Same seat, same surname: Why political dynasties still rule our towns

Metro Manila, Philippines - Leaders with the same last names are once again crowding the campaign trail—left and right, old faces are back with the same jingles and recycled slogans. Some don't even bother campaigning hard, confident voters will still choose them. And in many places, they’re probably right.

A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) earlier this year revealed that 113 out of 149 cities in the country are ruled by political dynasties. Come May 2025, 80 city mayors who belong to political clans are gunning for reelection—some paired with relatives as vice mayors.

Even more striking, 27 of these mayoral candidates plan to pass the seat to a spouse, child, or sibling while they pursue other posts. And in cities led by non-dynasts, powerful clans are now mobilizing to take over.

So the question remains: why do Filipinos keep voting for them?

The city of seven lakes

In San Pablo City, Laguna, power is a family affair between the father and the son.

Some grew up in San Pablo City, witnessing the same name dominate local leadership. Now, with families, children, and grandchildren of their own, that same name endures.

For over 30 years, the Amante name has ruled the city—almost without pause. Vicente Amante first took the mayoral seat in 1992. After a brief interruption in 2001, he returned in 2004. When term limits forced him to step aside, his son, Loreto “Amben” Amante, took over from 2013 to 2022. In 2022, Vicente came back, like clockwork.

Today, he’s running again.

Yes, there have been visible improvements in the city: public hospitals, libraries, roadworks, streetlights, and even a state university. The iconic SM City San Pablo was built under their watch. Locals credit these to the Amantes—proof, for some, that staying in power works. But for how long should one family lead a city?

Ask around, and most people say the same thing:

“Siya na kasi nakasanayan.”

“Wala namang ibang choice.”

“Okay naman siya, bakit papalitan?”

[TRANSLATION: "People are just used to him."

"There's really no other choice."

"He's doing fine—why replace him?"]

Enter Najie Gangapada, a businessman and former Board Member of Laguna’s 3rd District. Now serving as barangay kagawad of Calihan, Gangapada is challenging the decades-old dynasty with a simple slogan: “Maiba naman.” ["A change for once]

But challenging a political dynasty in the Philippines isn’t just about politics—it’s about breaking a culture.

A cycle that feeds itself

Political dynasties dominate not only towns like San Pablo but much of the Philippines. A recent qualitative study by Asst. Prof. Frederick Iguban Rey, Ph.D., of University of Santo Tomas, calls it out: dynasties persist because of clientelism—a deep-rooted system where favors are exchanged across generations, locking voters into cycles of gratitude and dependence.

Rey categorizes dynasties into two:

‘Functional Dynasties’ or families that deliver services promote good governance, and appear accountable. Another is ‘Failed Dynasties’ where clans misuse public office, promote bad policies, and abuse power.

But either way, Rey says, “The masses drift somewhere between passivity and wild spontaneity.” The public plays a part in letting dynasties thrive.

Name recall vs. real choice

University of the Philippines (UP) political analyst Maria Ela Atienza says dynasties win because of name recall and economic power. Families like the Belmontes and Abalos clan modernize and run businesses. But others, like the Ecleos or Romualdezes, thrive where poverty persists.

“People are deprived of choices when a family dominates most positions,” Atienza said.

And for lesser-known, qualified candidates? The playing field is anything but fair.

Dynasties and the economy

Economist Cielito Habito recently says the link is clear: “Dynasties impede inclusive growth.”

Evidence shows areas dominated by dynasties suffer more poverty. Why? Because dynasties often protect their own wealth, not public welfare.

Habito notes that dynasties either emerge from poverty—or make it worse.

Meanwhile, Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of the Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences at the Ateneo de Manila University echoes this:

“Dynasties weaken checks and balances, amplify inequality, and enable abuse of power.”

When a family controls both the economic and political power in a town or province, the rest suffer. National policies—like the failure to pass a national land use law—get blocked, sometimes because of vested interests, like the Villar dynasty.

Why do we keep voting for them?

“We haven’t matured as a democracy,” Reyes said.

“People still vote based on shallow standards.”

Reyes believes the educated middle class must step up, demand better leaders, and stop settling for familiar names.

Atienza agrees: the Constitution bans political dynasties—but Congress has yet to pass a law enforcing it. From 2006 to 2018, 80% of Congress belonged to political families.

Some lawmakers support the anti-dynasty push. Others—like Rey—oppose it.

“The Anti-Dynasty Bill is unjust, inhuman, and undemocratic,” he said. He believes every citizen has the right to run.

So, where do we go from here?

Atienza calls for a combination of reforms: term and clan limits, stricter election laws, stronger political parties, more issue-focused media, and a better-informed public

Reyes adds, “We need technocrats, not just politicians. Leaders who know economics. No shortcuts. No populist policies.”

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about who wins the next election, it’s about who gets to shape the next generation.

“Leaders must choose the people’s interests over their families. Voters must choose wisely,” Atienza said.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s time we ask ourselves: Is ‘nakasanayan’ enough reason to stay stuck?