EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a series of articles which identified some of the prominent political dynasties in the country. Studies conducted by the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) identify two types of political dynasties inherent to Philippine experience. “Thin” dynasties involve family members succeeding one another in office [sunod-sunod], often as a means to circumvent term limits and maintain political influence. In contrast, “fat” dynasties are composed of family members running for and holding multiple positions at the same time [sabay-sabay] in the legislative and executive branches of government (Mendoza, et al., 2019).

Using the data collected by the Ateneo School of Government through the Ateneo Policy Center from 1992 to 2022, and with additional historical research from News5 Digital, we compiled lists of family members for the ten vote-rich provinces in the Philippines for the 2025 elections. Through a combination of AI tools and manual review, the dominant families in the ten largest voting provinces were identified and arranged chronologically, from the oldest to the youngest members on record. While some family rosters are exhaustive, others remain incomplete due to the lack or scarcity of information confirming each member’s position and term of service.  

(May 8, 2025) — Cebu, the Philippines’ top vote-rich province, with more than 3.2 million registered voters as of 2022, has long been a strategic electoral battleground. It has been imperative for anyone aspiring a seat in the Senate Presidency to court the all-important Cebu vote. But to woo Cebu is to continuously pursue its political gentry, who holds the keys to electoral power in the province through the decades-old entrenchment of families.

This entrenchment is emblematic of the broader phenomenon of dynastic politics in the Philippines. The data monitor of the Ateneo Policy Center on Philippine political dynasties and additional historical research from News5 show the footprints and foothold of families whose political influence have traveled beyond the borders of the Queen City in the last century: the Garcias, Duranos, Ramas, Gullas, Osmeñas, and Cuencos among others.

GARCIA FAMILY

The Garcia family has established a formidable political dynasty across various levels of government in Cebu since the early 1990s. Today, the Garcia family anchors its political machinery to the One Cebu party, which includes some of the biggest names in Cebu politics in almost two decades.

Pablo “Pabling” Garcia
GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He is the patriarch of the Garcia family. He was a three-term governor from 1995 to 2004. While serving as congressman from 1987 to 1995, Pabling also became deputy speaker of the lower house. Prior to running for office, Pabling was one of the prominent Cebuano opposition lawyers who supported Cory Aquino in the 1986 snap election against Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

Gwendolyn Garcia
GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• The eldest of the Garcia siblings, she succeeded her father Pablo as governor in 2004. During her first nine years as governor, Gwendolyn continued the key programs of her father but faced several controversies, including a preventive suspension order by then President Noynoy Aquino from December 2012 to June 2013 for grave abuse of authority. The suspension stemmed from her alleged usurpation of the appointing power of then vice governor Gregorio Sanchez by significantly cutting his office’s budget and hiring consultants without seeking approval from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. At the end of her first three terms as governor, Gwendolyn ran for Congress and became deputy speaker of the House of Representatives during her stint from 2013 to 2019. She returned as governor in 2019 but faced graft charges for alleged anomalies surrounding the Cebu International Convention Center construction and the purchase of underwater property in Barili, Cebu. Both charges were dismissed by the Court of Appeals. In 2022. Gwendolyn secured reelection as governor, reaffirming the family’s dominant influence in the province. She is running for another third term as governor, notably against philanthropist Pam Paricuatro, amid a six-month preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman over her issuance of a construction permit to desilt Cebu’s Mananga River during El Niño phenomenon in 2024.  

Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia-Frasco
MAYOR, TOURISM SECRETARY

• She is the daughter of Gwendolyn and mayor of Liloan from 2016 to 2022. She is the current Tourism secretary. She is married to Cebu 5^th district Rep. Duke Frasco, also a former Liloan mayor.

Pablo John “PJ” Garcia
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He is the brother of Gwendolyn and youngest son of Pabling. He served multiple terms as representative of the 3rd District and became Deputy Speaker. He withdrew his 2025 candidacy for a third term and was replaced by wife Karen.

Marlon Garcia
VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• He is also the brother of Gwendolyn and fourth son of Pabling. He was a former vice mayor and mayor of Barili. He died in 2020 due to COVID-19. The Garcia family filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide to the doctors who treated Marlon.

