MANILA — Social justice activist and former Gabriela party-list representative Liza Maza is once again vying for a Senate seat in the 2025 elections, advocating for comprehensive reforms to address poverty, workers' rights, and democratic freedoms.

Maza, who previously served at the House under Bayan Muna and Gabriela, was also lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) during the early years of the Duterte administration.

Despite her history in activism and policymaking, she acknowledges that challenges remain in enacting meaningful change.

"I've been in the streets. So, after 2010, I went back to the streets at alam mo naman ang daming issues natin 'di ba, so patuloy ako dun sa aking adbokasiya para sa taumbayan lalo na sa mga mahihirap," Maza said during ABS-CBN’s Harapan 2025.

(You know the country has a lot of issues, so I continued on my advocacies for the people, especially the poor)

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Maza is now running under the Makabayan coalition, which is fielding a slate of representatives of marginalized sectors.

She emphasized that their slate offers concrete solutions to the country’s crises.

"Kami ay nagpapanukala ng pambansang demokratikong plataporma para sa immediate relief, sa kalayaan at sa demokrasya," she said. 

(We are pushing a national democratic platform for immediate relief, so freedom and democracy)

MAZA SUPPORTS WAGE HIKES, LIVING WAGE

Maza supports a P200 wage hike, but argues that even that amount is insufficient given rising living costs.

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"Oo, sang ayon ako d'yan. Kulang pa nga eh, kasi ngayon ang standard of living ay P1,200 kaya ang panukala namin itaas sa P1,200 per day ang wage ng mga manggagawa," she said. 

(Yes, I support that. That's actually not enough because now you need P1,200 a day and that is what we are calling for)

Business groups as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have cautioned against raising wages, saying it might lead to unemployment and higher rates as business owners try to maintain or increase their profit levels.

"Tingin ko, kaya 'yan ng mga negosyante. Yung kanilang cost of production actually mas malaki pa yung binabayad nila sa renta saka sa mga utilities saka mga padulas," she said.

(I think big businesses can afford it. Their cost of production, actually, goes more to rent and to bribes)

She said the government could provide micro, small, and medium incentives to help them pay the higher wages.

THE 'PARLIAMENT OF THE STREET'

Maza underscored the effectiveness of street activism, asserting that many of the country’s labor and wage reforms were achieved with the help of public demonstrations. 

"Ang dami nating naipanalo. Di naman natin maitataas pa-konti konti yung sahod ng mga manggagawa kung hindi tayo nag-rally, nag-protesta," she said.

(The movement has won many victories. We would not have been able to push for wage increases — even though little by little — without rallies and protests)

She said that campaigning through social media has also helped, "pero pagdating sa real deal kailangan mo talaga ng warm bodies (but when it comes down to it, you really need warm bodies)." 

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Maza also addressed the common claim that activists who join rallies are paid to do so.

"I can very well say sa hanay namin wala. Actually nagco-contribute pa nga yung aming mga manggagawa — piso-piso, nagco-contribute sila para makadalo," she added.

(I can very well say there is none of that in our ranks. Actually, the workers even contribute. A peso here and there, they contribute so they can attend)