The Makabayan Coalition formally presented its 10 candidates for the Senate in the 2025 national elections in a gathering at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila today, August 26, National Heroes’ Day.

The slate is the biggest that progressive parties and organizations are fielding for the Senate, even more than Partido ng Bayan’s (PnB) storied run in the 1987 elections.

The coalition said it is also fielding PISTON chairperson Mody Floranda, Kadamay secretary general Mimi Doringo and Filipino Nurses United secretary general Jocelyn “Alyn” Andamo in next year’s elections.

Floranda had been leading the country’s biggest and most militant transport organization against the government’s plan to take away jeepney franchises from individual drivers and operators.

Aside from campaigning for affordable housing, Doringo had been fighting for lower prices of basic commodities and better social services for the urban poor.

Andamo for her part is the nursing profession’s champion, campaigning for just wages and better working conditions for health workers in the country and abroad.

Earlier, ACT Teachers’ Party Rep. France Castro, GABRIELA Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) secretary general Jerome Adonis, former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Lisa Maza, PAMALAKAYA vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo, BAYAN chairperson Teddy Casiño, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chairperson Danilo Ramos made separate declarations of their inclusion in the Makabayan slate.

“The unveiling of the Makabayan senatorial slate is a significant step towards promoting the interests of the marginalized sectors and advancing the struggle for genuine social change in the country,” Makabayan said.

“The slate embodies the principles of nationalism, democracy, and social justice that are at the core of the Filipino national democratic movement,” it added.

Since 2010, Makabayan had been fielding two candidates at most for the Senate.

It fielded former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo and former Bayan Muna and Gabriela Rep. Maza in 2010.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Casiño was its lone candidate in 2013 while former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares  was its champion in 2016 and 2019.

In the 2022 national elections, its candidates were Colmenares and KMU chairperson Bong Labog.

Makabayan’s 10 candidates is the biggest slate progressive parties have fielded in any election for the Senate in history.

The PnB in 1987 had seven organic and two guest candidates in the first ever elections for the Senate after the fall of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dictatorship the year previous.

Labor leader Crispin Beltran, press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr., New People’s Army co-founder Bernabe Buscayno, top notch human rights lawyer Romeo Capulong, former political detainee Horacio Morales, women’s rights activist Nelia Sancho, and peasant leader Jaime Tadeo were the progressives’ candidates.

Labor lawyer Augusto Sanchez and Wigberto Tañada were guest candidates. Sanchez lost but Tañada, also an administration candidate, won.

Last July, Makabayan said it planned on fielding a full slate in the May 2025 elections.

“Our primary consideration is whether they can present a comprehensive platform that would respond to the interest of the people. The track record of Makabayan shows consistent representation in the fight for decent wage, genuine land reform, and national sovereignty,” Makabayan executive vice president and former ACT Teachers’ Party Rep. Antonio Tinio said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)