In an election where 40% of incumbent
party-list groups lost in their reelection bid, anybody and everybody would wonder
why, and how.
This article will not attempt to answer why 17
out of the 46 incumbent party-list groups lost in their reelection bid in the
2019 midterm elections. It will, however, make a pitch on how 75% of those who
won managed to win.
“17 out of the 46 incumbent party-list groups lost in their reelection bid in the 2019 midterm elections.”
For all of these 17 party-list groups who will, in 2022, attempt to regain their lost seats, and for the 51 incumbent party-list groups who will seek reelection, and for all other party-list groups who will try their luck or skill, it is important to find the key to winning a seat in the party-list system. Just what is the key?
ONE REGION
Almost a third of all winning party-list groups won by focusing on getting votes from only one region. Yes, they limited themselves to only one region.
15 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from only one region, five of whom obtained at least 80% of their votes from only one region, and another four of whom obtained at least 70% of their votes from only one region, and yet another four of whom obtained at least 60% of their votes from only one region.
“15 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from only one region.”
ABONO got 93.6% of its votes from the Ilocos Region; AAMBIS-OWA got 86.2% of its votes from Western Visayas; ABANG LINGKOD got 81.1% of its votes from Western Visayas; AGAP got 80.4% of its votes from CALABARZON; DUMPER PTDA got 80.2% of its votes from Southern Mindanao; TINGOG SINIRANGAN got 79.5% of its votes from Eastern Visayas; AN WARAY got 78.2% of its votes from Eastern Visayas; GP got 73.5% of its votes from Central Luzon; KUSUG TAUSUG got 73.5% of its votes from BARRM; LPGMA got 68.9% of its votes from Cagayan Valley; AKO BICOL got 68.5% of its votes from the Bicol Region; ALONA got 68.4% of its votes from CALABARZON; AMIN got 61.1% of its votes from BARRM; RECOBODA got 57.7% of its votes from SOCCSKSARGEN; and PBA got 51.2% of its votes from Southern Mindanao.
Four other winning party-list groups got almost 50% of their votes from only one region. AKO PADAYON got 49.5% of its votes from Northern Mindanao; AKO BISAYA got 48.3% of its votes from Central Visayas; TUCP got 45.4% of its votes from SOCCSKSARGEN; and APEC got 42.2% of its votes from Eastern Visayas.
If we include these last four winning party-list groups in the list, it would already be 19 groups, or almost 40% of all winning party-list groups getting most of their votes from only one region.
MAJORITY OF VOTES COMING FROM ONLY ONE REGION
| PARTY-LIST | REGION | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ABONO | Ilocos Region | 93.6% |
| 2. AAMBIS-OWA | Western Visayas | 86.2% |
| 3. ABANG LINGKOD | Western Visayas | 81.1% |
| 4. AGAP | CALABARZON | 80.4% |
| 5. DUMPER PTDA | Southern Mindanao | 80.2% |
| 6. TINGOG SINIRANGAN | Eastern Visayas | 79.5% |
| 7. AN WARAY | Eastern Visayas | 78.2% |
| 8. GP | Central Luzon | 73.5% |
| 9. KUSUG TAUSUG | BARRM | 73.5% |
| 10. LPGMA | Cagayan Valley | 68.9% |
| 11. AKO BICOL | Bicol Region | 68.5% |
| 12. ALONA | CALABARZON | 68.4% |
| 13. AMIN | BARRM | 61.1% |
| 14. RECOBODA | SOCCSKSARGEN | 57.7% |
| 15. PBA | Southern Mindanao | 51.2% |
| 16. AKO PADAYON | Northern Mindanao | 49.5% |
| 17. AKO BISAYA | Central Visayas | 48.3% |
| 18. TUCP | SOCCSKSARGEN | 45.4% |
| 19. APEC | Eastern Visayas | 42.2% |
TWO REGIONS
More than a fifth of all winning party-list groups won by focusing on getting votes from only two regions. Yes, they limited themselves to only two regions.
11 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from a combination of votes garnered from only two regions, two of whom obtained at least 70% of their votes from only two regions, and another two of whom obtained at least 60% of their votes from only two regions.
