From “Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Mukha” to “Walang Pagbabago, Mas Lalong Korap”

A slogan can spark a campaign, but it cannot keep the public’s patience for long. The Marcos administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas, Bagong Mukha” tries to show a principled government. In response, I made a counter-slogan “Walang Pagbabago, Mas Lalong Korap” to express the urgent frustration many Filipinos feel. This is not meant to insult the nation or its institutions, but rather to awaken the citizens to see, question, and demand better. It is a clear reminder that leaders must urgently earn trust before asking for public support.

Public trust is at a crisis point. Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index gave the Philippines a score of 32 out of 100, ranking 120th out of 182 countries. This clearly shows a governance crisis. Pulse Asia’s December 2025 survey found that 94% of Filipinos see government corruption as widespread, and 71% say it is very widespread. These numbers are not just opinions; they are warnings that our democracy faces urgent and growing scrutiny.

Recent issues have made public skepticism impossible to ignore. Reuters reported that corruption claims linked to flood-control projects led to major anti-graft protests in 2025, after audits found serious abuses in infrastructure spending. This led to congressional investigations, louder calls for accountability, and the quick creation of a government investigative body. When people see protests, hearings, and new commissions all happening at once, one urgent question comes up: Is real reform happening, or is the country stuck in an endless scandal?

This uncomfortable situation cannot be avoided, and maybe it is even necessary. No government can rely on image alone, especially when people see a growing gap between slogans and reality. If leaders truly want public trust in reform, they must act now by opening budgets, making contracts transparent, holding honest investigations, and showing real results. Without urgent action, the “new face” campaign risks becoming just a mask that hides old failures.

But this situation cannot be an excuse for giving up or becoming cynical. Citizens must stay alert, keep asking who benefits, who is responsible, and how public money is really spent. Students, voters, journalists, and community groups must remind everyone that public office is a duty, not a privilege. For “Bagong Pilipinas” to matter, words must urgently become a standard that people actively enforce.

This is about much more than disappointment; it is about the nation’s future. When people stay silent about corruption, it does not go away. It grows, adapts, and learns, and it can outlast scrutiny. The real danger is not just the scandal, but how quickly it becomes normal. Filipinos have power, but that power means nothing if it is not urgently used, if outrage turns into routine, or if slogans are allowed to hide the truth. “Bagong Pilipinas” will only matter if the public keeps demanding it. Complacency gives up the very future we are supposed to protect.

Andre Noel P. Enriquez

Political Science student

University of Cebu