By Mikhail Joshua T. Bellosillo (Features Writer Emeritus) | The Red Chronicles
Layout by Patricia Nicole C. Uy | The Red Chronicles
We have heard it all before. We know the drill. Whenever a highly sought-after position becomes vacant, candidates flock to apply, each boasting their own accolades, awards, certifications, and experiences, all as proof of their qualifications. Then, out of nowhere, it happens. An unheard personality snatches it from right under their noses. Maybe he was a fraternity brother, a kababayan, a pamangkin, or a good friend. No matter the relation, the conclusion is simple: Ah, may backer yan.
RECIPROCITY AND UTANG NA LOOB
The Philippines is nothing if not a country of deeply rooted cultural values. Among these is the Filipino value of “Utang na Loob,” our cultural equivalent of the concept of reciprocity. Put simply, Utang na Loob refers to the obligation of a recipient of help to return the favor to the person who has helped him. This creates a form of social indebtedness between the two parties, though the actual payment is impossible to quantify as it involves deep personal and internal dimensions. It consists of two cultural expectations: (1) having a grateful attitude towards those who have rendered good to oneself and (2) having the willingness to return the favor.
A SYSTEM OF PATRONAGE
Perhaps the most apparent macro manifestation of Utang na Loob in the Philippines is the Padrino System. Originating from the Spanish term for patron, the Padrino system initially referred to the close relationship between a godparent and his godson/goddaughter, birthed through some Catholic celebration or rite. The parties to this relationship would be bound to reciprocal obligations. The godparent is obligated to look after his godchild, while the godchild is obligated to pay a debt of gratitude towards the godparent.
Eventually, the concept evolved, and the relationship came to extend well beyond its classical meaning. The traditional godparent-godchild relationship soon included all forms of patron-client relationships. The reciprocal obligations of the parties also shifted and now encompassed a wider scope of favors.
THE PADRINO SYSTEM TODAY
Shifting to the present day, the Padrino System pervades a variety of work environments, most notoriously in the government. Government jobs, at least regular employee positions, prove some of the most desirable in terms of salary, benefits, and stability. Getting employed in the government, however, poses quite a challenge. Applicants must meet all qualifications and prove their capabilities in holding office. However, what should be a strict screening process is totally bypassed by the Padrino System. The head might be called by another to hire an applicant they favor. An applicant’s connections then take precedence over his performance.
Practiced long-term, this leads to multiple positions being held by individuals not necessarily qualified to fill them. Incompetent people in government lead to an incompetent government.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
As the plethora of studies suggests that the Padrino System has been cunningly institutionalized in huge pillars of society, we must keep our eyes wide open.
Undeniably, the culture of social exchange is no stranger to the micro-level politicking schemes in law school. While we observe the moral decline that resonates with some future vanguards of justice, we must not stand still. Now more than ever, we should reject the backward culture that verily perpetuates the rotten smell of incompetence and injustice.
NOTE TO THE READERS: Volume XVIII, Issue 2, penned and published by The Red Chronicles, is a Back Issue for the Publication Year 2024-2025. Note that this article aligns with the events relevant to the previous Academic Year 2024-2025. For further viewing of the same, you may view the flipbook version or visit our official website at theredchronicles.net.
SOURCES
- The Padrino System in Philippine Politics and Society SES-Journal_Special-Issue_Feb-2024_Article-8_final.pdf
- The Concept of Utang na Loob in the Philippines: Utang na Loob Scale https://ejournals.ph/function/reader1/read2/web/reader.php?id=uploads%2Farchive%2FCSJC%2FVol.+8+No.+1+%282022%29%2FArticles%2FArticle1.pdf&di=17184
- https://opinion.inquirer.net/173315/cum-laude-grads-vs-padrino-system
- Revisiting Meritocracy in Asian Settings: Dimensions of Colonial Influence and Indigenous Traditions https://ncpag.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/REVISITING-MERITOCRACY-IN-ASIAN-SETTINGS.D.R.Reyes_.2013.pdf