Philippine Political Realities

Philippine Political Realities
Rhena Amor P. Dinerman
Ms. Jiah L. Sayson
The Practice of Patron-Client Link among Political Dynasty of Plaza in Butuan This paper examines the 1phenomenon of KAMAG-ANAK INC. as stressed by Professor Simbulan or political dynasty of the Plaza’s in Butuan and how the patron-client link being practiced by them to stay in power. Specifically, this paper seeks to answer on queries as posed by the same as follows : 1.Do political dynasties have any role in our political system and culture? 2. What are their sources of power? 3. How have they managed to entrench and sustain themselves in power? 4. What is the connection between economic power and political power at the national and local level of governance,

1Simbulan, Dante. The Modern Principalia: The Philippine Ruling Oligarchy,2005
• 2 Mc Coy, Alfred,( ed.) An Anarchy of Families: State and Family in the Philippines,1994
3 Simbulan, Dante. The Modern Principalia: The Philippine Ruling Oligarchy,2005 At about 250 political dynasties (families) who have dominated Philippine politics at the national and local level and who have monopolized political power as families for the past 30 years and more (CENPEG, 2007). Thus, we find characterizations of the Philippine politics as essentially involving alliances and conflicts between clans and families. From this perspective, the family-centeredness of Filipinos basically acts as an impediment to democracy for it discourages political involvement on the part of non-elites and solidities the concentration of power and wealth in a few

learned that politics was also show business. He enlightened by entertaining. One needed to be appropriate in several roles to cope up with the different pressure of his audience. Besides being a matter of showmanship, politics was also a matter of showing up. He had done campaigning to the remotest and even in the out-of-the-way places never trod on before by a gubernatorial candidate. He took to the field with an energy that his opponents could not match. He covered a lot of grounds, walked in quick big strides, barrio after barrio and hopping into every hut, shaking a lot of hands, patting a lot of backs. As he was one of them, he talked and behaved like them, he ate with his bare hands, slept in their lowly bamboo beds, drunk tuba and chewed buyo. Physical involvement, sincere coordination among the town folks and exhibiting the real person in you toppled everything politics leaving the constituents’ mind a mark to remember one responsible person who is true to his words and