Political Patronage and Its Effects

Philippines is home to brilliant minds. It is home to people

whose love for ones country is so genuine that no one could take
it away. Filipinos are known to be fighters willing to die for
their country.

For several times, Filipinos were oppressed by

other countries and later on by its very own countrymen. The

sufferings

Filipinos went through didnt make us give up, rather

it was through these challenges that the Filipino spirit was

seen.
Filipinos

have

been

known

for

Filipinos had a very promising

fighting

for

their

future when it

rights.

fought for

democracy. But what keeps the Philippines behind and overtaken by

countries who were once so inferior. What keeps Philippines on
the ground? What keeps Philippines from soaring?
Is it enough that we have escaped from oppressive Spanish rule?
Is it enough that we have won our fight for democracy? Did we
really win our battle of rights.
Our oppressors made us a country. Through them we became unified
towards a goal of being a country run by Filipinos. When we
earned our chance to govern our country, it seems that we became
like our oppressors. We have been consumed by the interest of
power.

We became the oppressors of our own countrymen.

Philippines development still has a long way to go. The system

is infiltrated by values of self-serving interests. The Padrino
System is a culture in Philippine society. Padrino system is
otherwise known as the Godfather System. Padrino system or
patronage is a Filipino culture in practice where one takes the
lead in the game not because of his merits rather because of the

practice

of

nepotism

and

Padrino System has

Philippines

and

cronyism.

The

cultural

practice

of

infiltrated the political system of the

thus

resulted

to

deterioration

in

the

Philippine political system.

Adverse effects of Political Patronage in the Philippines
How Political Patronage through lobbying causes harm
Lobbying as defined in Republic Act 1827 sec.4 par.2 is the
practice of promoting or opposing the introduction or passage of
legislation

before

either

House

of

the

Congress

of

the

Philippines or any of its committees, or promoting or opposing

the

confirmation

of

any

pending

appointment

before

the

Commission on Appointment or any of its committees.

The problem with the Political patronage is that those elected in
seats of power are highly influenced by their padrinos or the
people

who

have

supported

them

financially

prior

to

their

election. Instead of being in Congress to represent the needs of

the people, these politicians are trapped with the utang na
loob mentality towards their padrinos. The decisions of our
representatives are in conflict with interests of the people and
their own self-interest and that of their padrinos.
Political Patronage is the lifeline of Political Dynasties
The political patronage in the Philippines has been a deterrent
in Philippine development. We have the same people running for
public office with the same catchy slogans and empty promises.
Same picture perfect medical missions and feeding programs only
just before election period. We have the same problem because we
elect the same people

People sell their votes. It is a fact. People complain of how

corrupt our politicians are. People complain of how luxurious the
lifestyle of these politicians amidst the poverty that their
country is facing. People complain of how government could not
provide them with jobs and education. But havent people thought
about who gave power to the government? Havent people thought
about who the government is?
Through our vote we give power to people to represent us in
governing the country. Through our vote we choose the kind of
representation we want in the government. But we couldnt achieve
the kind of representation we want if we continue to sell our
right to vote. With selling our right to vote, we are also
selling our chances for better change in the system.
There is a reason why development in the Philippines is very
slow. We continue to elect the same people whom we know are only
serving their own interests. We elect the Arroyos, Estradas, and
Revillas despite evident bad records in the government. We put
them in power, therefore we helped them build their political
dynasty. Politicians are not there by appointment rather we have
elected families to those seats of power. We were the ones who
limited our choices and there should be blame on our part.

Another

problem

also

is

that

people

come

to

politicians

to

solicit money. Such practice is the reason why politicians steal

from public funds. It is because they would want to satisfy
peoples

financial

request

to

secure

vote.

Indirectly,

selling of vote transpires because having received money, one

would have an utang ng loob reciprocated by a vote during the
elections.

Losing Public Trust in Public Office

As a result of a continuing cycle of electing officials of whose
services are limited to their own interest and that of their
friends, relatives, and alliances, many people lose their trust
in the government.
It is understandable that we no longer vote because we feel that
our votes dont mean a thing. It is understandable that we feel
that way because many people are selling their votes and election
results

are

manipulated.

collectively

we

would

But

be

If

giving

such
up

thinking

our

rights

persists,
that

our

forefathers fought for.

Some of us are merely victims of the choices that some of our
countrymen make. All we can do is continue to hold on to our
rights and influence others to do the same. If we truly want
development, we must exercise our right to vote.
Political Patronage: a hindrance to development
In the editorial article of Philippine Daily Inquirer on the 2 nd
day

of

June,

2015,

it

is

stated

that

visiting

political

scientist from Harvard cited the ills brought about by political

patronagevote-buying,
hinder

attempts

to

corruption,

foster

an

political

inclusive

dynastieswhich

economy

that

will

benefit others besides the rich and the well-connected.

In the same editorial, Examples of patronage politics fairly cry
out to be noticed. Land reform, instituted since the 1970s,
failed because many of the legislators tasked to craft the law to
fairly

and

themselves

justly
or

were

distribute
beholden

land
to

to

the

farmers
landed

were

class

landlords
for

their

political careers. More than 20 years ago, foreign investors

proposed to build a petrochemical complex here, but politicians

suspected of being beholden to businessmen whose companies would

be affected adversely by the presence of a petrochemical plant
initiated congressional inquiries that eventually discouraged the
investors.

An

iconic

hotel

was

won

in

public

bidding

by

Malaysian investors, but the auction result was reversed by a

Supreme Court believed to be beholden to the losing bidder. Only
recently, a big toll road project was auctioned by the government
but

new

complained

bidding
that

it

was
was

ordered

after

disqualified

known

because

Palace
of

typographical

ally
simple
error.

Therefore, the culture of Padrino system has infiltrated the

political

system

of

the

Philippines,

then

bringing

with

it

adverse effects on the system. It is a culture we could forego in

exchange for the goals of development we have for our country. It
is a problem of which solution lies in our very own rights. The
moment we decide for change, we actually are one step closer to
achieving our goals. We can make it happen this upcoming 2016
National Elections.
As the popular saying goes, Be the change you wish to see in the
world.