MaryJane Salomon leads voter education campaign across Asia

IN a strong display of civic leadership and commitment to empowering the Filipino diaspora, public figure and advocate MaryJane Salomon successfully spearheaded a voter education campaign across Hong Kong and Vietnam last month, reaching hundreds of overseas Filipino workers and communities in preparation for the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections.

Understanding the historic significance of this year's electoral process — the first to allow online voting for overseas Filipinos — Salomon emphasized the urgency of informing and mobilizing voters abroad.

The campaign focused on educating participants about the registration process, the importance of researching candidates and how to navigate the new online voting platform.

"We are entering a new era of participation. But awareness must come first. That's what this initiative is all about, empowering our kababayans (fellow Filipinos) to use their voice wisely wherever they are in the world," Salomon said.

Taking the advocacy further, she officially launched "The Voice of the Global Filipino," a special podcast and a platform dedicated to sharing stories, raising awareness and sparking dialogue among overseas Filipinos worldwide. The podcast complements the voter education campaign by providing ongoing access to civic discussions, interviews with key leaders, and community perspectives leading up to and beyond election day.

Her initiative to partner with the Commission on Elections, The Manila Times and local consular offices abroad underscores her commitment to building bridges between the Philippines and the global Filipinos.