COMELEC x Sexy Babe: What does this have to do with being sexy?

Pageantry was once just mere showcasing of hourglass figures, satin sashes, and sparkling crowns. As it evolved, it began to emphasize intelligence, purpose, and social responsibility, pushing contestants to be more than just faces of beauty. The tiara has become a symbol of wit, advocacy, and awareness of pressing issues —  yet, some misinformed individuals are able to compete despite not meeting its standards.

During It’s Showtime's episode on February 28, 20-year-old Heart Aquino found herself at the center of controversy after failing to answer a question about the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) during the show's Sexy Babe segment.

The moment unfolded when host Vice Ganda asked, “Ano ang mensahe mo sa COMELEC?” Caught off guard, Aquino admitted that she was not “knowledgeable” about the commission.

Sensing the lapse, co-host Jhong Hilario, current Makati councilor, stepped in to briefly explain the role of the electoral body. “‘Yong Comelec, sila yung nag-aayos bago mag-eleksyon. Para sa mga kandidato,” Jhong explained.

This incident quickly went viral, sparking an online debate about voter awareness and civic education in the Philippines; an issue made more pressing with the 2025 midterm elections fast approaching.

But what on earth is COMELEC?

If pageants have panelists or judges, then COMELEC serves as the screening panel of democracy, ensuring that each candidate is credible and has all the necessary paperwork to run for government positions. The commission is responsible for overseeing and ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and orderly.

More so, COMELEC is also a constitutional commission. Meaning the constitution itself mandated its existence. Under the Article IX of the 1987 constitution, COMELEC is tasked  “to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall.”

They are also cited to be in charge of the qualifications of all officials in the nation.

After the “Sexy Babe” issue circulated online, COMELEC invited Heart Aquino to their main office in Intramuros earlier this March for an orientation on the commission’s role and responsibilities. This also serves as an opportunity for the poll body to understand why Aquino was unfamiliar with their work.

COMELEC Chairman George Garcia mentioned that this initiative is part of their campaign to enlighten young people about what the commission does.

“It is possible that many youths or Filipinos are like her. It is thus our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we are doing,” Garcia emphasized.

Ironically, despite these recurring issues, the  hailed as the pag-asa ng bayan, find themselves both at the forefront of electoral power and of the alarmingly uninformed. For Eleksyon 2025, GMA Integrated News Research shows that Filipinos aged 18 to 44, commonly grouped as Millenials and Gen Z’s, make up 63% of the voting population, giving this age bracket immense influence in shaping the country’s future.

Unfortunately, the “Sexy Babe” incident reveals a glaring contradiction that while young voters are expected to drive change, many remain oblivious to the very institutions that safeguard their rights. Aquino’s lack of awareness on the poll body is not an isolated case, but a clear symptom of a larger problem. This issue underscores questions on how well-equipped the next generation truly is to fulfill the role of the nation’s hope.

From the footsteps of Mary Wollstonecraft’s argument for women’s right to education to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’s push for voting rights, the modern woman still faces misogyny and systemic inequalities.

The Philippines has its own qualms with women's political participation, dating back to the drafting of the 1935 Constitution with Filipina suffragists against their opposition. At the time, only Filipino men aged 21 and above were allowed to vote. Antisuffragists argued that politics was "dirty" and would taint families if women became involved. They also clung to traditional notions of womanhood and motherhood, thus insisting that a woman’s place was at home, not in politics.

While progress has been made, women are still subjected to outdated stereotypes that undermine their intelligence, competence, and role in society.

March is a time to celebrate women’s triumphs through its month-long advocacy being Women’s Month, empowering modern feminists. However, it also marked the start of the “Sexy Babe” controversy after its episode aired on February 28.

Heart Aquino is just one of many, who, despite being registered voters, remain unaware of the full scope of their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process. Her moment on national television, though criticized, emphasizes not just a personal lapse, but a broader issue in the nation’s gaps in civic education and media access, thus leaving many young voters uninformed about key components of the process like the COMELEC itself.

Being a voter and understanding the role of COMELEC should not be mutually exclusive. With accessible resources such as government websites, news articles, and voter education programs, young voters like Aquino have multiple avenues to equip themselves with essential political knowledge. Schools, community organizations, and even mainstream media play crucial roles in bridging this gap, ensuring that voter registration is not just a formality, but a step towards informed participation.

The conversation sparked by the incident highlights the need for more inclusive and accessible political awareness, especially for young people who will shape the country's future.

Although people may shrug this off as Aquino’s ignorance on the issue, the clip also somehow highlighted how several Filipinos lack access to relevant information.

Aquino mentioned that her family didn’t have a television  nor did any news appear on her news feed thus, being unfamiliar with the elections. This was a factor identified by PARTICIPATE, a multiparty summit organized by pro-democracy and non-partisan coalition, through their survey “Survey on Attitudes toward Political Parties and Reforms in the Philippines.”

The survey showed areas like North Luzon, South Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao illustrating unfamiliarity with political parties based on the rates of 77 percent, 66 percent, 64 percent, and 74 percent respectively in comparison to the National Capital Region’s population indicating 52% familiarity with political parties.

This is further exemplified by the lack of awareness (85 percent) on ongoing reform proposals such as House Bill 488 or the Political Party Development Act which aims to enhance public engagement and foster a more informed voting population

Although the “Sexy Babe” incident may have started as a viral moment, it ignited a much-needed conversation about civic education in the Philippines. It exposed not just an individual’s lack of awareness but a systemic failure in equipping Filipinos with knowledge about their electoral rights.

Being a registered voter should not be the finish line. Voting as a process should be the beginning of an ongoing effort to understand and exercise one’s political power responsibly.  

While it’s easy to dismiss Aquino’s response as a personal failure, doing so ignores the larger issues in the scene: political disengagement, media inaccessibility, and a declining trust in institutions like COMELEC.

If democracy is to thrive, political literacy should be as fundamental as the right to vote itself. Knowing one’s rights isn’t just a privilege, it’s a responsibility, one that ensures voters are not easily swayed by disinformation, intimidation, or empty promises.  

As the 2025 midterm elections approach, the challenge remains: how do we ensure that every Filipino voter, regardless of age, gender, or background, is equipped with the knowledge to make informed choices? Women throughout history have fought tirelessly for the rights we exercise today, and one misstep from a single individual should not set us back to a time when women’s intelligence was so easily dismissed. 

Progress means pushing forward and not reverting back to outdated narratives. After all, elections aren’t just about casting a ballot; they’re about making sure those votes steer the nation toward a future that honors the struggles of those who fought for them.