The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched a limited podcast series called “Ano Na?” during its international election observation mission (IEOM) to the 2025 Philippine National and Local Elections.

This followed ANFREL’s online campaign during the ANFREL IEOM to the 2024 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections to promote citizen observer rights and the value of election observation towards ensuring electoral integrity.

“Ano Na?” which translates to “What’s Up?” or “What Now?” aimed to share to the Filipino electorate how ANFREL observes and monitors elections from the perspective of the people behind and in front of ANFREL’s IEOM.

Harnessing the value of discussions and the power of live online streaming, the limited podcast series had four episodes which shared insights and perspectives from the electoral analysts, the head of mission and mission executive director, the members of the mission management team and the international election observers.

Episode 01: Observing the 2025 Philippine Elections

Electoral analysts Jake Barker, an independent consultant working on governance and political reform, and Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati, the executive director of Perkumpulan untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi or PERLUDEM in Indonesia were the guests in the first episode.

They walked us through the process of observing elections, including the prepations for the deployment of observers, identifying key electoral issues and concerns, and election observation methodology.

Episode 02: #TeamPilipinas Get to Know the ANFREL Core Team

ANFREL pulled back the curtain on the behind the scenes of the ANFREL IEOM to the 2025 Philippine Elections with the members of the mission management team.

Mission coordinator Manjesh Rana, national coordinator Shannen Solatan, and electoral analyst assistants Nice Dela Cruz and Waldo Dioquino were the guests in the second episode.

They shared their roles and functions in the team as well as key takeaways from the experience of being part of the ANFREL IEOM.

Episode 03: Supporting Electoral Democracy in the Philippines

For the third episode, ANFREL head of mission Rohana Hettiarachchi and mission executive director Brizza Rosales provided a broader overview of ANFREL’s work towards advancing electoral democracy in Asia and ANFREL’s enduring support for and engagement in Philippine democratic process.

Episode 04: Dispatch from the Ground with ANFREL Election Observers

For the fourth and last episode of the limited series, ANFREL convened four international election observers deployed in different parts of the country. They shared their experience observing in their area of deployment, challenges in observing elections, reflections from the experience and insights on the importance of election observation.

Aside from the limited podcast series, ANFREL provided regular updates via ANFREL’s social media accounts about the election observation activities of the observers including engagement with various electoral stakeholders, monitoring campaign activites and preparations of relevant authorities, as well as Election Day processes.

ANFREL deployed 10 long-term observers, three short-term observers and two electoral analysts across the country for the ANFREL IEOM to the 2025 Philippine Elections.

ANFREL released an Election Day statement on 13 May 2025. The mission culminated with the release of an interim report on 16 May 2025. ANFREL presented the initial findings of the mission and hosted a stakeholder exchange with ANFREL members in the Philippines, the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE).

ANFREL will release a final comprehensive report in July 2025.