Padrino System
Encyclopedia
Padrino System, or patronage in the Filipino culture
and politics
is the value system where one gains favor, promotion
, or political appointment through family affiliation (nepotism
) or friendship (cronyism
), as opposed to one's merit
. The Padrino System in the Philippines has been the source of many controversies and corruption
.
It has been an open secret
that one cannot join the political arena of the Philippines
without mastery of the Padrino System. From the lowest Barangay
official, to the President of the Republic
, it is expected that one gains political debts and dispenses political favor to advance one's career or influence, if not wealth.
in many ways has laid down the foundations against nepotism, cronyism, and oligarchial
rule of the few. As a democratic republic
, the Philippines is supposed to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. However, in reality, one can take a look at the Legislative Branch of the government
, and come to a conclusion that it is all on the contrary.
The issue of political dynasties
has always been touched, especially during elections, but the subject has been much avoided by politicians alike who have a wife, son, daughter, or a relative sitting in office as well.
In September 2008, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago passed Senate Bill No. 2616, or the "Anti-Political Recommendation Act," however this as usual has been shelved for the time being and is currently pending at the Committee level.
Mayor Alfredo Lim
ordered the destruction of some Barangay
Halls or Centers. Complaints from affected Barangay officials claim that this was an execution of vengeance by Mayor Lim since they did not support his candidacy for mayoralty of the Capital, but that they endorsed the rival Lito Atienza
. The City Engineer stated that this has nothing to do with politics, but that their office has long been planning to demolish the "illegal structure" constructed by the Barangays in Manila that have been impeding the flow of traffic among some of the public roads.
(AFP) was known as one of the best in the post-World War geopolitical scene in Southeast Asia, if not the whole of Asia. Majority of the officers were graduates from the West Point
-styled Philippine Military Academy
- which is also considered as Asia's best military academy
.
Up to 1965, an officer in the AFP would rise the ranks through merit. However, during the presidency of Ferdinand E. Marcos, a sudden shift of policies have taken place, and it has become an open secret
that one gets promoted by affiliation or patronage to Marcos or his cronies
. Much evident was the appointment of UP Vanguard
alumni to strategic posts in the AFP, to the dissatisfaction or disappointment of deserving career military officers.
Culture of the Philippines
Philippine culture is related to Micronesian, Bornean, Mexican and Spanish cultures. The people today are mostly of Malayo-Polynesian origin, although there are people with Spanish, Mexican, Austro-Melanesian and Chinese blood. Geographically, the Philippines is considered part of Southeast Asia...
and politics
Politics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
is the value system where one gains favor, promotion
Promotion (rank)
A promotion is the advancement of an employee's rank or position in an organizational hierarchy system. Promotion may be an employee's reward for good performance i.e. positive appraisal...
, or political appointment through family affiliation (nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
) or friendship (cronyism
Cronyism
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy....
), as opposed to one's merit
Meritocracy
Meritocracy, in the first, most administrative sense, is a system of government or other administration wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their "merits", namely intelligence, credentials, and education, determined through evaluations or...
. The Padrino System in the Philippines has been the source of many controversies and corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
.
It has been an open secret
Open secret
An open secret is a concept or idea that is "officially" secret or restricted in knowledge, but is actually widely known; or refers to something which is widely known to be true, but which none of the people most intimately concerned are willing to categorically acknowledge in public.Examples of...
that one cannot join the political arena of the Philippines
Politics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
without mastery of the Padrino System. From the lowest Barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
official, to the President of the Republic
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
, it is expected that one gains political debts and dispenses political favor to advance one's career or influence, if not wealth.
Patronage in the Legislative
The Constitution of the PhilippinesConstitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
in many ways has laid down the foundations against nepotism, cronyism, and oligarchial
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
rule of the few. As a democratic republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, the Philippines is supposed to have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. However, in reality, one can take a look at the Legislative Branch of the government
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
, and come to a conclusion that it is all on the contrary.
The issue of political dynasties
Political dynasties in the Philippines
Politics in the Philippines has been under the control of a few notable families. It is normal for a politician's son, wife, brother, or other kinsman, to run for the same or other government office...
has always been touched, especially during elections, but the subject has been much avoided by politicians alike who have a wife, son, daughter, or a relative sitting in office as well.
In September 2008, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago passed Senate Bill No. 2616, or the "Anti-Political Recommendation Act," however this as usual has been shelved for the time being and is currently pending at the Committee level.
Patronage in the Local Government Units
In the post-May 10 National Elections, incumbent and winning ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
Mayor Alfredo Lim
Alfredo Lim
Alfredo Siojo Lim is the incumbent Mayor of the City of Manila and a former senator of the Philippines. A widower, he first served as mayor of Manila from 1992 to 1998 and returned to that post after winning in the 2007 mayoral election.-Early life and career:Born on December 21, 1929 in 1324 J...
ordered the destruction of some Barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
Halls or Centers. Complaints from affected Barangay officials claim that this was an execution of vengeance by Mayor Lim since they did not support his candidacy for mayoralty of the Capital, but that they endorsed the rival Lito Atienza
Lito Atienza
Jose Livioko Atienza, Jr. , commonly known by his nickname Lito Atienza, is the former city mayor of Manila and former secretary of the Department of Environment and Resources. He stepped down as mayor of Manila on June 30, 2007, after serving a three-year three-term limit for local government...
. The City Engineer stated that this has nothing to do with politics, but that their office has long been planning to demolish the "illegal structure" constructed by the Barangays in Manila that have been impeding the flow of traffic among some of the public roads.
Patronage in the Military
The Armed Forces of the PhilippinesArmed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
(AFP) was known as one of the best in the post-World War geopolitical scene in Southeast Asia, if not the whole of Asia. Majority of the officers were graduates from the West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
-styled Philippine Military Academy
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
- which is also considered as Asia's best military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
.
Up to 1965, an officer in the AFP would rise the ranks through merit. However, during the presidency of Ferdinand E. Marcos, a sudden shift of policies have taken place, and it has become an open secret
Open secret
An open secret is a concept or idea that is "officially" secret or restricted in knowledge, but is actually widely known; or refers to something which is widely known to be true, but which none of the people most intimately concerned are willing to categorically acknowledge in public.Examples of...
that one gets promoted by affiliation or patronage to Marcos or his cronies
Cronyism
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy....
. Much evident was the appointment of UP Vanguard
University of the Philippines ROTC Unit
The University of the Philippines ROTC Corps of Cadets pioneered the Reserve Officer Training Corps concept in the Philippines in 1912. In 1935, Commonwealth Act No. 1, also known as the "National Defense Act" was enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippine Commonwealth government. CA No...
alumni to strategic posts in the AFP, to the dissatisfaction or disappointment of deserving career military officers.