Article Reflection: Aperocho, M. D. B., & Lapiña, I. C. C., 2022 (Face-Saving Strategies in Leni Robredo’s Post-Election Speech)

I followed this election closely because it represented a pivotal shift in power, with the possibility of electing a more progressive leader (perhaps comparable to a moderate Democrat in the United States). Social media played a significant role in influencing voters across age groups, while also spreading misinformation and divisive commentary. The algorithm-driven echo chamber effect made it appear as though each party was dominant and held majority support; however, this perception was largely manufactured, as users are primarily exposed to content they already engage with.

Despite the volatile language commonly used in political videos—often more by advocates than by the candidates themselves—Vice President Robredo employed face-saving techniques to accept her defeat neutrally and prevent further division between opposing parties. In this context, face-saving applies not only to the individual candidate but also to supporters who closely identify with her, as well as to the opposing party. In the Philippines, political leaders are often chosen based on public perception, personal reputation, religious values, and trust, sometimes more than on specific policy positions. This paper asks: After facing electoral defeat, how did Vice President Robredo use language to preserve face and address the negative perceptions that emerged from her campaign, including those shaped by her supporters?

After reading a lot of comments and discussion during this time, a lot of individuals had already felt that they had already lost face during her time as Vice President; however, this makes me wonder if this loss of face had already been established, or if it was applied retroactively to justify the eventual election outcome. In other words, did voters genuinely perceive her leadership as unsuccessful beforehand, or did the defeat reshape the narrative of her vice presidency in hindsight?

Here are a few concepts she used that align with the face-saving techniques we discussed in class (paraphrased):

• She recognized the achievements of her campaign despite the loss, such as allied Senate and House members winning seats. This reframed the outcome as partially successful rather than a total defeat.
• She did not directly frame her statement as a personal defeat; instead, she stated that she accepts that the other party won. A direct admission of defeat could constitute a threat to face.
• She addressed misinformation as one factor that influenced the election results, suggesting that multiple external forces shaped the outcome rather than attributing it solely to personal failure.
• She calls the other party “thieves,” hinting at the allegations of corruption associated with the Marcos family (but not name-dropping), as well as the historical revisionism that has reshaped public memory of their regime.

While most of us will not confront face-saving on such a public scale, a lot can be learned from the political realm of how leaders navigate public messaging by using neutral, yet positive, language to either preserve face, improve face, or prevent further loss as well as damage control.

Aperocho, M. D. B., & Lapiña, I. C. C. (2022). Face-Saving Strategies in Leni Robredo’s Post-Election Speech. International Journal of Qualitative Research, 2(2), 143-151. https://doi.org/10.47540/ijqr.v2i2.663