THE ATENEO has built its reputation as a cradle of political dynasts, producing powerful alumni such as Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Jinggoy Estrada. These dynasts have established their bastion of power atop the Hill, holding the line that their forefathers erected or constructing it from the ground up for the generations to come.
With no alternative to their rule, the dominance of political dynasties has led to massive corruption and glaring socioeconomic inequality in the country, upending the lives of countless Filipinos through unending poverty and underdevelopment.
Today, political dynasties sit atop the Hill as the power elite, consolidating power for their own great gain.
Caught in a trap between their loyalty to the family or the nation, some Ateneans from political dynasties have chosen to break away from the binds of blood relations. Although they find themselves elevated by political privilege, they are resolute to chart their own path down the Hill.
Stepping out from the shade
Raf* hails from a dynasty of prominent figures in both local and national politics. While his surname often prompts sudden questions from peers and teachers, the curiosity eventually dies down and they leave him be.
Despite ostensibly living an ordinary life, he would occasionally find himself embroiled in the realm of politics. He would join his father and grandmother’s campaign rallies and caravans even as a child. Now, he actively supports them, giving away campaign materials and sharing their social media posts.
Raf sets his father and grandmother’s campaign apart from those of other dynasties. He views their career as people-centric and focused on making public services accessible. “I’m supportive of that kind of view, where you really value the people over just growing economically,” he affirms.
Fortunately, not all political families view public office as an heirloom. Aware of the shady side of Philippine politics, Raf’s father encourages him to pursue finance, away from the dirty deals and petty quarrels among the “power elite.”
Raf’s other political relatives have had their careers marred by corruption, but his own father became an exception. Today, Raf remains firm in his decision to not continue the political dynasty. However, he takes inspiration from his father, who proves that political dynasties are not at all monolithic.
On the flipside of the coin is Luke*, who is also a descendant of a prominent political dynasty. Amid the fraught political landscape, he says that he wants nothing more than a simple life.
Luke is often granted those moments. On most days, politics isn’t at the center of his family’s relationship as they bond by trading everyday stories during dinner.
However, it’s also during these get-togethers when the stories are drowned out by a chorus of questions about his sociopolitical views. Although he feels comfortable sharing his thoughts, the conversations turn awry when his own political ideals contradict his relatives’.
Then, Luke must tread the delicate line between seeing them as his family members who want to indulge in his thoughts and as politicians who must make calculated moves. Given his inexperience with governance, he recognizes that he ultimately lacks any significant power in influencing their decisions.
Luke’s hesitation to continue the political dynasty is further compounded by the lessons shared in school. Through Ateneo’s liberal curriculum—and progressive peers—Luke has also realized new political ideals, now fully seeing the negative implications of political dynasties.
Today, Luke is resolute in his decision that he will not run for office and continue the political dynasty. He supports his family from a distance, especially as they prepare for the upcoming elections.
While Luke believes that his decision to not run for office may be a small, insignificant one, his choice to close the gates that lead him to politics has a big impact—one that impedes the continuation of political dynasties at large.
Divergent branches
While family holds significant sway over one’s political views, a myriad of other factors come into play as well.
According to Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Jose Trinidad, MA, family forms but a part of the “habitus” or factors that shape a person’s social behavior. Exposure to their larger community and to the media also mold their political views, but education can be the ultimate game changer.
“It might be that the Ateneo education is widening your horizon. One of the things you want your education to do is to say that ‘Hey, there are more things to do than things that your family set up for you,’” Jose Trinidad, MA says.
In recognition of the wide-reaching impact of education, the Ateneo has gradually remodeled its curriculum into one that addresses the socio-political situation since the “Down from the Hill” manifesto was published.
Contributing to its Christian endeavor to “cure society’s ills at its roots,” the Ateneo has gone beyond palliative acts of charity. Instead, it has pushed students to immerse themselves with the nation’s marginalized through formation programs. Here, social analysis in the academe is coupled with actual practices of compassion on the ground in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching.
However, the influence of education can be quite limited in some respects. Political Science Professor Gino Trinidad, MA finds that the demands of real-world politics can clash with one’s values. Thus, Ateneans in politics may end up forging unsavory alliances and sidelining their own principles in the name of winning votes.
Education does not seem to be a guarantee of benevolence, as G. Trinidad worries that it itself can be weaponized in the pursuit of power. For example, renowned institutions such as the Ateneo are sought out by political dynasties primarily to equip their potential successors with quality education.
Ultimately, whether or not this education will be used for good depends on the students themselves.
A rustling of leaves
For Raf and Luke, a career in politics was never in the picture. As such, their Ateneo education became less of a weapon for power but more of a tool for social change.
“That’s the best hope; you want the new generation to actually have a huge effect on the ways of the family. But knowing Filipino families, it will be harder to do that,” G. Trinidad laments.
This detachment from family practices is unlikely to happen due to the children’s early involvement in a politicized life, where the family prepares the child to sustain the dynasty as early as they can.
G. Trinidad further explains that unless the deviants from the family overpower the dominant politicians in the family, the deviants can be alienated or even entrenched in the family.
Political dynasties, when they run impeded, ultimately spell more consequences in the political landscape. G. Trinidad emphasizes, “Democracy should allow for competition for power. And how can competition happen if [there is] no contest [sa] mga election?”
In this case, the curtailment of competition results in the lack of new ideas and monopolization of power. Furthermore, with the dynasts’ rule unchallenged, incompetence and corruption become more likely.
Thus, the choices of children from political dynasties play a pivotal role in the future of Philippine politics.
Falling far from the tree
As they travel down the hill, Raf and Luke have both taken a route that diverges from their family’s politics. G. Trinidad affirms them both, saying, “I think that the hill that we really need to navigate right now is that intellectual, cultural one.”
Gone are the days when political power was merely defined by material things like the latest cars and devices. Today, symbolic and cultural capital such as a prestigious education and the consumption of literature hold the same gravity. Thus, Ateneans are challenged to use their symbolic and cultural capital for the greater good.
As election day gradually draws near, ballot boxes nationwide can potentially be filled with the same familiar surnames. With this, the call to go down the hill echoes louder within the University walls in solidarity to demonopolize power.
*Editor’s Note: The name of the interviewees were changed to protect their identity and privacy.
