Too many family dynasties and unequal representation

There’s no genuine democracy in this country because there’s a gross disparity in legislative representation. Only the rich and the middle class are represented. The 70 million people poor have no representation in the Senate. In the House, the richest congressman claims to represent the marginalized people through the bastardized party-list system. Luzon and Mindanao are over-represented in the Senate. There is no true Visayan representation. The sole Visayan senator has resided in Metro Manila most of his life.

In the USA, whether a state is as small as Hawaii, or as big as Texas, there are always two senators. The number of congressmen depends on populations and areas. America with a population of 333,257,237 has 100 senators representing 50 states, and 435 representatives. The Philippines, with a population of 111, 277,014 has 24 senators and 304 congressmen. The problem is only a few regions are represented in the Senate. No less than 18 are from Luzon, five from Mindanao. Only Frank Drilon is from the Visayas but he resides in the NCR.

Of the 24 senators, eight are from NCR; Win Gatchalian (Valenzuela), Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Tito Sotto (Quezon City), Nancy Binay (Makati), Pia Cayetano (Taguig), Grace Poe (San Juan), and Cynthia Villar (Las Piñas). The rest are from Luzon, Leila de Lima (Bicol), Richard Gordon (Zambales), Ralph Recto (Batangas), Joel Villanueva (Bulacan), Sonny Angara of Aurora, Lito Lapid (Pampanga), Imee Marcos (Ilocos), and Panfilo Lacson, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino (Cavite). That means 18 are from Luzon. Five are from Mindanao; Koko Pimentel (Cagayan de Oro), Migz Zubiri (Bukidnon), Bong Go (Davao City), Bato dela Rosa (Davao Sur), and Pacquiao (Sarangani). Drilon is from Iloilo representing the entire Visayas. He lives in San Juan.

Senator Cynthia Villar may be the next Senate president, and if Mark Villar wins, there shall be another mother and son in the Senate just like Loi Estrada and Jinggoy. Las Piñas will have two senators while Cebu will have none if Governor Gwen refuses to run for senator. If Alan Peter goes back to the Senate, there will be a brother-sister team there like before. Quezon City is already over-represented by Pangilinan, Hontiveros, and Sotto. The Binays already have the mayor of Makati, they will have a daughter and father team in the Senate if Jojo Binay succeeds. The three regions of the Visayas have more population than Mindanao, But the Visayas only has one senator and Mindanao has five. Luzon is over-represented with 18 out of 24.

Based on the 2019 election results, only 163 political families control 111 million Filipinos. This number includes 88 political dynasties in Luzon, 29 in the Visayas, and 44 in Mindanao. The Suansing dynasty is both in Luzon (Nueva Ecija) and Mindanao (Sultan Kudarat). The Arroyos are both in Luzon (Pampanga) and the Visayas (Negros Occidental). The Amantes-Matbas are both in Agusan del Norte and Tawi-Tawi. The Mangudadatus are both in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. In the Lower House, out of 304 representatives 162 represent family dynasties, like the Cayetanos (Taguig), Binays (Makati), Marcoses (Ilocos), Tolentinos (Tagaytay), Arroyos (Pampanga). The Dys in Isabela are uncles, cousins, and brothers. The Tans control Samar. The Dimaporos control Lanao del Norte and the Duterte family rule over Davao City as mayor, vice mayor, and congressman.

Is the Philippines a family corporation? In Las Piñas, the Villars and Aguilars are senators, congressmen, mayors, and even barangay captains. In Taguig, the husband, Alan Peter represents the second district. The wife Lani represents the first. Do they have different residences? The mayor is Lino, the brother. Do they own the whole city? The same is true with the Gatchalians in Valenzuela. The brothers are senators, a congressman and city mayor. Well, don't we have this also in Cebu? A lot of them? Is this really a genuine democracy or a banana republic?