Abstract:
Previous studies have consistently documented that the youth often harbor a sense of
disenfranchisement from formal politics. Despite the existence of political arenas that aimed to
promote youth political engagement, their efficacy in fostering political participation has proven
inadequate. However, this prevailing perception was challenged by the remarkable surge of
youth political participation during the recent 2022 national elections in the Philippines. This
study aimed to address a critical question: what are the prevailing attitudes and experiences of
the youth on formal politics prior to, during, and after the 2022 national elections?
This study aimed to compare two distinct areas in the Philippines - Valenzuela City
(Urban) and Calapan City (Rural). The rationale for such inquiry comes from the recognition that
examining the differences between urban and rural contexts can provide policymakers with
valuable insights and address the specific challenges faced by each area.
To address the main objective of this study, a purposive sampling technique was
employed to select a total of 16 participants aged 18-25 who actively participated and
volunteered during the 2022 national elections. Utilizing the Zoom Meetings platform, in-depth
interviews were conducted with the participants, with an average duration of 50 minutes per
interview. The interview data were subsequently coded by the researchers and underwent a
rigorous process of thematic analysis.
The analysis of the participants' responses revealed three recurring themes: (1) subjective
experiences of political participation prior to the elections, (2) influential factors that affected
youth participation, and (3) perceptions toward formal politics in relation to their attitudes after
the 2022 national elections. Although the youth from the urban and rural areas expressed varying
perspectives, they also shared common experiences and attitudes. A prevailing belief among the youth was their commitment to continue participating in future elections despite their negative
perception of formal politics. They firmly held the belief that exercising their right to vote and
maintaining hope for the improvement of the country was important.
