Finally, ballots cast and unofficial results seen within a number of hours. Finally, people either shouted in happiness or otherwise. Others plainly heaved a sigh of relief. On 12 May, voters across the country turned up — determined, patientand engaged.

The elections were largely peaceful/orderly in many areas. But there will always be trouble spots where incidents of violence before and during voting day were reported. Likewise, there will and always be the usual technical and administrative hiccups in a number of precincts causing delays and frustration.

Yes, these are stark realities that elicit various reactions. But these realities remind us that democracy will always remain a work in progress. Exercising our rights continues to be molded by both strength and strain, by both hope and hardship. Again, it shows that despite all these, millions participated — proving that the Filipino will always believe in the power of choice.

Streamers come down. Celebrations fade. We now ask: what comes after civic duty? If democracy begins with voting, how will it continue?

We witnessed throughout the campaign: the victorious, for the most part, didn’t win through spectacle or noise. They walked with their communities. They listened. They showed up long before the campaign season began; AND they didn’t stop when the cameras were gone.

Their wins were not just electoral; they were personal affirmations of character and consistency. This election showed that we have started to think differently; that we have seen through the candidates. An analysis of the winners will show that there were changes in how we voted.

That’s the lesson: civic character matters.

Not winning though does not necessarily mean lacking character. Some of the principled and prepared candidates did not make it. There were variables like machinery, money, or simply the limits of timing and reach. What endures beyond victory or defeat is how one chooses to serve — before, during and after the campaign. Character is measured by presence and persistence.

To those who lost but ran with honesty, dignity, and a desire to uplift — do not give up. You may not have gained a seat, but you earned respect. Your performance planted something real. Everything happens for a reason. Your time may not yet be now; prepare for when it might be. Stay rooted to your cause. Serve where you are. Continue to aspire with the same heart, but with deeper roots and practical wisdom. The country needs you — perhaps now more than ever.

It’s not just the candidates. If integrity and presence helped elect leaders, these same traits must likewise guide us citizens because democracy doesn’t end on election day. In many ways, it only begins there.

Civic character should be present every day: in how we treat our neighbors, how we speak about those we disagree with, whether we choose facts over rumor, principle over convenience — nothing glamorous and not always rewarded. But, it holds the line between freedom and decay.

We saw a nation that showed up despite the odds, an electorate that kept faith in the process, and a handful of principled victories. This is reason for hope. Let’s not stop here.

Remain engaged, vigilant and kind. We must teach the next generation not to win power, but to deserve trust. It’s not how we vote that shapes our nation — it’s how we live after we vote.