“11 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from a combination of votes garnered from only two regions.”
TUCP got a total of 77.3% of its votes from SOCCSKSARGEN (45.4%) and Central Visayas (31.9%); AKO PADAYON got a total of 71.3% of its votes from Northern Mindanao (49.5%) and CARAGA (21.8%), and if its votes from Western Mindanao (20.7%) are added, this would already be a total of 92.0%; BUHAY got a total of 68.9% of its votes from NCR (37.2%) and CALABARZON (31.7%); APEC got a total of 67.8% of its votes from Eastern Visayas (42.3%) and Western Visayas (25.6%); SAGIP got a total of 59.2% of its votes from CALABARZON (32.5%) and Central Luzon (26.7%); AKO BISAYA got a total of 58.5% of its votes from Central Visayas (48.3%) and Western Visayas (10.2%); PHILRECA got a total of 57.5% of its votes from Central Luzon (33.4%) and Cagayan Valley (24.1%), and if its votes from the Ilocos Region (23.3%) are added, this would already be a total of 80.8%; ANAKALUSUGAN got a total of 56.2% of its votes from CALABARZON (32.3%) and Central Luzon (23.9%); DIWA got a total of 56.1% of its votes from Central Visayas (36.4%) and Central Luzon (19.7%); GABRIELA got a total of 51.0% of its votes from NCR (29.3%) and CALABARZON (21.7%); and BH got a total of 50.8% of its votes from NCR (29.9%) and CALABARZON (20.9%).
Two other winning party-list groups got almost 50% of their votes from only two regions. CIBAC got a total of 49.5% of its votes from Central Luzon (29.4%) and CALABARZON (20.1%) and KABATAAN got a total of 45.7% of its votes from NCR (25.6%) and CALABARZON (20.1%).
If we include these last two winning party-list groups in the list, it would already be 13 groups, or more than 25% of all winning party-list groups getting most of their votes from only two regions.
MAJORITY OF VOTES COMING FROM ONLY TWO REGIONS
| PARTY-LIST | REGIONS | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 1. TUCP | SOCCSKSARGEN (45.4%) Central Visayas (31.9%) | 77.3% |
| 2. AKO PADAYON | Northern Mindanao (49.5%) CARAGA (21.8%) | 71.3% |
| Western Mindanao (20.7%) | 92.0% | |
| 3. BUHAY | NCR (37.2%) CALABARZON (31.7%) | 68.9% |
| 4. APEC | Eastern Visayas (42.3%) Western Visayas (25.6%) | 67.8% |
| 5. SAGIP | CALABARZON (32.5%) Central Luzon (26.7%) | 59.2% |
| 6. AKO BISAYA | Central Visayas (48.3%) Western Visayas (10.2%) | 58.5% |
| 7. PHILRECA | Central Luzon (33.4%) Cagayan Valley (24.1%) | 57.5% |
| Ilocos Region (23.3%) | 80.8% | |
| 8. ANAKALUSUGAN | CALABARZON (32.3%) Central Luzon (23.9%) | 56.2% |
| 9. DIWA | Central Visayas (36.4%) Central Luzon (19.7%) | 56.1% |
| 10. GABRIELA | NCR (29.3%) CALABARZON (21.7%) | 51.0% |
| 11. BH | NCR (29.9%) CALABARZON (20.9%) | 50.8% |
| 12. CIBAC | Central Luzon (29.4%) CALABARZON (20.1%) | 49.5% |
| 13. KABATAAN | NCR (25.6%) CALABARZON (20.1%) | 45.7% |
THREE REGIONS
Almost a fourth of all winning party-list groups won by focusing on getting votes from only three regions. Yes, they limited themselves to only three regions.
