MANILA — It’s another day of festivities outside the Manila Hotel as supporters of party-list groups rallied behind their bets as they filed their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance for the 2025 National and Local Elections.

Even on a Saturday, aspirants continued to arrive with some of them even having supporters in tow.

Mamamayang Liberal — the multi-sectoral arm of the Liberal Party pushing for social justice for marginalized sectors — was among the groups who gathered near Quirino Grandstand in support of their nominees.

Former Sen. Leila De Lima is making a comeback to the political arena as Mamamayang Liberal’s first nominee.

De Lima hopes to return to public service after being detained under the Duterte administration on drug cases that said were politically motivated and that have since been dismissed in court.

“Maganda ito sa puso ko na magiging mas malapit sa iba-ibang sector. Being their voice, a strong voice for their welfare and interest. Magkakaroon po tayo ng platform para makapagdiskurso sa iba’t ibang isyu ng bayan,” De Lima said.

“Pagkakataon ko na naman ito na ipasok ang aking adbokasiya lalo na sa karapatang pantao, lalo na sa demokrasya,” she added.

(This is another chance for me to push my advocacy for human rights and especially for democracy)

Kabataan Partylist, which has one seat in the 19th Congress, is also gunning for another seat at the House of Representatives.

Supporters marched in their BINI-inspired outfit while some participated in a fashion show wearing garbage bags tagged with youth issues the group is fighting against.

Kabataan Partylist is fielding lawyer Renee Co as their first nominee.

“Ako po ay naging abogado dahil po nakita ko ang bulok na pulitika hindi lang sa loob ng pamantasan pero sa buong pambansa. Gusto po nating tumulong sa mamamayan na araw-araw nakararanas ng dahas dahil kulang ang sahod, dahil mataas ang presyo, dahil walang trabaho kaya naman napupwersa silang lumabas ng Pilipinas,” Co said.

(I became a lawyer because I saw the rotten politics, not just in the university but also the entire country. We want to help citizens who experience violence because of low wages, because of high prices, because of lack of jobs... so they are forced to work abroad)

Another party-list seeking reelection is TGP Partylist represented by Deputy Majority Leader Bong Teves Jr.

Teves said the group will continue to push for cheaper healthcare through the removal of value-added tax in medicines.

“Bawasan ng 12% value-added tax ang pagbili mo sa mga botika… Kung ang ating batas ay maipapasa, magkakaroon ng panibagong bawas na 12 percent. Napakalaking ginhawa ‘yon sa ating mga mamamayang (Pilipino) na may karamdaman,” Teves said.

(We want to remove the 12% VAT at the pharmacies. If we can pass a bill to remove that, that will be a huge relief for our fellow Filipinos who are sick)

Also gunning for a seat through the party-list system is Kaunlad Pinoy advocating for every Filipino family to have a business.

Kaunlad Pinoy’s first nominee Paolo Teodoro said they aim to focus on representing the informal sector in the labor force.

“Ang Kaunlad Pinoy po ay isang organisasyon na tumututok sa informal sectors na ang focus po namin ay pagnenegosyo. Ang pananaw po namin ay magbigay ng tulong para sa iba’t ibang pamilyang Pilipino na maismulan ang pangarap na magnegosyo at masimulan na nila pag-asenso, sa buhay,” Teodoro said.

(We are an organization for the informal sectors and we are focused on entrepreneurship. Our view is we should  help Filipino families start on their dream to start a business and to prosper) 

Supporters danced along to the beat of drums as the atmosphere turned festive during the filing of their nominees.

Some nominees also rode a kalesa after their filing.

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