The half-day event aimed to educate and empower first-time voters and members of the academic community through values-based discussions and practical knowledge on electoral processes, disinformation, and the use of new voting technology. Grounded in Benedictine values of Responsibility, Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work), and Community, the forum emphasized informed, ethical, and active participation in the upcoming elections.
Speaking on behalf of Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, PIP Olivia Ferry thanked the organizers and participants, especially the young voters present, for their engagement and enthusiasm. “The youth are not just the future of our country—you are the present,” she stressed. “Your vote has power. Let it be guided not by fleeting promises or financial gain, but by integrity, wisdom and a commitment to the common good.”
PIP Livie also introduced the possibility of forming a Golden Z Club—Zonta International’s youth leadership program that fosters service, advocacy, and leadership among young women worldwide at St. Scholastica’s College.
Participants heard inspiring, instructive and enlightening presentations from PPCRV”s National Head for Voters’ Education Ana Singson on the importance of values and making informed choices in voting and ways to spot disinformation. A hands-on demonstration was conducted by COMELEC’s Information Officer Emma Masongsong of the new automated election systems. The event ended with a call on the participants to become responsible and engaged citizens in their communities.
The Voters’ Education Forum forms part of the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs’ continuing mission to empower women and build a better world through education, civic engagement, and ethical leadership.