12 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from a combination of votes garnered from only three regions. CIBAC got a total of 67.7% of its votes from three regions. TGP got a total of 60.9% of its votes from three regions. KABATAAN got a total of 59.8% of its votes from three regions. CWS got a total of 57.9% of its votes from three regions. BAHAY got a total of 57.0% of its votes from three regions. MARINO got a total of 55.2% of its votes from three regions. PATROL got a total of 55.2% of its votes from three regions. KALINGA got a total of 55.0% of its votes from three regions. ACT CIS got a total of 54.2% of its votes from three regions. RAM got a total of 52.9% of its votes from three regions. MAGDALO got a total of 52.5% of its votes from three regions. 1PACMAN got a total of 50.4% of its votes from three regions.
“12 out of the 51 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from a combination of votes garnered from only three regions.”
Two other winning party-list groups got almost 50% of their votes from only three regions. OFW FAMILY got 49.5% of its votes from three regions. BAYAN MUNA got 48.4% of its votes from three regions.
If we include these last two winning party-list groups in the list, it would already be 14 groups, or almost 30% of all winning party-list groups getting most of their votes from only three regions.
MAJORITY OF VOTES COMING FROM ONLY THREE REGIONS
| PARTY-LIST | REGIONS | PERCENTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| 1. CIBAC | Central Luzon (29.4%) CALABARZON (20.1%) NCR (18.2%) | 67.7% |
| 2. TGP | CALABARZON (21.7%) Bicol Region (19.7%) NCR (19.5%) | 60.9% |
| 3. KABATAAN | NCR (25.6%) CALABARZON (20.1%) Central Luzon (14.1%) | 59.8% |
| 4. CWS | CARAGA (28.1%) CALABARZON (15.0%) BARMM (14.8%) | 57.9% |
| 5. BAHAY | BARRM (25.0%) CALABARZON (17.6%) NCR (14.4%) | 57.0% |
| 6. MARINO | Southern Mindanao (19.9%) CALABARZON (19.4%) Northern Mindanao (15.9%) | 55.2% |
| 7. PATROL | NCR (23.9%) Central Luzon (19.8%) Western Visayas (11.5%) | 55.2% |
| 8. KALINGA | CALABARZON (27.8%) Western Visayas (13.8%) Central Luzon (13.4%) | 55.0% |
| 9. ACT CIS | NCR (25.2%) CALABARZON (15.0%) Central Luzon (14.0%) | 54.2% |
| 10. RAM | NCR (31.5%) Southern Mindanao (12.2%) Eastern Visayas (9.2%) | 52.9% |
| 11. MAGDALO | NCR (21.8%) CALABARZON (16.7%) Western Visayas (14.0%) | 52.5% |
| 12. 1PACMAN | CALABARZON (19.9%) NCR (16.7%) Central Luzon (13.8%) | 50.4% |
| 13. OFW FAMILY | SOCCSKSARGEN (28.4%) CALABARZON (11.4%) NCR (9.7%) | 49.5% |
| 14. BAYAN MUNA | CALABARZON (17.8%) NCR (16.8%) Central Luzon (13.8%) | 48.4% |
“LESS IS MORE”
Based on all of the figures presented above, 75% of all winning party-list groups won by getting at least 50% of all their votes from a minimum of one to a maximum of three regions, out of the seventeen regions in the country.
15 party-list groups focused on only one region, and won. 11 party-list groups focused on only two regions, and won. 12 party-list groups focused on only three regions, and won. All in all, these are 38 party-list groups, out of the 51 party-list groups who won in 2019.
“All in all, these are 38 party-list groups, out of the 51 party-list groups who won in 2019.”
This is, clearly and convincingly, the efficient and effective execution and implementation of the “less is more” strategy. The less areas they chose to get their votes from, the more votes they got from those areas.
