On April 2, 2025, the University of Makati, YMCA of Makati, University Student Organizations, and the Rotaract Club of Makati jointly organized “BETTER Voter: A Voters’ Education Seminar” at the UMak Performing Arts Theater. The event brought together over 900 college and senior high school students, all first-time voters, to strengthen their understanding of responsible voting and the importance of youth leadership in shaping the nation’s future.
The seminar served as an avenue for voters’ education, empowering young Filipinos with the knowledge and awareness needed to participate meaningfully in the electoral process. Through discussions and shared insights, students learned about the significance of choosing leaders based on values, integrity, and competence. The program also highlighted how youth leaders can influence their peers to be informed, engaged, and proactive citizens—championing the call to “vote right and smart.”
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the KODIGO Eleksyon 2025 tool, a mobile application introduced by AJ Sembrano, Past President of the Rotaract Club of Makati. The app serves as an innovative digital guide to help first-time voters review and evaluate candidates easily. It promotes informed decision-making and encourages the use of technology to enhance transparency and accessibility during elections.
KODIGO Eleksyon 2025, developed by fellow Rotaractor Jhoenil Wahid, is a free and easy-to-use website that lets Makati voters generate a personalized kodigo (cheat sheet) for election day. No bias, no data tracking—just a simple way to help you vote wisely and confidently.
An open forum followed the presentation, providing a platform for students to discuss leadership, civic duty, and the power of collective youth action in nation-building. The exchange of ideas reflected a growing awareness that leadership begins with responsible citizenship and participation in democratic processes.
In his closing remarks, Jover Acebuche, President of the Rotaract Club of Makati, emphasized that the youth hold the key to shaping the country’s direction. “Our generation has the voice and the vision to influence the future—let’s use it to vote right and smart,” he said, inspiring the audience to take their roles as leaders and voters to heart.
The BETTER Voter seminar stands as a model of how education and youth empowerment can unite to build a more informed and visionary generation of Filipino voters.
