Philippine Politics - Republicanism, Dynasties, and the Padrino System

With regards to republicanism being a rejection of dynastic succession, even if we are called a Republic, since not everyone is aware of what this means, and the prevalence of the Padrino system of being loyal to the person and not the position, this is not what is happening in reality. When government officials implement projects, they always have tarps and signs that say 'brought to you by ...' and sometimes we forget that they are just doing their job and they are using the taxpayers money, and we do not owe them anything for these projects. Though the power is actually brought about by the position, most politicians attribute this to the person, which is why personalities are so prevalent in Philippine politics.

Additional evidence to this is the actual presence of dynasties in the local and national government units. Power is passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, and husband to wife. Provinces are associated to the prestigious families that govern them. Even Grace Padaca and Ed Panlilio were ousted from their positions after cutting the chain of dynasty and introducing reforms in Isabela and Pampanga.

This just shows how far we are from a true republic. I believe that when power is truly inherent in the position and everyone, from any family, has equal chances of being elected into this position of power to serve the nation, will we earn the right to call ourselves a republic.