MAJORITY OF VOTES COMING FROM ONLY ONE TO THREE REGIONS
| ONE REGION | TWO REGIONS | THREE REGIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. ABONO (93.6%) | 1. TUCP (77.3%) | 1. CIBAC (67.7%) |
| 2. AAMBIS-OWA (86.2%) | 2. AKO PADAYON (71.3%) | 2. TGP (60.9%) |
| 3. ABANG LINGKOD (81.1%) | 3. BUHAY (68.9%) | 3. KABATAAN (59.8%) |
| 4. AGAP (80.4%) | 4. APEC (67.8%) | 4. CWS (57.9%) |
| 5. DUMPER PTDA (80.2%) | 5. SAGIP (59.2%) | 5. BAHAY (57.0%) |
| 6. TINGOG SINIRANGAN (79.5%) | 6. AKO BISAYA (58.5%) | 6. MARINO (55.2%) |
| 7. AN WARAY (78.2%) | 7. PHILRECA (57.5%) | 7. PATROL (55.2%) |
| 8. GP (73.5%) | 8. ANAKALUSUGAN (56.2%) | 8. KALINGA (55.0%) |
| 9. KUSUG TAUSUG (73.5%) | 9. DIWA (56.1%) | 9. ACT CIS (54.2%) |
| 10. LPGMA (68.9%) | 10. GABRIELA (51.0%) | 10. RAM (52.9%) |
| 11. AKO BICOL (68.5%) | 11. BH (50.8%) | 11. MAGDALO (52.5%) |
| 12. ALONA (68.4%) | 12. 1PACMAN (50.4%) | |
| 13. AMIN (61.1%) | ||
| 14. RECOBODA (57.7%) | ||
| 15. PBA (51.2%) |
NO MORE THAN SIX REGIONS
The rest of the 13 winning party-list groups got at least 50% of their votes from more than three regions but no more than six regions.
Eight out of the 13 remaining party-list groups got majority of their votes from only four regions. OFW FAMILY got 59.1% of its votes from only four regions. BAYAN MUNA got 58.8% of its votes from only four regions. MAGSASAKA got 56.9% of its votes from only four regions. KABAYAN got 56.9% of its votes from only four regions. DUTERTE YOUTH got 54.9% of its votes from only four regions. SENIOR CITIZENS got 51.5% of its votes from only four regions. PROBINSYANO AKO got 50.5% of its votes from only four regions. ACT TEACHERS got 50.0% of its votes from only four regions.
Four out of the 13 remaining party-list groups got majority of their votes from only five regions. MANILA TEACHERS got 58.2% of its votes from only five regions. COOP NATCCO got 55.2% of its votes from only five regions. ANG PROBINSYANO got 54.3% of its votes from only five regions. BHW got 52.1% of its votes from only five regions.
One out of the 13 remaining party-list groups got majority of its votes from only six regions. A TEACHER got 56.6% of its votes from only six regions.
100% of the winning party-list groups did not need to get majority of its votes from more than six regions out of the seventeen regions of the country.
“100% of the winning party-list groups did not need to get majority of its votes from more than six regions out of the seventeen regions of the country.”
MAJORITY OF VOTES COMING FROM ONLY FOUR TO SIX REGIONS
| FOUR REGIONS | FIVE REGIONS | SIX REGIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OFW FAMILY (59.1%) | 1. MANILA TEACHERS (58.2%) | 1. A TEACHER (56.6%) |
| 2. BAYAN MUNA (58.8%) | 2. COOP NATCCO (55.2%) | |
| 3. MAGSASAKA (56.9%) | 3. ANG PROBINSYANO (54.3%) | |
| 4. KABAYAN (56.9%) | 4. BHW (52.1%) | |
| 5. DUTERTE YOUTH (54.9%) | ||
| 6. SENIOR CITIZENS (51.5%) | ||
| 7. PROBINSYANO AKO (50.5%) | ||
| 8. ACT TEACHERS (50.0%) |
THE KEY
In closing, to reiterate, 75% of all winning party-list groups won by getting at least 50% of all their votes from a minimum of one to a maximum of three regions, out of the seventeen regions in the country.
In addition, 100% of the winning party-list groups did not need to get majority of its votes from more than six regions out of the seventeen regions of the country.
Therefore, this is our pitch: the key to winning a seat in the party-list system is the efficient and effective execution and implementation of the “less is more” strategy.
“The key to winning a seat in the party-list system is the efficient and effective execution and implementation of the “less is more” strategy.”
As we have shown in all of the figures presented above, the less areas the party-list groups chose to get their votes from, the more votes the party-list groups got from those areas. This is the key to how they won.