By Angel Rose V. Cinco | The Red Chronicles
Photo Courtesy | Rappler
An exposé on political dynasties and the cycle of “walang mapagpilian” in local elections
We are taught to believe that democracy begins and ends at the ballot, and on how powerful we are as a citizen of this country. That the moment we cast our vote, we are fulfilling our highest duty as citizens. We are told we hold the power. That we decide. That our voice matters. Lulling us into the illusion that we are participating in something democratic, something meaningful. But in reality, democracy has become little more than a ritual- predictable, performative, and deeply compromised.
Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” But decades have passed, and Congress- populated by members of the very dynasties it ought to regulate- has refused to pass an enabling law. In effect, the prohibition exists only in theory, buried in aspirational language and legislative indifference.
Local elections are supposed to be the closest expression of people’s will. They are meant to reflect our voices, our needs, and our power. Yet, what we often see is a closed circuit of power and privilege. Positions are passed down like family heirlooms. Opposing candidates are conveniently disqualified, silenced, or discouraged before the campaign even begins. And those who dare to run without machinery or money are mocked as idealists, or worse, are seen as threats.
Lesser Evil as an Inherent Evil
We do not need to name names- they are already printed on every tarp, every waiting shed and every multi-purpose covered court in the province. People know it. They whisper it. They roll their eyes at campaign posters and mutter, “Pwerte! Sinda na naman.” But the weight of disillusionment has taught many to settle. At least may nagawa na. At least hindi siya kasing sama nung isa. But isn’t this the very logic that keeps corruption alive and accountability absent?
The lesser evil is still evil. When we continue to vote for what is “least harmful,” we normalize harm itself. We legitimize a system that only offers us degrees of suffering rather than the possibility of real change. And in doing so, we become complicit in our own disempowerment.
An Illusory Democracy
When public service becomes a private affair, the ballot is no longer a tool of democracy- it is a stage prop. They call it a choice, but what is a choice when every part leads to the same door? Fuerte!
So let us talk. Let us speak when it is easier to shrug. Because when local democracy is reduced to a spectacle of choosing who will oppress us less, then our responsibility is not just to vote, but to demand better options, and to become those options ourselves.
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.