Reclaiming the Filipino soul in 2026

As the first sunrise of 2026 breaks over the archipelago, we find ourselves at a peculiar crossroads. We are no longer just citizens of a republic of over 7,000 islands; we are inhabitants of a digital landscape that has become as real, as visceral and as volatile as the streets of Manila.

Looking back at the year that was, a recurring theme punctuated my conversations with you: the struggle for dignity in an era of disruption. We’ve fought for digital human rights, railed against the “monsters” of corruption that hide behind keyboards, and hailed the modern-day heroes who keep our economy afloat amid the chaos. But as we step into this new year, the question is no longer just how we can survive the digital shift, but how we can master it without losing our humanity.

If 2025 was the year of “raging on” against the thieves of our resources and our peace, 2026 must be the year of Radical Accountability.

Readers across the globe often ask me: “What is the Filipino looking forward to?” My answer is simple: We are looking for the return of the “human” in the “human rights” we so often discuss.

We are looking for a governance that doesn’t just digitize its processes but humanizes its impact. We are looking for an education system that produces not just “fake graduates” from diploma mills, but thinkers who can navigate the ethical minefields of AI and automation.

This year, this column will focus on the “Unbreakable Thread”—that resilient Filipino spirit that connects our history (the fire of Bonifacio) to our future (the grit of our digital frontliners). We will look forward to a year where our online lives are no longer battlegrounds for apathy, but platforms for collective action.

The recurring theme for 2026 is “The Conscience of the Code.” We will delve into how we can protect our hunger-stricken communities not just through policy, but through a renewed sense of neighborhood. We will demand that our leaders treat public service as a sacred trust, not a digital transaction. We will continue to shine a light on the “real-life monsters” — those who exploit the vulnerable — while celebrating the “unexpected heroes” who fix our commutes and our communities.

This year, don’t let your anger be a fleeting “like” or a “share.” Let it be the fuel for a more engaged citizenship. We are moving past the novelty of the new world and entering the maturity of our role within it.

The gavel has struck. The session for 2026 is now open. Let us write a story this year that is less about the machines we use and more about the people we are becoming.

Happy New Year, Philippines. Let’s get to work.