
WITH the 2025 midterm elections approaching, campus journalists must prioritize elevating voters’ standards and awareness rather than perpetuating the “bobotante” (stupid voters) mindset, a political journalist said on the opening day of the 26th Inkblots on Jan. 11.
Speaking to almost 300 Inkblots fellows, Asst. Prof. Christian Esguerra of the UST Department of Journalism emphasized that labeling voters as “bobotante” alienates them and deepens the political divide.
“Instead of focusing on the bobotante mentality, if you’d ask me, I’d rather focus on the candidates exploiting these voters for their agenda during elections,” Esguerra said in his keynote speech at the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building lobby.
Using vote buying as an example, Esguerra, a former Varsitarian editor in chief who founded the annual Inkblots campus journalism fellowship, said the “bobotante” narrative often stems from marginalized voters’ difficult circumstances.
He urged campus journalists to help uplift this segment of the electorate through information rather than shaming voters for their choices.
“Masyadong mataas ‘yong dinedemand natin sa mga Filipino na maraming pinoproblema because of their situations,” he said. “Why not empower the conversation? And this should be initiated by people with means — kayo. Tayo.”
Esguerra pointed out that campus journalists hold a unique advantage due to their platforms and access to technology, which they should wield as a “force for good” to influence public discourse positively.
“You are living in the best and the worst of times when it comes to digital technology, and I would like to focus on the best of times because you have a lot of opportunities to make use of your platforms,” he said.
Student journalists should also perform their duty to inform by helping voters understand the ideals and standards that government officials should uphold.
By doing so, Esguerra said, they will help foster a culture of meritocracy in Philippine politics.
“I don’t urge you to promote candidates because that would be partisanship. What I’m urging you to do is to promote values,” he emphasized.
“Promote values and ideals that people should look for in candidates. Help our voters raise their standards through our campus journalism,” he added. “Hindi puwedeng ‘Okay na ako sa mga senador natin, mukha namang mabait e.’”
A total of 18,271 government positions — including 12 senatorial seats with six-year terms — will be decided in the 2025 midterm elections.
“Our contribution in the upcoming elections will rest on how well we empower our fellow Filipinos — the voters — through the kind of journalism that we have,” Esguerra said.
The 26th installment of Inkblots, the Varsitarian’s annual fellowship of professional and campus journalists, carried the theme “Campus Press as Catalyst for Truth in the 2025 Elections.” with reports from Hannah Joyce V. Andaya