Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU Tungtongan sparks interdisciplinary conversation to 'Make Ballots Great Again'

By Chessa Pae Faustino, STRATCOM Correspondent

As the 2025 Philippine elections draw near, the Department of Social Sciences (DSS) of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) delved into pressing electoral concerns in the second episode of “Tungtongan: Conversations on Ilokano Public Life” on May 7 at the CAS Audio-Visual Room.

Titled “VoteVIBE 2025: Make Ballots Great Again,” the conversation cast a critical lens on vote-buying and vote-selling, issues that continue to shape electoral culture in the country. The multidisciplinary discussion featured faculty members in political science, economics, philosophy, sociology, and development studies.

Political science professor Atty. Lorma Auria Cuadro opened the discussion by underscoring the right to vote as an essential tool of accountability in a democracy. She emphasized that voter participation not only reflects the people’s voice but also reveals trends in political behavior.

Mr. John Wel Pascua, an instructor in economics, explored vote-selling from an economic perspective. He explained how the practice may offer short-term private gains but results in long-term societal costs such as deepened poverty, skewed competition, and misaligned policy priorities.

From a philosophical standpoint, Mr. Rommel John Obena challenged the audience to treat voting as a rational and ethical duty. He warned against fallacies and cognitive biases, like emotional appeal, bandwagon thinking, and material persuasion, that often cloud electoral judgment.

Sociology professor Rommel Dascil closed the panel by reflecting on the deeper structural issues in Philippine politics. He examined how systemic problems like political dynasties and patronage politics affect voter behavior and erode trust in elections.
The program concluded with a dynamic open forum, allowing students and faculty to raise questions and share reflections on how to shape a more participatory and principled electorate.
CAS Dean Marlina Lino lauded the DSS faculty for organizing a successful event, highlighting the clarity and relevance of their insights. She also reaffirmed the college’s support for Tungtongan as an avenue for public dialogue on Ilokano life and national issues.
The second episode will be uploaded soon to the MMSU Facebook page. Tungtongan is conducted in collaboration with Magik FM-Laoag and the Rotary Club of Sunshine Laoag.
Following the success of its pilot run in September 2024 and this latest session, Tungtongan will continue to provide a platform for meaningful and multidisciplinary discourse in the university and beyond.