by Khevin Feliciano | Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University
Democracy has been struggling to find a foothold in the Philippines for over a century. A political system with democratic qualities coexists alongside a deeply entrenched oligarchy of political families. Since Spanish colonial times, families of elites have been...
by Jose Victor Katipunan | May 23, 2025 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
The intersection of celebrity and politics in the Philippines is nothing new. The phenomenon of celebrity politicians—actors, athletes, and other public figures who go from the big screen or stage to the corridors of power—has become a defining aspect of the...
by Christine Lincopines | May 5, 2025 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
Every six years, politicians hand you a ballot and call it “power.” They flood your feeds with campaign jingles, slap posters on every wall, and tell you, “The future is in your hands.” They tell you to believe in the magic of elections, to trust that change is just...
by Madeleine Ann Ibe | May 3, 2025 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
Filipinos place utmost importance on their families, the foundation of our nation. Because of this, it is no surprise that the family finds its place in all levels of the country’s social and political institutions—from the barangay to the national level, it is...
by Karylle Castro | May 1, 2025 | University of the Philippines, Diliman
Same names, same problems. In every Philippine election, the same names dominate the ballots—Marcos, Duterte, Tolentino, Tulfo, Cayetano, Villar, and Revilla. Over 70% of incumbent officials come from political dynasties. Instead of serving as a genuine democratic...
