(Last of two parts) In congressional districts, cities and municipalities, some dynasties—the Apostols of Leyte, the Felixes of Cainta, Rizal, and the Eusebios of Pasig City—were also dislodged from their perch by neophytes. The octogenarian Sergio Apostol lost to businessman Henry Ong in the congressional race in Leyte’s second district in 2016. It was an...
(First of two parts) Some dynasties fade away from politics and public consciousness due to lack of successors, defeats to emerging clans or even “erosion of narrative.” Once among the who’s who in Philippine politics for decades, the Laurels are now a “defunct” dynasty. The Aquinos and Osmeñas are dormant but are also close to...
Talks of political dynasties in Baguio began well before city politicians filed their certificates of candidacy (COC). During the official launch of the Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM) in Manila on Aug. 24, 2024, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong declared that political dynasties will have no place in Baguio. “Iba kasi sa Baguio eh. Alam mo,...
Filipinos could only vote in 1907, and only men were allowed to do so. Filipinos in the United States were permitted suffrage after World War II in 1946. But the Cordillerans who joined the St. Louis Fair in Missouri in 1904 were the first to cast their votes. That being an election year in the...
These are challenging times for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s communications team as it fights fake news and troll armies hounding the administration even more intensely now, according to Edwin Lacierda, spokesperson of the late former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. “They have their work cut out for them,” Lacierda said of the President’s communicators in...
There were many ways to silence democracy during the martial rule of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr.: Immobilize someone on a bench and pour water continuously on their face until they confess to their “crime” or reveal their comrades’ whereabouts; monopolize the media; or, during a house raid, shoot an activist dead and employ...
Does the name James Christopher Napoles ring a bell? The son and co-accused of the pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles is the No. 1 nominee of Kaunlad Pinoy, one among 156 party list groups vying for seats in the House of Representatives in the May 12 elections. House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s son Andrew...
Candidates in the May elections aired television and radio ads worth over P10 billion before discounts from January to December 2024, based on newly released data from Nielsen Ad Intel. Only four senatorial candidates accounted for 60% of the total amount, raising concerns among electoral reform advocates about the advantage wealthy and well-connected candidates have...
(Last of two parts) As early as January last year, Sen. Imee Marcos already aired 271 TV and radio ad spots worth P21 million based on published rate cards or before discounts. Every month after, President Marcos Jr.’s sister appeared on Filipino voters’ TV screens and spoke in radios across the country. She gradually increased...
House Speaker Martin Romualdez handing out “ayuda” or cash aid to the poor in a Quezon City mall not only seemed odd but also violated the Supreme Court’s ruling on the “pork barrel,” according to former budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad. Politicians have been enjoying greater leeway in selecting beneficiaries and determining amounts of aid...
