It is interesting to note that even among the younger generation of politicians in Argao those who come from the old political clans still tend to dominate the political arena. Beginning with the Marcos Era Kabataang Barangay (KB), the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) has evolved into a fixed political arm for the Filipino youth.
The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Argao is composed of all the SK Chairs of Argao, each representing a barangay. The presidents then elect their federation chairperson, who sits as an ex-officio member of the municipal council. So far, Argao has had four (4) SK Federation officials.
Argao’s first youth leader in the Marcos years was Annabelle Almirante, who was the daughter of then Mayor Antonio A. Almirante, Jr. The Almirantes of Argao are directly descended from the Spanish-era political families of Almirante, Lucero, and Espina-Ceballos. Thus, Annabelle Almirante was not only a daughter of a Mayor, but was related to virtually every former Mayor, Municipal Presidents, and Gobernadorcillos.
The first SK Federation President of Argao was Greta May Alcarez, who is a descendant of one of the smaller political families of Argao that has produced at least one Spanish-era Cabeza de Barangay and three municipal pre- and post-World War II councilors.
Greta May Alcarez’s successor as SK Federation President was Mariglen Lucero, who was a 5th cousin of Annabelle Almirante. All in all, when Mariglen Lucero was elected into office, 18 Luceros already held various elective posts from the Spanish period up to the time of her election.
Mariglen Lucero was then followed by Aisha Iryll Kintanar Quintana, whose mother, Margaret Ann, was both a fourth and fifth cousin of Mariglen, and a fifth cousin of Annabelle Almirante. Aisha’s grandfather, furthermore, was Representative Simeon Lucero Kintanar, who served as a Representative to Congress for Cebu’s 2nd district for three consecutive terms.
Aisha Quintana’s successor, and incumbent SK Federation Chairperson, is Richard de los Reyes, kin to Don Celedonio Delos Reyes, a former Gobernadorcillo as well as a long-time Directorcillo of the pueblo, and to three other Cabezas de Barangay and two councilors. Another former Mayor, Emilio T. Reyes, was a Delos Reyes who shortened the family name to Reyes.
Even the current members of the SK Federation of Argao still belong to old political families. In fact, proportionally, 87% of the current SK Presidents of Argao are members of old Argawanon families. Of this 87%, 49% belong to families considered to be members of the town’s Spanish-era Principalia, and at least 11% have had at least one member elected into public office.
Among the members who belong to Principalia families, 36% are descended from those classified as hereditary Principalia, or the Spanish era ruling elite descended from the native ruling class. The rest belong to the elective, or the post-1863 cabezas de barangay who were elevated into the office of Cabeza due to their educational attainment and fluency in the Castellan tongue. The current descendants of the hereditary Principalia families include three de los Reyeses, two Floreses, an Albarracin, a Miranda, and a Gonzaga.
While it cannot be denied that these young political leaders were elected into office because of their achievements and qualifications, this survey still goes to show that politics is still pretty much strongly influenced by family ties.
The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Argao is composed of all the SK Chairs of Argao, each representing a barangay. The presidents then elect their federation chairperson, who sits as an ex-officio member of the municipal council. So far, Argao has had four (4) SK Federation officials.
Argao’s first youth leader in the Marcos years was Annabelle Almirante, who was the daughter of then Mayor Antonio A. Almirante, Jr. The Almirantes of Argao are directly descended from the Spanish-era political families of Almirante, Lucero, and Espina-Ceballos. Thus, Annabelle Almirante was not only a daughter of a Mayor, but was related to virtually every former Mayor, Municipal Presidents, and Gobernadorcillos.
The first SK Federation President of Argao was Greta May Alcarez, who is a descendant of one of the smaller political families of Argao that has produced at least one Spanish-era Cabeza de Barangay and three municipal pre- and post-World War II councilors.
Greta May Alcarez’s successor as SK Federation President was Mariglen Lucero, who was a 5th cousin of Annabelle Almirante. All in all, when Mariglen Lucero was elected into office, 18 Luceros already held various elective posts from the Spanish period up to the time of her election.
Mariglen Lucero was then followed by Aisha Iryll Kintanar Quintana, whose mother, Margaret Ann, was both a fourth and fifth cousin of Mariglen, and a fifth cousin of Annabelle Almirante. Aisha’s grandfather, furthermore, was Representative Simeon Lucero Kintanar, who served as a Representative to Congress for Cebu’s 2nd district for three consecutive terms.
Aisha Quintana’s successor, and incumbent SK Federation Chairperson, is Richard de los Reyes, kin to Don Celedonio Delos Reyes, a former Gobernadorcillo as well as a long-time Directorcillo of the pueblo, and to three other Cabezas de Barangay and two councilors. Another former Mayor, Emilio T. Reyes, was a Delos Reyes who shortened the family name to Reyes.
Even the current members of the SK Federation of Argao still belong to old political families. In fact, proportionally, 87% of the current SK Presidents of Argao are members of old Argawanon families. Of this 87%, 49% belong to families considered to be members of the town’s Spanish-era Principalia, and at least 11% have had at least one member elected into public office.
Among the members who belong to Principalia families, 36% are descended from those classified as hereditary Principalia, or the Spanish era ruling elite descended from the native ruling class. The rest belong to the elective, or the post-1863 cabezas de barangay who were elevated into the office of Cabeza due to their educational attainment and fluency in the Castellan tongue. The current descendants of the hereditary Principalia families include three de los Reyeses, two Floreses, an Albarracin, a Miranda, and a Gonzaga.
While it cannot be denied that these young political leaders were elected into office because of their achievements and qualifications, this survey still goes to show that politics is still pretty much strongly influenced by family ties.
No comments:
Post a Comment