TODAY is the last day of the filing for certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections. Two major elements are at play for the administration: Can it win a majority in the congressional races as well as gain control over the key provincial and highly urbanized city races? On the flip side, who will be the opposition because the midterm is a referendum on the Marcos administration and the opposition will have a single task — clearly contrast itself with the Marcos-Romualdez clique.

A cursory analysis of the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas shows five (Cayetano, Lapid, Tolentino, Revilla and Marcos) of the seven reelectionists with the Alyansa, three balik-Senado (Lacson, Pacquiao and Sotto), one Cabinet secretary (Abalos), one from the local government (Binay), and two from the House of Representatives (Tulfo and Villar).