Manila: Lawmakers across the country cast their votes on Monday with an appeal to Filipinos to participate in shaping the country’s future. Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is running unopposed as Leyte’s 1st district representative, emphasized the significance of each vote as a declaration of hope and a stand for good governance, unity, and a better Philippines. He urged Filipinos to vote with conviction and with the future in mind.

According to Philippines News Agency, the 2025 midterm elections represent a crucial moment for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) agenda. Romualdez highlighted the elections as a balance between continuity and change-continuity of the reforms initiated and change that uplifts Filipino families. At the same polling site, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, alongside her sons, including council candidate Marty Romualdez and Andrew Romualdez, the party-list group’s first nominee, cast her vote. She noted the election’s significance in shaping the future of communities.

In Barugo, Leyte, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre voted at Barugo II Central School, urging voters to consider the importance of their choices as they help direct the future of their communities and nation. Acidre expressed gratitude to election workers and volunteers for their role in safeguarding democracy.

In Pampanga, former president and current 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo voted at Lubao Central Elementary School as she seeks reelection. Meanwhile, ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, a senatorial candidate under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition, voted at Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City, arriving at 7:09 a.m. and casting his vote nearly two hours later at 8:55 a.m.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a total of 18,320 positions are being contested in this year’s national and local polls, including 12 Senate seats, 63 seats for party-list groups, and 254 seats in the House of Representatives.