Among the two approaches to security, I resonate more with the critical approach to security and I

believe that the Philippine Presidential candidate that is the closest embodiment of my chosen approach
is none other than our current Vice President, Leni Robredo. The critical approach to security is more
concerned with the well-being of the individuals within a state which contrasts the traditional approach
that focuses more on the state actors. Throughout her term, Vice President Robredo shows genuine
intent on striking change in the Philippines. She acknowledges that the government system needs to
improve or reform for the people and refuses to tolerate unfairness when it comes to the government
benefits that citizens should receive; When the pandemic struck she was very hands on and active in
helping and lending a hand to the people in need, I remember when I was working in the health and
safety equipment field, she would hire local seamstresses to make protective suits (PPEs) to give them
out or donate them to the health sectors giving them an opportunity to earn while also providing more
to our healthcare professionals who are also frontline workers. She recognizes the importance of
individuals in the state and how they are the referent beings that needs to be protected. Moreover, she
respects the peoples’ needs of her–In one article, an ordinary citizen reached out to her office for a clear
and legal copy of her government budget and spendings for transparency purposes and her office
provided it to that citizen with VP Robredo’s approval, no buts or if. This exemplifies how her openness
puts the people at ease that in the event of her winning the presidential election, majority of the people
would not feel threatened or let down. Furthermore, she can understand how the economy works as a
graduate of BA Economics in UP Diliman. I believe that she is the best fit as the country also needs a
leader who is also an economist, more than ever, because that is what we need to better the condition
of our economy which in turn, would also benefit us as it would lead to producing more employment
opportunities and reduced poverty rate. Similar to developing countries, the more people out of poverty,
the more they are secured.

Personally, I do not have any Vice Presidential bet however, the closest I know that would fit this
narrative would be Senator Kiko Pangilinan who is running alongside Vice President Leni Robredo. More
often than not, allies or partners have aligned interests and even though that is not always the case,
Senator Kiko Pangilinan has his fair share of accomplishments that are for the people as evidenced by his
public service credentials. I think that a Presidential candidate who has a heart for helping the
marginalized and securing individuals by all means would select a running mate who also share the same
values and that’s also how partylists work. As liberals, rather than resorting to violence to solve
interstate or intrastate issues, they would most likely exhaust every diplomatic means necessary and
resort to violence last–this enables them to less likely and unnecessarily put lives in danger or at risk of
any life-threatening ordeals which is a tenet of the critical approach, critical proponents would prioritize
the safety of their people above everything else.

Finally, the two senatorial candidates I am rooting for that also embodies the critical approach are
Senator Risa Hontiveros and Ms. Samira Gutoc. In the previous assignment, I learned about the feminist
perspective to security; how throughout history, women have always been in the margin of
disadvantage, may it be in their household, at their workplace, and pretty much anywhere they go.
These two are both feminists and strong advocates for equality and the rights of women as well as the
LGBTQ++ community. As much as it shouldnt, Gender discrimination is very much integrated in our social
structures and have led to thousands of lives ruined or taken just because they do not fit within the
standards set by others. These two women and professionals challenge these norms and have openly
fought with marginalized individuals for the purpose of achieving equal rights for all. They are backed up
by experience and have done a lot to protect women and children and persons who are being socially
subjugated and I think that is why they are embodiments of the critical approach to security.