Pablo John “John-John” Garcia
COUNCILOR, MAYOR

• He is the son of Marlon and nephew of PJ and Gwendolyn, and grandson of Pabling. He was a former Barili councilor. He was elected mayor of Barili in 2022 and will seek reelection unopposed in 2025.

Nelson Garcia
MAYOR

• He is also brother of Gwendolyn, and third son of Pabling. He became mayor of Dumanjug from 2010 to 2016. He lost a third term to rival Efren “Gungun” Gica. In 2019, he ran for a seat in the 7^th district but lost to John Peter Calderon. He died in 2020, but the cause was not disclosed by the Garcia family.   

Alvin Garcia
VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• He is the nephew of Pabling and cousins of Gwendolyn, PJ, Nelson, and Marlon. He became Cebu City vice mayor from 1988 to 1995 before assuming the mayoral post from 1995 to 2001.

Raymond Alvin Garcia
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• He is the son of Alvin and the current mayor of Cebu City. He previously served several terms as a vice mayor and councilor, respectively. He assumed the mayoral post following the dismissal of Michael Rama for a nepotism case. In 2025, Raymond Alvin will contest the mayoral post against Rama and Nestor Archival, among others.

DURANO FAMILY

The Durano family has been a political fixture in northern Cebu since the mid-20th century. Their stronghold is in the 5th congressional district, particularly in Danao City and neighboring towns like Carmen and Sogod.

Ramon Durano Sr.
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Known as “Manoy Amon” among Cebuanos, Ramon Sr. served as representative of the old 1^st district of Cebu from 1949 to 1972. Based on reports, he was a political protégé of Mariano Jesus Cuenco, who became the first Cebuano Senate president. He also worked for Senator Vicente Sotto, a fellow Cebuano. Manoy Amon, who is also a businessman lawyer, and guerilla fighter, married Beatriz Duterte, daughter of Severo Buot Duterte, who is a brother of Facundo Duterte. Facundo is the father of Vicente Duterte, the father of former president Rodrigo Duterte. This makes Manoy Amon’s children a relative of the Duterte family of Davao. Manoy Amon is considered the “Father of Danao City.”

Ramon Durano Jr.
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• Nicknamed “Boy”, the eldest son of Ramon Sr. served as Danao City mayor from 1971 to 1978 before returning for mayor in 2010. He began his political career as a town councilor in 1961. He was the vice mayor of his brother Ramon “Nito” Durano III from 2001 to 2010. He died of cancer in 2018. His son, Ramon IV or “Boboy” was vice mayor of Danao from 1992 to 2001.

Ramon “Nito” Durano III
VICE GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR

• Nito, the youngest son of Ramon Sr. was a three-term mayor of Danao City, vice governor of Cebu, and a many-time member of the House of Representatives between 1984 to 1998. He defeated his brother Boy for the mayoral post of Danao City in 2013. Before their electoral face-off, Nito field graft charges against Boy before the Ombudsman in 2011, citing propriety issues involving another brother (Don) and illegal disbursement of funds. In 2017, the Ombudsman slapped Nito with a three-month suspension for simple neglect of duty. But the order was reversed by the Court of Appeals the following year. In 2025, Nito will seek a mayoral return against his grandnephew, Danao City councilor Miguel Antonio Magpale.

Jesus “Don” Durano
MAYOR

• Don, the second son of Ramon Sr., was also a Danao City mayor from 1992 to 2001. He was the city administrator of Danao during the mayoral term of his brother Boy. Their brother Nito charged them before the Ombudsman, questioning Don’s appointment as city administrator. In 2011, the Ombudsman ordered him suspended for six months for falsifying his personal data sheet (PDS) as city administrator. He did not declare in his PDS that he had three criminal cases pending at the time. Don was no longer city administrator when the order was issued.  

Ramon “Red” Durano VI
VICE MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Red is the son of Nito. He became congressman in 2005 during a special election to replace his younger brother Ace, who became Tourism secretary. He was reelected for the same post in 2007 and 2010. He became Danao city vice mayor in 2013. In 2016, he returned as 5^th district representative. Red will run as mayor of Poro, Camotes Island in 2025.

