Is Philippine politics an exclusive family business?

Do some families in our country own exclusive trademarks and franchises, as if public office has become like a fast food chain? Are some families granted the divine rights of kings, and their scions could inherit by hereditary succession the mayoralty or gubernatorial posts as if their clans have Torrens Titles to their political turfs?

If former vice president Jojo Binay wins in his Senate bid, he will be sitting there with his own daughter, Nancy. Well, if Mark Villar wins, he will be tutored by the next Senate president and seatmate, Mama Cynthia. If both Jinggoy Estrada succeeds (after the nth time of losing) together with his half-brother JV Ejercito, the two sons of Erap, from different mothers, will be in the same august chamber. Currently, husband and wife, Alan Peter and Lani are sitting in the house representing two different districts in Taguig, working in the same Lower House but residing in different addresses. Martin Romualdez and his wife too sit together in the Lower House. Is this country a family corporation?

For delicadeza (or whatever remains of it, if any), if they have already lost their sense of “hiya”, many of our politicians should look at themselves in their moral mirror, or examine their moral compass if they ever have one. They should go for Confession and examine their conscience. Why are they so fixated on and even driven to control politics in their towns, cities and provinces, and why are they really that power hungry or extremely overwhelmed with greed? Is this a congenital affliction or an uncontrollable spread of multiple variants of this other pandemic virus called politics?

In Ilocos Norte, the Marcoses control the provincial capitol, the city hall of Laoag, the congressional politics, except one district in the hands of Rudy Fariñas. In Ilocos Sur, Chavit Singson and his sons don’t have other families to run against anymore (after Chavit drove away his cousins, the Crisologos, led by Bingbong, who are now spreading their wings in Quezon City). For lack of other opponents, the Singsons of Vigan have turned against each other, father against son, brother against brother, and sister-in-law against brother-in-law. In Abra, Pangasinan, and Nueva Ecija, it is still the same family. Ditto for Tarlac and Pampanga.

The Dys still control Isabela as if the whole province has become their own registered cooperative, where the sons, grandsons and other relatives control the province, city, towns, and congressional districts. Bulacan is in the hands of the Alvarado-Sys and their political webs, Valenzuela has already been transformed as a virtual Gatchalian franchise. San Juan has been grabbed from the Estradas and Ejercitos by the father and son Zamora. Makati is under the exclusive Binay trademark. Taguig is the kingdom of the Cayetanos and Parañaque is the exclusive domain of the Olivarezes. No one can enter Las Piñas politics if you are not an Aguilar of Cynthia or a Villar of Manny.

In Cebu, the Osmeñas, Ramas, Garcias, Duranos, Radazas, Ouanos, Salimbangons, Martinezes, and many others have stayed too long in politics, and they hold on to their seats as if they are the only blessed children of God. If you try to confront them, all they say to you is: Well, we are elected. If you have the money and the means, go ahead and try to challenge us. And the cycle never ends. Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel, just as the song “Windmills of Your Mind” can blow up our bubbles. We can either cry or just grin and bear this malady in our midst.