The recent results of Ateneo de Davao University’s (AdDU) Blue Vote 2025 survey have raised more than a few eyebrows — especially among those familiar with the progressive and at times vocal opposition stances of other Ateneo schools across the country, particularly towards the Duterte administration’s human rights record and strongman politics.
But here, in Duterte’s hometown, the narrative plays out differently.
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, whose name remains polarizing on the national stage, overwhelmingly secured the top spot in the university’s survey for Davao City mayor, garnering a commanding 68.37% from students, faculty, staff, and administrators. His children and even grandchildren, who are also vying for various political positions, likewise emerged as top picks. The results paint a picture that’s hard to ignore: an Ateneo community that seemingly embraces the Duterte name.
This divergence from the expected Ateneo mold — which in other regions often leans towards social justice, human rights advocacy, and strong criticism of authoritarianism — begs the question: why is Ateneo de Davao different?
Is it fear? Living in Davao, where the Dutertes’ grip on political and social life is well-entrenched, might breed a certain quiet compliance or even self-preservation among locals. For years, Davao has been shaped by the Duterte brand of governance — tough, unyielding, but also, in the eyes of many, effective and decisive. It’s easy to assume that speaking out, or even thinking differently, comes with unspoken risks in a city where political loyalty can sometimes feel like an unbreakable social contract.
Or perhaps it’s not fear at all, but comfort and confidence. Davao’s citizens, including Ateneo’s students, might not share the same critique as their counterparts in Manila or Cebu simply because the Duterte name represents stability to them. For years, they’ve witnessed the city’s transformation under Duterte leadership — from security policies to infrastructure projects. The students voting in the survey are, after all, not disconnected from the local culture. Many of them grew up under the Duterte era, in households where the family name carries respect, if not admiration.
There’s also the potent influence of family and community. In tightly-knit Davao society, students’ political choices might reflect the long-standing loyalties of their parents, relatives, and even family friends. In a place where politics is personal, the Duterte name isn’t just a political brand — it’s part of daily life, social circles, and dinner table conversations.
Ultimately, the Blue Vote 2025 results remind us that politics is local. While Ateneo de Manila or Ateneo de Naga students might reject Duterte’s policies on a national level, Ateneo de Davao students see his legacy through the lens of lived local experience, family dynamics, and the familiar presence of his name on public projects, city policies, and community affairs.
Is this loyalty born from fear, genuine belief, or social conditioning? The answer is probably a mix of all three — shaped by the unique political climate of Davao City, the influence of family, and a complex relationship with power that goes beyond party lines and university identity.
In the end, the Ateneo de Davao survey doesn’t just reveal voting preferences — it reveals a community’s complex relationship with its hometown’s most famous political family.