WITH HOPES of encouraging electoral engagement within the Ateneo community, the Sanggunian has formed the Ateneo Task Force for the 2025 Midterm Elections (ATF-ME), outlining plans centered on voter registration, education, and mobilization.

Through this initiative, ATF-ME 2025 Chairperson Justin Altubar hopes to provide avenues for Ateneans to actively participate in conversations on political issues.

Sanggunian President Lean Rosendo stated that the task force acts as a coordinating body that aims “to recommend, improve, enhance, and coordinate” all electoral activities within the Ateneo community. As such, Rosendo declared that all election-related efforts from student organizations shall be directed to the task force.

Launching the task force

With the Sanggunian spearheading election task forces since 2010, Rosendo shared that they intended to create the ATF-ME 2025 by using the 2016 task force as a reference. However, Altubar disclosed that there were difficulties in creating ATF-ME 2025 due to the lack of data from previous elections and the loss of stored information during the transition from the OBF email.

Apart from the lack of data, Rosendo mentioned that the project was initially planned to be announced in June, but securing the approval of the ATF-ME Executive Order from all Central Assembly members caused a delay in their proposed timeline.

To rebuild the task force’s foundation, Altubar shared that they have been consulting with administrative offices, such as the Office for Social Concern and Involvement, the Vice President for Mission Integration, and the Office of Student Activities. The consultations were done to gather the offices’ experiences with previous ATF iterations, as well as ideas on how to integrate the task force’s prepared initiatives for the Ateneo community.

Furthermore, on actively implementing the task force’s use, Rosendo stated that the ATF-ME aims to support the students by disseminating senatorial candidates’ background through information drives.

Boosting voters’ engagement

With voter registration ending this September 30, Altubar explained that the ATF-ME is still in the process of revamping the task force for better implementation of initiatives before and after the registration period.

In line with these efforts, Altubar said that the ATF-ME is planning to conduct a mock polls session to allow the task force to better gauge Ateneans’ voter engagement ahead of the 2025 Midterm elections.

Rosendo added that during the second semester, the task force is also planning to host a Senatorial Debate within the Ateneo for disseminating candidate information. According to him, the event aims to provide an avenue for students to know more about the candidates.

Moreover, booths and help desks will be stationed around the University between the months of October to February to provide information about the 2025 Senatorial candidates.

Currently, Altubar stated that the ATF-ME will primarily focus on the Atenean community. However, he added that the task force also aims to eventually expand outside of the Ateneo.

Additionally, Lee emphasized ATF-ME’s ultimate goal of helping Ateneans make an informed choice. “In the end, it’s gonna be who the Ateneans recommend [to vote for]. It’s not the [Sanggunian who] recommends. So parang may ganong image: ‘Sino ang pulso ng mga estudyante (It’s like there’s an image [that conveys]: Who is the pulse of the students?)’” he explained.

To achieve a broader reach, Rosendo mentioned that they are also looking at working with local-based initiatives in Quezon City and Marikina City, as well as non-government organizations, such as the Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, to widen the impact of ATF-ME’s voter information dissemination.

Following this, Altubar emphasized that the ATF-ME wants to increase student awareness on more socio-political issues, including the upcoming elections. He also stated that the task force would help students make informed decisions on who to vote for based on their own values.

When asked about the importance of voting and the elections, Altubar stated that in the real world, there is no simulation, especially when the elected leaders dictate the policies in one’s environment. “Kaya it’s important na dito pa lang sa Ateneo, in our community, […] nagagawa na natin yung mga bagay na [magagawa] natin,” he added.

(That’s why it is important that even here in the Ateneo, in our community, […] we are able to do all that we can do.)

For a better future

As the ATF-ME 2025 prepares for its year-long activities, Altubar envisioned the task force to bring better opportunities for voter education and for the Ateneo community to forward initiatives relevant to them, as it ultimately aims to create conversations in a divisive political climate.

“I believe politics shouldn’t be a cause for divisions. It should be [these] divisions [that] make [politics] more interesting, and elections is one of the spaces,” Altubar expounded.

Moreover, Altubar underscored the importance of Ateneo’s participation in the elections, especially with the institution being seen as influential in gathering people to vote for candidates.

On the other hand, Rosendo stated that he hopes for students to be instilled with a “long-term vision system of critical mindsets” that can be adapted by the future Sanggunian and ATF chairs. He also explained that the ATF-ME 2025 aims to “set the stage” for the task force’s future iterations.

With the midterm elections fast approaching, Altubar highlighted the crucial impact of voting on the future of the country and its citizens.

“Voting is also an expression of our hope that something can be done no matter what politician is on the ballot,” Altubar added. As such, he asserted that, no matter the outcome of the elections, it is still essential to continue fostering hope.