Filipino food vendor and social media personality Deo Jarito Balbuena, popularly known as Diwata, took to social media to express his profound disappointment following the defeat of the Vendors Partylist in the 2025 Philippine House of Representatives elections.
In a Facebook post on May 13, Diwata declared, “Ang pagkatalo ng Vendors Partylist, ay pagkatalo ng Buong Pilipinas ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜.” His emotional statement reflects his belief that the Vendors Partylist’s loss goes beyond the party itself, impacting the interests of small vendors and informal sector workers that the party aimed to represent.
The Vendors Partylist, which campaigned on a platform advocating for the rights of Filipino vendors and workers in the informal sector, had faced various challenges during the election period, including a disqualification case filed against them by election watchdog Kontra Daya. The case alleged that some of the party’s nominees were not genuinely part of the marginalized sector they claimed to represent.
Despite these challenges, Diwata remained hopeful and passionate in his advocacy for the vendor community, becoming a vocal figure supporting the party’s cause.
