The politics of nepotism: How ‘nepo babies’ rule the Philippines

(This piece was originally published in The Benildean, the official student publication of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. It received an Excellence Award at the 11" Philippine Student Quill Awards, the junior counterpart of the Philippine Quill Awards.)

- By Maxine Cheung

WELL-KNOWN personalities in the Philippines are often revealed to have ties or relations to other influential figures in certain industries, such as the Barretto clan in Filipino showbiz, the Filipino-Chinese Sy family of the SM Group, and even the lineage of the country’s current president — the Marcoses. There is nothing wrong with supporting family members and friends in their careers, but the problem arises when they’re marketed as an extension of each other’s success and given unfair advantages over more qualified candidates.

Stemming from the term “nepotism,” “nepo baby” is a Generation Z-born label referring to a person who is only successful due to their parents or familial connections. Despite the recent conception of the term, nepotism is not a new notion, especially in the Philippines. A classic example is the Padrino system, wherein favors, promotions, or political appointments are obtained through friendship or family ties rather than on the basis of merit.

Therefore, it is no surprise that Filipino society has always embraced nepo babies in various industries, as seen in political dynasties that dominate elections and relatives of successful celebrities seemingly hitting the jackpot on their first gig, Filipinos are quick to put familiar names on a pedestal while turning a blind eye toward their inadequacies and shortcomings, overestimating their abilities simply because their last name is tied to an already established one.