Political dynasties and Philippine transactional politics

In the Philippines, dynasties are condemned by the Constitution, but allowed by Congress for refusing to pass an enabling law and accepted by the people by practice. There was a time in one province in Mindanao that the father was the governor, and a daughter and a son were members of the House representing two separate districts. The other two sons were mayors of two different towns, one grandson was the barangay chairman, and another grandson was SK representing the youth in the Provincial Board. Well, if you ask them, that is not their fault. They were elected by the people. And it is not prohibited by law.

There was a time that a mother and a son (Dr. Loi and Jinggoy) were both sitting together in the same 24-member elite Philippine Senate. Also a sister and a brother (Pia and Alan Cayetano), half-brothers (JV and Jinggoy). And if Mark Villar wins, he might join his mom, who may be the next Senate president. If Jojo Binay wins as senator (he joined the party of Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto), then Binay will join his daughter, Nancy. If Alan runs for senator again, the Senate will be one big happy family affair. It will have Cynthia and Mark Villar, with Pia and Alan, Nancy and Jojo, together with JV and Jinggoy. There are 109 million Filipinos and only the members of these elites can make the Senate some sort of their family corporations. Masaya ba o nakakahiya to?

In the House, we have a husband and a wife, Martin Romualdez of Leyte's 1st District sits with his wife Yedda, a Cebuana representing the Waray party-list Tingog Sinirangan. Only in the Philippines. In fact, they are not alone. Alan Peter is representing Taguig's 2nd District that includes Pateros. Lani, his wife, is the mayor, also a member of the House, representing Taguig's 1st District. Lino, the younger brother, is the city mayor. So, all the children of the late senator Rene Companero Cayetano are in the government. Pia is a senator, Alan and wife Lani are in Congress, Lino is the mayor. Taguig seems to be already a family cooperative or corporate enterprise. In San Juan, the Zamoras took over from the Ejercitos. Today, the mayor is the son, the congressman is the father. In Parañaque, the mayor is an Olivarez, the congressman is a brother. Las Piñas is the kingdom of the Villars and the Aguilars, the family of Senator Cynthia.

The Dys control Isabela. Ian Dy replaced his dad Napoleon in the 3rd District. The 4th District is represented by Faustino III while the 5th District is represented by Faustino V, both sons of Faustino Jr. In Quezon, David the son, and Aleta the mother, represent the 2nd and 3rd districts, respectively, while the dad, Danny, is governor. In Sarangani, the congressman is Senator Pacman's brother Rogelio and his other brother, Alberto represents an OFW party-list (what does he know about migration?). Pacman's wife Jinkee used to be vice governor. In Samar, the Tans dominate, in Iloilo, the Defensors, the Garins, and the Tupases are on top. In Ilocos Norte, the Marcoses and the Fariñases control. In Ilocos Sur, Chavit Singson's family monopolizes. Do I need to tell you who is or are on top in Cebu?

The fault is not really on the dynasties alone. The people are to blame too. According to Shakespeare in his immortal work, Julius Caesar: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in the stars but in ourselves that we are underlings." Our voters never learn. We are always caught in this vicious circle. Trapos do buy our votes because we are too weak to refuse a few pesos in exchange for our rights. And so, we deserve our fate. Magdusa tayo. And, by the way, shame on us.