POLITICAL DYNASTIES
● The Birth of Indigenous Elites : PrincialÍa
1. Pre-colonial Era
- Archipelago divided into thousands of barangays, each ruled by a datu.
2. Spanish Colonization
- Reducción system centralized authority, destroying datu-led barangays.
3. PrincialÍa Status
- Datus granted positions in local government and bestowed principalÍa
status.
● American Occupation: Codifying Dynasties
a. Restricted Suffrage
- Voting rights limited to Americans and principalÍa members.
b. Widened Gap
- Restrictions increased disparity between rich and poor Filipinos.
c. Political Nepotism
- American policies inadvertently allowed political nepotism to flourish.
1. The MARCOS Dynasty
● Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
- Ruled from 1965 to 1986, known for corruption and human rights violations.
● Bongbong Marcos Jr.
- Elected president in 2022, marking the family's return to power.
Extended Influence :
Family members hold positions in national and local governments.
2. The DUTERTE Dynasty
● Rodrigo Duterte
- Former president known for controversial leadership and drug war.
● Sara Duterte-Carpio
- Current vice president, daughter of Rodrigo Duterte.
● Sebastian and Paulo Duterte
- Sons holding local positions in Davao City.
3. The AQUINO Legacy
● Benigno Aquino Jr.
- Opposition leader during Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship, assassinated in 1983.
● Corazon Aquino
- First female president, led efforts to restore democracy.
● Noynoy Aquino III
- President from 2010-2016, pursued anti-corruption agenda.
4. The MACAPAGAL-ARROYO Dynasty
● Diosdado Macapagal
- Former Philippine president, father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
● Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
- President from 2001-2010, maintained GDP growth amid controversies.
Ongoing Influence : GMA remains active in Congress as Senior Deputy Speaker.
Impact of Political Dynasties :
a. Growth of Fat Dynasties
- From 1988 to 2019, fat dynasties increased from 19% to 29%.
b. Poverty and Governance
- Territories dominated by powerful clans often suffer from extreme poverty.
c. Anti-Dynasty Efforts
- The Anti-Political Dynasty bill remains dormant after elections.
The Future of Philippine Politics :
a. Current Status
- 70% of the 19th Congress is comprised of political dynasties.
b. Reform Challenges
- Passing anti-dynasty legislation faces significant obstacles from incumbents.
c. Public Sentiment
- 2022 election results suggest continued acceptance of dynastic democracy.