Joseph Felix “Ace” Durano
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Ace is the second son of Nito and the brother of Red. He sat in the lower house for nine years spanning separate congressional stints from 1998 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2016. Ace also served as tourism secretary and general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority under the Arroyo administration. He was, however, convicted by the Sandiganbayan of graft charges for the P2.7 million Department of Tourism 2009 wall calendar project due to the lack of public bidding. The Sandiganbayan denied his motion for reconsideration in February 2022. That same year, he challenged incumbent Gwendolyn Garcia for the Cebu governorship but lost. Ace has appealed his Sandiganbayan conviction to the Supreme Court.

Thomas Mark “Mix” Durano
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• Mix is the youngest son of Nito. He became councilor, vice mayor, and mayor of Danao City. In 2019, he lost a congressional race to Duke Frasco, ending the three-decade control of the Duranos in the 5th district. For the 2025 polls, Mix will again vie to retake the 5^th district seat from Duke, the son-in-law of Governor Garcia and wife of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.

Thaddeus “Deo” Durano
VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• Deo is also a son of Ramon Sr. He served as mayor of Sogod from 1980 to 1986 and from 1992–2001. His daughter Lissa Marie “Moonyeen” Durano is the current mayor of Sogod. His son, actor DJ Durano, will run for Sogod mayor in 2025.

RAMA FAMILY

The Rama family has also carved a niche in Cebu politics since the American colonial period. One of their family members was credited for transforming Cebu City into a charted city. Another family member (Anabelle Rama) has made a name in the entertainment industry. Some members of the Rama family were elected as municipal officials of the town of Poro since 1992.

Vicente Rama
COUNCILOR, MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Don Vicente started the family’s venture into politics as a councilor, mayor, and 3^rd district representative from the 1920s to the 1930s. As a lawmaker in 1936, he authored Commonwealth Act No. 58 which created Cebu City, earning him the title “Father of Cebu City.” Don Vicente became a senator in 1945 but was unable to finish his term when World War II broke out. He refused to be governor of Cebu during the Japanese occupation but was forced to become the acting mayor of Carcar town. He continued his Senate term after the war.

Osmundo Rama
GOVERNOR

• Mundo is the son of Vicente. He became Cebu governor from 1969 to 1975 and was appointed OIC governor from 1986 to 1988 by then-president Corazon Aquino.

Enrique Rama
VICE GOVERNOR

• He is Osmundo’s son and served as vice governor from 1988 to 1992.

Fernando Rama
COUNCILOR

• He is a son of Vicente and a former Cebu City councilor.

Michael “Mike” Rama
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, MAYOR

• Mike is the son of Fernando. He became councilor, vice mayor, and later mayor across multiple terms from 1992 onward. Mike again became mayor following the dismissal of Edgar Labella in 2021. His named was mentioned by then-president Rodrigo Duterte as part of the drug list but was later removed in 2019. Known for his populist stance on key issues and advocacy to modernize Cebu City’s urban infrastructure, Mike was elected mayor in 2022. He was later slapped with a six-month preventive suspension on May 10, 2024 for allegedly failing to pay the salaries of at least four city hall employees for seven months. On October 3, 2024, the Ombudsman dismissed Rama for alleged nepotism and grave misconduct after appointing two brothers-in-law to government posts. The dismissal also held his perpetual disqualification from public office. Just this March, he was issued another dismissal by the Ombudsman for awarding three purchase orders for garbage collection and disposal to private firms without proper bidding. The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to bar the disqualification of Mike from the 2025 mayoral race while reviewing his case.

GULLAS FAMILY

In southern Cebu, the Gullas family has played a major role in Talisay City politics part from their contributions to Cebuano literature, journalism, and education. The Gullas family is less associated with controversy than other dynasties but remains influential due to their education-sector clout and consistent voter support in the southern part of the province. Their success is attributed to a mix of service-based reputation and strategic rotation among family members.

