notions of fate --believing, perhaps too often, that leadership is preordained and redemption arcs are enough to win elections. Charisma tends to outweigh competence; spectacle often eclipses substance.

This stands in stark contrast to many developed nations where development has been anything but accidental. In South Korea, for example, progress has been guided by long-term planning, technocratic governance, and a deep respect for science and data. One could sense that policy is not shaped by sentimentality or showmanship, but by rigorous study and strategic execution. Infrastructure is not promised merely in slogans, but delivered through budgets, timelines, and accountability. True success, as I recently witnessed, is not rooted in destiny or guesswork, but in design.

That reminds me of a recent post I made on social media, which I’ll repeat here: When a politician or group casually brings up allegations or floats the idea of electronic voting machine rigging in the last elections, I always tell myself: no wonder this person or their camp lost. They tend to rely on speculation rather than base their thinking on logic and data from the ground.

Capping my week was a meeting the other day with the Human Rights team of the British Embassy, who were in Cebu last May 21, 2025, to meet with civil society organizations and human rights defenders. In the meeting, I shared my view that we must not lose hope in our country. Real and lasting change is possible --not through ego or personal brilliance, but through grounded work in our communities and evidence-based decision-making.