Senator Alan Peter Cayetano: Wanting to be the very best, like no one ever was

There is nothing wrong with politicians trying to talk to younger generations. Many Filipinos wish more lawmakers would speak in ways that feel easy to understand, modern, and relatable. Politics in the Philippines is often too complicated, detached, and filled with words that ordinary citizens struggle to follow.

There is a difference between making something simple and making it sound silly.

That is why Senator Alan Peter Cayetano's recent attempt to explain politics using Pokémon cards got reactions online. To some people, it looked creative and youthful. To others, it felt like another example of how politics is becoming more about show and less about being serious.

And maybe the strongest criticism is this:

When politicians try hard to seem relatable, they often show how disconnected they really are.

The first problem with using Pokémon cards to explain politics is that they represent a reality that not everyone can afford. Collecting cards is a hobby that costs money. Booster packs are expensive, and rare cards are more expensive. Only people with money can collect cards as a hobby. Meanwhile, many Filipinos worry about how to pay for food, transportation, school, and electricity.

So when a ranking government official like Senator Alan Peter Cayetano uses a collectible card to simplify national issues, it can sound like he does not understand what ordinary people are going through.

Many Filipinos are not thinking about Pokémon cards. They are thinking about how to survive until their paycheck.

This is where politics can become dangerous. A comparison that sounds clever to politicians can sound insulting to others. In a country where many people are struggling to make ends meet, using hobbies to explain politics can alienate the people Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is trying to connect with.

The second issue is more problematic.

Explaining politics using Pokémon cards undermines the intelligence of Filipinos.

Young people in the Philippines today are not ignorant about politics. They are actually one of the most informed generations in history. They have access to information, news, and data online. They discuss issues on social media, analyze policies, and organize campaigns.

They do not need politics to be explained in a way like a game. They need leaders who will explain issues honestly and directly.

Then there is the issue of dignity. The Senate is an institution in the country. The Senate President represents the seriousness of democracy.

In today's world, everything a politician says or does can be seen by people all over the world. This affects how people see the country.

Because how people see the country affects their confidence in it.

What kind of image does the Philippines project when its leaders communicate in a way that's more like entertainment than governance? What kind of investors want to invest in a country that does not seem serious about its politics?

The Philippines cannot afford to look like it's not serious about its politics.

Politicians should communicate in a way that's modern and easy to understand.. They should not do it in a way that makes them look silly.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano probably wanted to explain politics in a way that everyone can understand. That is not an idea. Politicians should communicate better.

Communication only works if it respects the people.

What Filipinos need today are lawmakers focused on solving problems like inflation, corruption, and the lack of education. They need lawmakers who're more concerned about doing their job than about being popular.

And maybe that is the truth politicians need to accept:

Not everyone will like them. That comes with being an official.

Just because someone becomes a leader does not mean people will stop questioning their actions. Leadership is not about being liked by everyone. It is about doing what is right, even when it is hard.

For some politicians, politics is not a game, like Pokémon.

You cannot win people's trust like you win a game. You cannot please everyone. And no matter how hard you try to be liked by everyone, you will eventually have to face the truth that every serious leader learns:

You can't catch them all.