Paulino Gullas
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He founded the Cebu daily “The Freeman” prior to his election as representative of the old 2^nd district of Cebu in 1925. The College of Law of the University of the Visayas, which was founded by his brother Vicente, was renamed Gullas Law School in honor of Paulino. 

Eduardo Gullas Sr.
MAYOR, GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Eddie Gul is a nephew of Paulino and son of Vicente. He served multiple terms as Talisay mayor, Cebu governor, deputy speaker and majority leader in the House of Representatives.  His first foray into Congress was memorable, defeating Antonio Cuenco for the 3^rd district seat with only a margin of 16 votes. Cuenco protested but lost his petition before the Supreme Court.  Eddie Gul is also one of the longest serving governors of Cebu, his tenure bridging the Martial Law and Post-Edsa periods. Before retiring from politics in 2022, he was among the 70 lawmakers who voted to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise.

Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas
MAYOR, GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Samsam is Eduardo’s son. He became Talisay City mayor and 1^st district congressman. Samsam is running unopposed for a third term as Talisay mayor in 2025.  

Eduardo “Digul” Gullas
COUNCILOR

• Digul, Samsam’s brother, is seeking another term as Talisay city councilor.

Rhea Aquino-Gullas
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• She is Samsam’s wife and currently sits as 1st district representative. She will seek reelection in 2025.

OSMEÑA FAMILY

The Osmeñas remain one of the oldest and most influential political dynasties in Cebu, which allowed some of them to jump into the national scene as early as the American period. Second and third generation family members were also remembered as staunch oppositionists during the Martial Law regime and seasoned legislators during the post-Edsa years.

Sergio Osmeña Sr.
PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He was a prominent revolutionary leader and served as the fourth President of the Philippines during World War II following the death of then-president Manuel Quezon in 1994. He was also a former vice president, house speaker, senator, and governor. His legacy laid the foundation for generations of Osmeñas to dominate Cebuano and national politics.

Sergio “Serging” Osmeña Jr.
MAYOR, GOVERNOR, SENATOR

• Serging is the youngest son of Sergio Sr. and Estefania Chiong Veloso (first marriage). He served as Cebu mayor, governor, and later as a senator. He ran for vice president in 1961 and was the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate against Ferdinand Marcos in 1969. His defeat marked a turning point in opposition politics during the Marcos era.

Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III
SENATOR

• Serge, the eldest son of Serging, was a martial law detainee who later escaped from prison and went into exile. Serge returned to serve multiple terms in the Senate, becoming known for his advocacy for transparency and consumer protection, particularly in the power sector. Despite several unsuccessful bids for higher office, his legislative work further solidified the family’s national standing. He is the principal author of the Absentee Voting Law, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and Government Procurement Act, among others.

John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATOR

• Sonny, a cousin of Serge, held various positions including senator, congressman, and mayor of Toledo City. He authored law that created the Department of Energy while four of his bills were incorporated into the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2000. John was one of the few politicians who served three terms in the Senate, spanning the Martial Law period until 2004. He was one of 11 senators who voted to deny the opening of a second envelope that supposedly contained evidence in then-president Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial. John passed away in 2021 due to COVID-19 complications.

Emilio “Lito” Osmeña
GOVERNOR

• Lito, a bother of John, served as Cebu governor from 1988 to 1992. He founded the Promdi (Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives) political party and ran for president in 1998. While he lost that race, Promdi continues to resurface in electoral coalitions, including its revival for Manny Pacquiao’s 2022 presidential campaign. Lito’s leadership in the province focused on fiscal reform and infrastructure development, emphasizing economic liberalization at the local level.

Tomas “Tommy” Osmeña
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Tommy is the second son of Serging. He served as Cebu City mayor for several terms starting in the 1980s and was a congressman in 2010. Known for the South Road Properties project and his strong anti-crime stance which allegedly prompted vigilante killings in the city, Tomas’s tenure was marked by high-profile political feuds, particularly with the Rama and Garcia families. He lost his mayoral reelection bid in 2019. Tomas seeks to return to power as vice mayoral running mate of incumbent Raymund Alvin Garcia in 2025.

Renato Osmeña, Sr.

COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR

• He is the son of Edilberto Osmeña and grandson of Serging. He served as Cebu City councilor and later as vice mayor from 1992 to 2001. His son, Renato Jr. is seeking a third time as Cebu City councilor in 2025.

Margarita “Margot” Osmeña
COUNCILOR

• Margot is the wife of Tomas and was a three-term councilor. She lost the mayoral race to Mike Rama in 2022.

CUENCO FAMILY

Another family that made ripples in Cebu politics are the Cuencos, who also became influential in other fields such literature, journalism, and the Catholic Church. One member, Jose Maria Cuenco, was a former Archbishop of Jaro in Iloilo. The family patriarch, Mariano Albao Cuenco, was a teacher, who later worked as clerk of court to an American judge and newspaper publisher. Mariano ran as Cebu governor but lost.

Mariano Jesus Cuenco
MAYOR, GOVERNOER, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He is the son of Cebuano poet and journalist Mariano Albao Cuenco. He served as Cebu representative, mayor, and governor during the American period. After the war, he rose to national prominence as a senator and later became the first Cebuano Senate President from 1949 to 1951. He completed another Senate term from 1953 to 1964.

Miguel Cuenco
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• He is Mariano’s brother. He became congressman in separate terms, from 1931 to 1941 and from 1949 to 1965. Miguel, who was a lawyer and journalist, is best remembered for authoring Republic Act No. 7091 which mandated the teaching of the Spanish language in all courses of public and private colleges and universities in the Philippines.

Manuel Cuenco
GOVERNOR, HEALTH SECRETARY

• He is the son of Mariano Jesus. A doctor by profession, he was appointed governor of Cebu by then-president Manuel Roxas after World War II. He was elected governor in 1947 and served until 1951. He sought reelection but was defeated by Sergio Osmeña, Jr. He was later appointed Health Secretary by the Macapagal administration.

Antonio Cuenco
COUNCILOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIES

• Tony, the son of Manuel, was a multi-term congressman from 1965 to 2010. He is the principal author of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.Following his retirement from the lower house, he was appointed as secretary-general of the Asean Inter-parliamentary Assembly. He was elected councilor in 2019 but died of COVID-19 complications in 2020.  

James Anthony Cuenco
COUNCILOR

• He fulfilled the unfinished term of his father Antonio as Cebu City councilor. He was elected councilor in 2022 and is seeking reelection in 2025. 

Cebu’s other political families

Beyond Cebu’s prominent dynasties, a multitude of lesser known but equally entrenched political families have also shaped local governance across Cebu’s cities and municipalities.

• The Martinez family of Bogo has held the 4th congressional district for several terms, with figures like Clavel Martinez and her son Janice Martinez del Mar alternating positions in Congress and the local government.
• The Radazas in Lapu-Lapu City have also exhibited dynastic succession, with Arturo Radaza serving as mayor and congressman, succeeded by Paz Radaza. The Radazas were later sidelined by the Chans, who currently occupy city hall and Lapu-Lapu’s lone congressional seat
• The Ouano and Cortes families have contested the mayor and congressional posts in Mandaue City since 2007.
• The Abines, Calderons, Camineros, and Zambo families have held various mayoral and legislative posts in southern Cebu towns, often rotating between family members to maintain power while skirting term limits.

How Cebu will shape 2025

Cebu’s 3.2 million voter base presents an ocean of opportunities for anyone seeking to unwind their political sails and command the choppy waters to national office. The Queen City undoubtedly is perfect for building a solid electoral camp in the Visayas. An alliance with any of the enduring and emerging political families in the province for the mid-term elections is the first step to consolidating power in the run-up to the presidential polls in 2028. Cebu’s economic importance and enormous voter base also amplify the leverage of entrenched families, who can deliver votes and mobilize resources during elections.

As the 2025 midterm elections draw near, the dominance of these families in Cebu raises important questions about political plurality and representation. With long-standing dynasties holding multiple offices across decades, Cebu presents a microcosm of the broader national issue of political concentration. Understanding these patterns is crucial for analysts, voters, and policymakers advocating for more inclusive democratic participation.