EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fifth 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.
Laguna is the fifth vote-rich province of the Philippines with more than 2.1
million registered voters in 2025. The province is part of Southern Tagalog,
the country’s top vote-rich region with more than 9.7 million voters. In the
2022 elections, Laguna registered a close to 80 percent voter turnout,
underscoring the robust political involvement of its electorate as a
traditional swing province for both administration and opposition
candidates. The push-and-pull of Metro Manila politics is always likely to
move Laguna’s massive electorate, given its proximity to the capital. Add to
that Laguna’s stature as a growing industrial hub, underscoring its
economic importance among voters and office aspirants. The province has
also been a proving ground for some of the most enduring political
dynasties in the country. Family members have nurtured mutual ties with
loyal supporters that span generations and blood lines.
AGARAO FAMILY
Operating mainly in the 4th district, the Agaraos have maintained relevance
in Laguna politics for over two decades, reflecting voter trust and strategic
alliances. While less entrenched than other political families in the province,
their recent electoral success exemplifies “vertical succession,” a strategy
where influence is maintained through generational transitions and coverage across levels of office.
Benjamin “Benjie” Agarao Jr.
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Maria Jamina “Jam” Katherine Agarao-Oloroso
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Joseph Kris Benjamin “Benjo” Agarao
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER
CHIPECO FAMILY
The Chipeco family pushed for urban development and increased political
visibility in Laguna. But the Chipecos’ staying power was also mired by
criticisms of political entrenchment since family members alternated in
office to consolidate their influence and build a strong machinery that
shaped local governance and development.
Dominador Chipeco, Sr.
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Joaquin Chipeco Sr.
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Joaquin “Jun” Chipeco jr.
MAYOR, PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER, VICE GOVERNOR,
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Justin Marc “Timmy” Chipeco
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Julian Eugene “Joey” SB. Chipeco
COUNCILOR
Rene Chipeco
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER
ALONTE FAMILY
The Alonte family’s significance lies in modernizing Biñan and
demonstrating how dynasties can drive local progress while adapting to
political changes. Their contributions span local governance, urban
development, and women’s leadership for more than three decades.
Bayani Arthur Alonte
MAYOR
Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat
COUNCILOR, MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES
Angelo “Gel” Alonte
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR
SAN LUIS FAMILY
The San Luis family has played a dominant role in Laguna politics for over
half a century, shaping provincial governance through long-term
governance, policy initiatives, and dynastic continuity from the first decade
of the post-war up to the post-Edsa periods, respectively.
Felicisimo T. San Luis
GOVENOR
Rodolfo “Boyie” San Luis
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Edgar “Egay” San Luis
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Rai-Ann San Luis
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER
Francis Joseph San Luis
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER
EJERCITO FAMILY
The Ejercitos are closely related to former president Joseph Estrada. They
exemplify political dynasticism which combines media influence through the
entertainment industry, legal resilience, and local patronage networks to
maintain power despite controversies.
Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito
MAYOR, GOVERNOR
Girlie Javier-Ejercito
VICE MAYOR, MAYOR
John Paul “Jet” Ejercito
COUNCILOR
ARCILLAS FAMILY
The Arcillas family remain in control of Santa Rosa City through a mix of
crisis-tested leadership and programmatic achievements. While their
influence is arguably limited, they have demonstrated how a single-city
family can shape regional politics through sustained governance by keeping local alliances intact.
Leon Arcillas
Mayor
Arnold Arcillas
VICE MAYOR
Why Laguna matters in 2025
Beyond fluid party relationships, Laguna’s political arena remains tightly
controlled by longstanding families. They are not only key players in local
governance but also influential actors in national coalition-building.
Whether through tragedy, redistricting, or sheer electoral continuity, they
underscore how family-based power remains a defining feature of Philippine politics, especially in provinces like Laguna where the stakes are nationally
consequential.
To this, the gubernatorial race also becomes crucial for realigning alliances
and redrawing boundaries among the province’s major political families,
heading into the post-Ramil Hernandez era. Other key congressional battles
are also expected to impact national discourse, especially on issues
concerning the president’s agenda for the next three years. Prior to this
election, lawmakers from the province have drawn public attention in high-
profile hearings concerning security and disinformation, among others. The
upcoming polls will also put Laguna voters’ discerning power to the test,
whether to uphold a status quo that feeds on performative politics or to
elect names that promise a new order.
incident when the Liberal Party invited a girl group to dance at his
birthday party. The alleged lewd dance number drew criticism after it
went viral on the internet. He is set to mount a congressional
comeback in 2025 against former Santa Maria mayor Tony Carolino.
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