Lessons from Hungary

In 2022, I stood with millions of Filipinos who believed in reform, transparency, and people-centered leadership. Even then, many of us were already frustrated by political games, grandstanding, and the endless spectacle that too often dominate our public institutions. At a time when Filipinos were struggling with inflation, weak public services, and economic uncertainty, too many politicians seemed more focused on personal rivalries and political survival than serious governance. And just recently, this was demonstrated again in the Senate.

We supported former Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign knowing full well that the odds were stacked against the opposition. We saw how entrenched power, dynastic politics, and media dominance can overwhelm even the most principled movement. Yet history reminds us that defeat is not final.

Hungary offers a powerful lesson. For 16 years, Viktor Orbán seemed immovable. His party controlled the government, dominated the media, and cultivated fear. But in 2026, Péter Magyar defeated Orbán. They built a coalition across ideological lines, exposed corruption relentlessly, mobilized record turnout, and offered a credible democratic alternative. Nearly 80 percent of Hungarians voted, proving that when citizens believe change is possible, they act.

The parallels to the Philippines are striking. Our democracy too has been strained by dynasties, corruption fatigue, and institutions weakened by politics. Filipinos are increasingly confronted by the embarrassing spectacle of senators and public officials behaving more like performers than statesmen. What should serve as halls of governance too often descend into grandstanding, personal attacks, and political self-preservation. Instead of addressing inflation, education, food security, and jobs with urgency and seriousness, too many of our leaders appear consumed by theatrics, vendettas, and endless political maneuvering.

That is why the country needs more than cosmetic reform. We need a genuine leadership reset from the top down. We need leaders who can restore seriousness to governance, rebuild institutional credibility, and rally the country around competence, accountability, and national development rather than personality politics and political survival.

Just as the Hungarians did, we too can forge a broad coalition of progressives, centrists, reform-minded conservatives, civil society, and the business community around a shared vision of integrity, competence, and hope.

Corruption erodes competitiveness. Dynastic politics stifles innovation. Weak institutions discourage investment. A Philippines grounded in transparency and accountability is not only morally right, it is also economically necessary. Investors look for stability, predictability, and fairness.

To do this, we need to lay the groundwork years in advance by building networks, countering disinformation, and organizing communities.

Starting now means convening leaders across sectors to articulate a shared vision. It means investing in digital platforms that reach citizens directly. It means engaging the youth, who will comprise the largest voting bloc in 2028, with messages that resonate with their aspirations for fairness, opportunity, and dignity. And it means preparing a credible policy agenda that addresses corruption, inequality, poverty, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.

Orbán’s defeat was not just about policies; it was about reclaiming Hungary’s democratic identity. We too must tell a story that rejects corruption, dynasties, dysfunction, and despair.

Magyar did not simply oppose Orbán; he articulated a credible alternative future. It is not enough to criticize corruption and dysfunction. We must present a practical vision of inclusive growth, institutional reform, and accountable leadership that people can believe in and rally behind.

Orbán’s defeat was not the triumph of one man. It was the triumph of a movement that believed Hungary deserved better. And, we too, deserve leaders who place public service above personal ambition and national interest above political survival.

And this starts with clusters of citizens all over the country coming together with a shared passion for the nation they deserve. Student councils, parish social action groups, civic and business organizations, and professional groups, each putting their minds and resources together to organize and mobilize for the common goal of electing leaders who will restore our faith and confidence in our country’s future. There is no need to wait to be told what we must do. The time to start where we are, in ways that we can, is now.

The time for hesitation is over. The time for collective action is now.

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Ramon del Rosario is former chair and current trustee of the Makati Business Club. He is also the coconvenor of Roundtable for Inclusive Development and cochairs the Phinma-De La Salle University Center for Business and Society, which advocates that business should be a force for good.

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Business Matters is a project of the Makati Business Club ([email protected]).