QUEZON City, Philippines (March 1) – Ampatuan, Aquino, Estrada, Arroyo, Binay.
These are just some of the notable surnames of political families that roam the leadership scene for generations. Well-respected, educated and recognized by masses. Apparently, they’re also prime subjects of allegations of graft and corruption.This concept started during the American era where the political scene was restricted only to those who have fortune and were educated, limiting it only to the elites despite of the supposed democracy. Modern discrimination, others have called it, self-proclaimed “blue bloods” keeping the purity of the seats and barricading it to common people.
There are two types of political dynasties. It is fat if multiple family members occupy different offices in an area in the same term (sabay-sabay) , and thin when it is inter-generational (one family member per term).
Now that there are bills waiting to be unleashed on both houses of Congress to regulate–rather than junk– these clans and their extended family, how would it affect the future political field and the people’s preferences during elections?
The Senate version of the bill is stricter, allowing only one member of the family to grab office at any given time, while House’s sets it at two family members.
We can’t deny that having a “trademark”gives a large advantage during elections. It’s like, why buy a nameless bag when you can afford a Louis Vuitton luggage. Get the point? Much of the time, we don’t even invest our attention to non-dynastic neophytes, and end up voting descendants of the late or veteran statesmen, even though we hate them because of their scandals and dirty deeds. We’re not fanatics, just hypnotized.
Limiting them to one or two members will, no doubt, reduce the numbers of the self-serving and the greedy. A person or two can’t be called a dynasty.It would be more democratic than ever since offices will be open to thousands of aspiring to change the country. In some South American countries, it is evident that their democratic process improved more than ever since they grasped anti-dynasty reforms in 1949. If they embraced change, then yes, we can do it too.
However, the two bills didn’t even make it to the cut of approved proposals (along with the Bangsamoro and Freedom of Information bill) primarily because 60% of the legislators came from political families. Giving up on power is not an easy job, and these “gollums”are there to prove it. Giving low priority to family legacy would be a huge blow on their egos.
Tried and tested leadership cannot keep up with the times. New names, fresh ideas, and those who experienced the pain of lashes of poverty could have what it takes to push our country away from the abyss of the “third world” title. True leaders don’t make devotees, they make another batch of leaders, but not from their family members.
(written by Rex Felix C. Salvador, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)