𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗚. 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮

The ink’s barely dry on the 2025 midterm election results, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has dropped a bombshell. On May 22, he demanded the courtesy resignations of all his Cabinet secretaries, calling it a “bold reset” to “recalibrate” his administration after a bruising electoral defeat.

Here in Central Luzon, where we’ve watched political dynasties rise and fall like tides, this move smells less like renewal and more like a man scrambling to save his sinking ship. Marcos’ allies, including showbiz darling Willie Revillame, got trounced, winning only five of 12 Senate seats, while opposition figures like Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan soared.

What does this shake-up mean for Marcos’ government and the opposition? It’s a high-stakes gamble that could either steady his course or hand his rivals a sharper knife.

Let’s cut through the spin. Marcos’ call for resignations, announced with fanfare by Malacañang, is a reaction to a midterm bloodbath. His Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate flopped, with only six of his 11 endorsed candidates clinching Senate spots.

Meanwhile, five seats went to allies of Vice President Sara Duterte or her detained father, Rodrigo, and two to liberal democrats tied to the Aquino legacy. Pulse Asia’s March 2025 survey had already sounded the alarm: Marcos’ approval rating plummeted to 25% from 42%, while Sara Duterte’s held strong at 59%. Filipinos are fed up with inflation, unfulfilled promises on rice prices, and a government that feels out of touch.

Marcos himself admitted the elections weren’t “business as usual,” saying, “The people have spoken, and they expect results,not politics, not excuses.”

But is this reset genuine or just damage control? Marcos claims it’s about “performance, alignment, and urgency,” promising to keep those who’ve delivered. Yet, the timing reeks of panic. His economic team—Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and others—quickly offered resignations, but business groups like the Makati Business Club are begging for continuity, warning of disruptions if competent leaders are axed.

“We believe the president has a very good economic team,” said MBC Chairman Edgar Chua. The fear is real: a botched revamp could tank investor confidence and stall projects like the newly created Department of Economy, Planning, and Development. Marcos’ joking at a May 22 event—“Wait, do I still have a Cabinet?”—did little to calm nerves.

For Marcos’ government, this is a tightrope walk. He’s facing a divided Congress, with the Senate now a battleground ahead of Sara Duterte’s July impeachment trial over corruption and her shocking threat to assassinate Marcos, his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The opposition’s gains, especially Aquino and Pangilinan’s wins, signal a public craving for leaders with substance over spectacle.

Marcos needs a Cabinet that can deliver fast on inflation, jobs, food security or risk becoming a lame duck with three years left. Senate President Chiz Escudero warned him to pick allies carefully, not “reckless” ones who could fumble the ball. If Marcos keeps underperformers or alienates competent ones, he’s toast. But if he builds a leaner, sharper team, he might claw back some trust.

For the opposition, this is blood in the water. Sara Duterte’s camp, emboldened by their Senate wins, smells weakness. Her higher approval rating and the “Duterte effect” give her leverage as 2028 looms. The Makabayan bloc, led by Antonio Tinio, calls the revamp a “political ploy” to dodge accountability, warning Marcos not to use it as a smokescreen to meddle in Sara’s impeachment or her father’s ICC trial.

Aquino and Pangilinan, riding a wave of youth and reformist support, could rally the Senate to block Marcos’ agenda if his new Cabinet fumbles. The opposition’s strength lies in its diversity—Duterte’s populists and Aquino’s liberals—but they must unite to exploit Marcos’ stumbles.

What’s at stake? For Marcos, it’s his legacy and the 2028 election. A failed reset could cement his lame-duck status, handing the presidency to a Duterte or an Aquino.

For the opposition, it’s a chance to reshape the narrative, proving governance trumps dynasty. Here in Central Luzon, we know the cost of empty promises. Our history of martial law and corruption taught us that. The lesson is brutal: leadership demands results, not reshuffles.

To cope with fears of more political chaos, we must demand transparency from Malacañang and back leaders who deliver, like Aquino and Pangilinan. Join barangay and online forums, question candidates’ records, and reject dynastic games. Marcos’ reset might be bold, but without substance, it’s just another act in our national circus. Let’s not applaud until we see real change.