Cracks under Pressure: Political Polarization and the Spectrum of Youth Navigational Strategies in the Solid North

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration shows glimpses of political polarization where public discourse often frames citizens into “pro-” and “anti-” Marcos camps. By studying Generation Z political participation in the Marcos support base of Ilocos, popularly called the Solid North, I contribute to the sparse literature on polarization and the Solid North in the Philippines. I discuss political polarization manifesting in the lived experiences of young people of different political leanings based on sixteen in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions. I then present a spectrum of ways they navigate polarization, including the benefits, costs, and implications of these navigational strategies.