Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — On May 13, Filipinos will cast their votes for the 2019 midterm elections. Two weeks prior, 11 senatorial candidates gathered on one stage at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of the University of Santo Tomas to debate their stands on the most pressing issues the country is facing.

Of the 11 candidates present, six are from the opposition slate Otso Diretso, including Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Bangsamoro Transition committee member Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, and former Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada. Then there are the two Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidates, Senator JV Ejercito and former Bureau of Corrections chief Bato dela Rosa, as well as former DILG Sec. Raffy Alunan, former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong (who arrives over an hour late to the debate), and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

Outside the Quadricentennial Pavilion, supporters arrive in droves, some already wearing shirts emblazoned with their candidates’ names, faces, and slogans, others lining up to receive a shirt from campaign organizers. Though colors bleed into one another — the white and camo of Alejano, the mint green-wearing youths supporting Diokno, the greys of Bato’s loyal supporters — there is tension brewing.

As Glenn Chong supporters — clad in white shirts and holding hand fans bearing the image of Imee Marcos — pose in front of a man holding a GoPro chanting “Glenn Chong! Marcos! Bato!” a voice to their left, where Tañada supporters stand, yells “Magnanakaw!”

“Hindi tayo bobo!” retort several voices from the Chong side. Meanwhile, a group in blue and red, Ejercito’s colors, are off to the side, huddled together to strategize how best to show their support despite being outnumbered by the opposition’s supporters.

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Inside the holding area where the candidates await the start of the debate at 5 p.m., things are relatively calm. CNN Philippines President Armie Jarin-Bennett briefs earlybirds Diokno, Alejano, and Macalintal on how they will enter the stage. Gutoc arrives through the back entrance with her mother and a small team comprised mostly of women. Tailing her is a small foreign camera crew. Also with a camera crew is Dela Rosa, who chooses to enter the pavilion from the main entrance, where he is greeted excitedly by his supporters and poses for a few photos.

“Maca-Romy? Parang pagkain ba, sir?” jokes Dela Rosa upon greeting Macalintal and reading his slogan on his vest.

When Ejercito arrives, Diokno greets him saying, “Ito na ‘yung huling debate natin, ‘no? Salamat at matatapos na. Good luck ah.”

For most of the two-hour waiting period, the candidates make small talk with each other and their companions, read their notes, and silently prepare for the debate. Colmenares, Gutoc, Tañada, and Diokno pose for photos in a corner and greet UST students for a video.

Nearly 15 minutes before the show starts, Hilbay arrives, gets his makeup done quickly, and is assisted to get his portrait taken. Gutoc is assisted by her team and her mother in pinning her headscarf on. Tañada asks his companions if his family has been seated already.

Lined up to enter the stage, Colmenares jokes that Dela Rosa should go ahead of him. “Bato siya eh.” Meanwhile, Alunan and Alejano chat about military exercises and skydiving.

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The moment the debate begins, the tension among supporters escalates. During the candidates’ opening statements, loud cheers from each pocket of supporters erupt. Boos and jeers fill the gymnasium when Dela Rosa makes his — reminiscent of the first forum where he received backlash from the crowd as well.

The issue of China — loan deals, Chinese workers in the country, and disputes over the West Philippine Sea — takes centerstage. When Alunan and Alejano are called to face off on the topic of debt-trap diplomacy, things get heated. The candidates argue about the release of government documents related to Chinese loan deals. Soon, everyone is on their feet, and Alunan puts himself in the center of the quarreling group to mediate.

The gymnasium is filled with noise — cheers, boos, and laughter all mix together in confusion and excitement. The political circus is on full display, and the crowd is living for it. All smiles, the candidates take their seats again and resume, but the crowd is riled up, and it takes all the effort from the moderators, CNN Philippines’ anchors Pia Hontiveros-Pagkalinawan and Pinky Webb, to calm them down.

Dela Rosa takes most of the hit, with the crowd heckling and booing him, especially when the debate moves on to the topic of the administration’s war on drugs. “Iiyak na ‘yan!” one group chants. “Mamamatay tao!” shouts a woman. At one point, CNN Philippines’ Pia Hontiveros has to remind them that during the VP debate three years ago, some members of the audience were escorted out by security for being disruptive.

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Once the show is over, the candidates make their way out of the gymnasium, stopping to pose with fans for photos and videos. Chong greets his loyal supporters by the side of the stage. Hilbay and Diokno fans crowd by the main entrance of the pavilion to wait for Diokno to emerge, after which they take a group photo together. Little by little, the crowd thins, the candidates and their teams and families pack up and ride their vehicles. The Quadricentennial Pavilion is empty once more. The show is over. The race is on.