Family ties that bind

Rhona Canoy .

SO… Maybe it’s some kind of denial, or maybe it’s some kind of resignation. Every time some election comes around is the time I pay most attention to the personalities who populate our political landscape. It’s just that this time I’m noticing that even at the barangay level, the redundancy and duplication of family names or, at the very least, the constant reappearance of the same person leaves me somewhat aghast. And confused. And frustrated.

For years the discussion about the anti-dynasty law has been making the rounds, but certainly not making progress. After all, those most affected are those who make and pass the laws. If and when the bill passes and is enacted, it will without a doubt be an impotent and watered-down law which will have cost us millions of pesos in Congress and Senate man-hours. So I’ve been trying to understand (to the best of my non-political mental processes) why families are so heavily invested in politics.

Going by the Pinoy manner of looking at the worst of things, it makes a lot of sense that a dominant family leader who has successfully entered the political arena would recruit various members of his or her clan, whether thru election to various positions or appointment, to join the “public service” fold. Oh, yes. They keep repeating the mantra—“We want to continue the family legacy of serving our public and constituency in order to improve our community and the lives of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.”

Let’s not talk about whether they’re doing a good job or not. That’s another column. But let’s talk about how large these political families are. A father succeeds in entrenching himself in the government. Pretty soon, he is sure to be followed by his wife, offspring, his in-laws and siblings, families of his in-laws and siblings, grandkids, personal assistant, housekeeper, driver. They’re either going to be elected or appointed to positions. I mean, I can understand turning the country’s tax money into their personal livelihood and employment program. But the more awe-inspiring sight is of their quick rise to material gain—mansions, millions of pesos worth of vehicles, trips abroad, ostentatious clothing and jewelry for the wives and mistresses, commercial properties and investments, bank holdings. Which always leads one to wonder how these people got so rich so quickly.

On the other hand, there will also be this guy (or guyess) who may not have a clan hanging onto his coattails, but repeatedly makes an appearance every time there is an election. And usually wins. So we have this person for the currently-mandated three terms, after which there is a switch in office or position. Or a three-year hiatus before making a comeback. On a side note, maybe there should be a law making elective office sticky downward. This means that someone cannot run for a public office lower than the highest office they have held ever. I mean, really. An ex-president who is now a congressperson? Or an ex-president who is now a city mayor? A barangay captain who runs as a kagawad in the same barangay, under the banner of the nephew who is running as captain? What the eff is that?

What is the lure? In any and all cases, what is the lure? There must be something. After all, public service is not a joke. It is exhausting, demands accountability (okay, here’s where I break out into hysterical laughter), a high level of socio-geo-political knowledge, diplomacy, mindfulness, compassion and finesse. And some other stuff that I can’t remember because I haven’t seen them in a very long while. So what’s the lure? Of course, the addiction to power and the ensuing arrogance must be very tempting and almost impossible to let go. Like the smell of meat grilling over coals. And the money. There’s always the money.

The thing is that everyone assumes that there is money being siphoned from public funds. We all know it. We all assume it. We discuss it over beer and pulutan. We post accusatory statements on social media. We are not ignorant (or so we would like to believe). And yet these people stay in office. Stay in power. One must then also wonder if the voters have that much faith in them. Actually, many do. No matter the questionable reputation some may have. Staunch supporters will go the limit for their political gods. Without question or doubt.

And then there are those who know with all certainty that these people stay in power because they have bought their way in and cannot be unseated. And that they are crooks, we just can’t find the proof. But we know it for sure. So my questions keep coming. What are we doing about it? Do they actually have that much funding to keep them in power for eternity? I always wonder about the return of investment myself. After all, these elected officials don’t get paid that much, considering their job description. SALN’s are submitted. And we all assume that it is doctored or that assets are hidden under some other person’s name. and we accept this as our reality.

That’s why I’m confused. We keep screaming for change, for improvement, for cleaning up the system. We’ve been screaming for so long that I’m amazed we still have enough vocal power to embarrass ourselves at the karaoke night after night. What has all this screaming accomplished? Nothing, so far. And probably nothing for the years to come. We are a strange people. Quick to see the errors and the weaknesses, and yet just as weak in making an effort to do something about anything. Or maybe someone should write about how these clans and dynasties manage to hold such a magnetic and hypnotic hold on the voters who keep them in office.

Here’s my challenge.  Look at the list of candidates seeking to be elected at these barangay elections. Count how many barangays have candidates who share a last name, or are known to be related to each other. Do it, just as a game. Then ask yourself this question: Do we have a government? Or a multi-family corporation?