Narrative–Ethical–Youth Perspective
Review

As someone who was too young to vote in past elections, I was left to observe the political climate of our country without the power to change it. It jarred me as a child, seeing how much people cared about politics and exactly how politics affects people. I didn’t quite grasp yet how urgently change was needed in the country and how. But when I saw how much was at stake and who was being affected, I wanted to make a change like the people I saw on TV—I wanted to create policies to help the poor, to implement technologies to fix the problems, but it felt like everyone saw me as an idealist whose ideas would never come into fruition. Hybrid: A Proposal for a New Form of Government in the Philippines provides exactly that reassurance for kids who were once like me, that their innovative ideas do matter and that change is still within our reach.

In this book, Maria Gloria R. Adan proposes on addressing the issues of our country in the form of a visionary blueprint, combining Parliamentary Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy and Federalism to fit the Filipino context. With a foundation in Mathematics and experience in the Judiciary, Adan makes her arguments for her concept very feasible, especially with the way she carefully handles the topics with tact, in consideration of her target audience. This edition is intended primarily for Filipino students, young leaders and future policymakers, acting as both an educational tool and a call to action. For those like me who ever felt powerless in the face of political dysfunction or are dismissed for their idealism, this book is a powerful reminder that our bold ideas have the potential to pave the way for actual, meaningful change.

In the first six chapters, the proposed Hybrid Model is broken down into consumable chunks for the reader to understand, showing the current issues in the Philippines, how it connects to the Hybrid Model, the history of each government type mentioned, and what we can learn from other countries using similar models. It frames these systems within the Filipino context by constantly using our culture, our heritage, our faith and our values as a guide on what to modify about the existing but combined systems. For example, it highlights frequent natural disasters and regional disparities as key reasons Federalism would benefit the country, allowing LGUs to allocate budgets efficiently without the delays of a presidential system. By grounding its arguments in the reality of Filipino society rather than the fantasy of a better utopia, the book effectively emphasizes the urgent need for governance reform to tackle issues like corruption, inefficiency, political instability, voter intelligence, and climate change.

I found that the book’s strengths lay in its organization and ability to break down its complex concepts into digestible ideas, perfect for students who are still trying to make sense of their own political standing, as well as those well-versed in the subject. It effectively connects the global models to the Filipino situation and challenges many preconceived notions about presidential systems and political reform to convincingly sway those less open minded individuals. I especially love the part on how Adan highlights how important accountability is for leaders and citizens alike and how difficult it is to ask for accountability in our current system where justice is slow and the citizens are all too forgiving. It convinced me that the parliamentary system does indeed offer more direct intervention when leaders fail their mission, and that they can adjust policies as needed without having to wait for leadership change or make too many adjustments to please a new leader’s platform when a change does occur. Combined with federalism, I think this would work greatly in our favor with its fast-paced action-based governance because it is very applicable to most sectors with trends constantly changing.

Another one of the strongest points I found while reading is the humanization of the leaders, avoiding the usual portrayal of them as inherently corrupt or incompetent. Instead, it reminded me that our system sometimes dehumanizes its leaders exactly because of its centralized power, especially in the absence of proper checks and balances. This perspective challenged my previous assumptions and made me realize that governance reform isn’t just about electing the right people but about building a system that takes the impact of human error into consideration and minimizes it accordingly. Furthermore, I really appreciate the argument that progress, and not perfection should be the goal as it is a very realistic and refreshing take. It recognizes that no system is without flaw, and what truly matters is our ability to adapt, correct mistakes and hold leaders accountable.

My final point of discussion on the book’s strengths is its strong arguments for Federalism, Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy. Federalism already has the potential to be successful as seen in thriving cities like Makati, Taguig and Pasig, which all operate successfully without the need to be overly reliant on the orders of a singular power. Alongside Parliamentary Democracy, it can strengthen the checks and balances for authority, allowing judges to block executive decisions that may not suit specific regions—much like how the U.S. judiciary countered the Trump administration on key issues. By decentralizing governance, both Federalism and Parliamentary Democracy have the capacity to address the overconcentration of power and resources in Metro Manila, which has worsened regional inequality and forced provincial migration to the capital, increasing population density and urban poverty. As for Constitutional Monarchy, while a more contentious concept, can convincingly meet the need for a national symbol of hope—a unifying figure that provides stability and continuity beyond partisan politics.

But while Hybrid makes a strong case for its proposed governance model, I feel as if other aspects need further exploration and clarification if it truly wants to achieve the goal of being inspiring and convincing future generations to take action based on its blueprint. Of course no system is without problems and the book shouldn’t be taken as is without further improvement, but sometimes it tends to skirt around the potential risks and arguments against it. I particularly appreciated how Hybrid examines voter education and its impact on election outcomes, rather than solely blaming Filipinos for poorer voting decisions. However, while the book does recognize the need to improve voter awareness through the concept of the ICD, it would’ve been more balanced if the candidates are vetted as much as the voters as they have a much bigger responsibility to uphold. Because if voters are going to be forced to choose among unqualified candidates due to survival instinct, then the pool of options available should be at least as qualified as them to make it fair.

One notable gap in the book is its lack of engagement with the potential downsides of its proposed systems, particularly regarding Federalism, Parliament, and Monarchy. While a constitutional monarchy could act as a symbol of unity, Filipinos may find it difficult to accept, as it lacks the historical roots of established monarchies and could be seen as outdated and unnecessary. Maintaining a monarch would also require taxpayer funding, which many may oppose for a largely ceremonial role. Additionally, a monarch’s political stance—or lack thereof—could be polarizing, either alienating one side or being dismissed as passive, knowing how Filipinos tend to politicize personal choices and miniscule details. Given these issues, the book would have benefited from tackling alternative ways to establish national unity without the drawbacks of monarchy, or perhaps a modified version of a traditional symbolic monarchy. The book would have also benefited with a deeper analysis of key societal issues like prison reform, crime, economic trends, gender equality, climate change, and healthcare, as these could be significantly impacted by systemic change and would provide a more comprehensive vision for those who care about these issues and want to see their advocacies addressed.

Beyond governance structures, Hybrid introduces several thought-provoking ideas that could be expanded in future editions. The inclusion of Political Science and Physics Research Labs is commendable, but adding Innovation Hubs—such as the one recently built in Marikina City—could further support business and technological development. The book’s emphasis on rewarding success rather than punishing failure is also particularly compelling, as fear-driven governance often discourages long-term progress. However, one limitation of its innovation section is the lack of focus on Humanities and ethics outside of church, which is just as essential as STEM in shaping ethical leaders. As a STEM student, I have personally witnessed how a lack of Humanities education can lead to a results-driven mindset devoid of empathy and ethical considerations, making it crucial to strike a balance between both disciplines.

Overall, I think Hybrid: A Proposal for a New Form of Government in the Philippines could one day serve as a valuable and actually feasible framework backed by logic and evidence that can also inspire the future generation to develop their own solutions while building on the proposal. While not without its gaps and areas for refinement, it truly makes a compelling case for systemic reform, and it is something I would like to see in practice one day all refined and improved. This book is a must-read for students, policymakers, reform advocates, and politically engaged citizens who want to see a fresh perspective that challenges conventional governance. In the end, Hybrid is not just a proposal, but also a call to action reminding us that governance should be humane, adaptive, accountable, and driven by progress, not perfection. While the road to reform may be long, this book reinforces the hope that change is possible, especially when guided by knowledge, innovation, and the will to act.