In a Rappler opinion piece, columnist Chito de la Vega compares three new House of Representatives members—Leandro Leviste, Kiko Barzaga, and Eli San Fernando—to the child Jesus figures in the Santo Niño festival due to their novice political styles.
On January 18, 2026, Rappler published the column '[Tambay] Tres niños na bagitos' by Chito de la Vega, linking the Santo Niño festival to three new congressmen. He portrays them as rookie politicians full of good intentions but with unrefined approaches to issues.
For Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, Senator Ping Lacson remarked in a press conference that he is still 'hilaw' or inexperienced in politics. Lacson advised, 'Huwag ’yung bara-bara…. Huwag ’yung araw-araw nasa TV siya. Kasi, ‘di ba, nakakaumay din?' He warned that criticizing in politics invites retaliation, putting the critic on the defensive.
Meanwhile, Cavite Representative Kiko Barzaga, representing Dasmariñas City, was suspended by fellow congressmen over social media posts potentially interpreted as inciting armed rebellion against the government. Known for his love of cats and nickname 'Meaow-meaow,' the columnist critiques Barzaga's abrasive social media style, which may harm his representation.
Union organizer Eli San Fernando defended Barzaga during the ethics complaint hearing. Though his social media presence is loud, the columnist supports his group's advocacy to abolish provincial wages and establish a national minimum wage. Overall, de la Vega urges listening to these new voices in politics to enrich democratic discourse, drawing from the Santo Niño gospel on accepting children.
