In times of widespread crisis and confusion, Filipinos should not be divided but instead drawn closer together in shared understanding and purpose.

This was Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s key message during a video interview with King of Talk Boy Abunda posted on Facebook on April 29, 2026.

“When there’s national issues, especially when there are tragedies, catastrophes, calamities, and in one sense you’re taught righteous anger, and to love and not to hate — the confusion is there,” the senator said.

“But no matter how bad the times get, may answer at solution iyan. We should use the confusion to bring people together,” he added.

Cayetano said while confusion is a natural human response when faced with multiple crises, these can be used as opportunities to push for reform and address long-standing systemic problems.

“Whether or not there’s a crisis and confusion, people should always demand (for the better)… the Chinese character for ‘crisis’ is also the character for ‘opportunity’,” the senator said.

Cayetano also highlighted the pressures faced by the young generation dealing with major crises in a short span of time, including political controversies, corruption issues, pandemics, and global conflicts.

He noted that compared to earlier generations, today’s youth are also growing up and dealing with rapid technological change which adds further pressure and uncertainty.

Despite this, Cayetano said crises can help shape stronger leaders and should push society toward unity and reflection.

“Crises should bring people together. We need major reforms… Magkaisa na dapat na hindi maulit lang (ang mga problema),” he said. ###