Sandro Marcos could not be more different from Kiko Barzaga as night is to day, although which one dwells in or casts shadows remains the question.

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Araneta Marcos, 31, is the representative of the first district of Ilocos Norte, while Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Austria Barzaga is 27 years old and already represents his hometown, Cavite’s fourth district.

Both come from political families, yet while Sandro is famously known for being guarded as to be reticent, Kiko is about expressing it all, no matter what.

Whether by fortune or circumstance, both young guns in Congress are currently in the spotlight — Sandro for his appearance before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI); and Kiko for his two dozen contentious posts on social media, which landed him in hot water among his House peers.

Sandro, who had guested on DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital shows before and after he became a congressman, always struck viewers as being quite the gentleman, well-spoken, highly educated, profound even and always polite. His public persona is one of composure and restraint. It is hard to believe the rumors that often follow famous faces, especially those that have to do with personal affairs.

No presidential son could be more presidential than Sandro, so it is with misgivings that some await the findings on his alleged involvement in the ugly budget tampering issue that has involved other prominent names in politics.

Meanwhile, Barzaga strikes one as being less self-possessed. His actions have been deemed as antics, his opinions reduced to cat sounds — meows — as he is wont to poke fun even at himself. Undeniably, his unserious methods have struck a chord among the youth. And he is not the sort to be dismissed.

The youth vote is largely believed to have made a significant impact on the results of the last midterm elections. Their voice will build up to a roar one of these days, as each passing week marks the slow progress of the massive corruption mire.

Adding more substance to that youth voice is Rep. Leandro Antonio Legarda Leviste of the first district of Batangas. Beyond his education, he has exhibited the kind of smarts that landed him the distinction of being one of the youngest moguls of business. 

Leandro, just a year older than Sandro, has also proven himself fearless and forward-looking, and yet while his battles have been loud in the media, his persona has remained private. He could well be the young man standing between the opposites Sandro and Kiko. 

At the moment, these three are spiking more interest than usual as we watch them battle the same monster in our midst. For their relative youth and distinctive styles, they are the barometer of the future leadership of this country, for better or worse.