EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third 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 9, 2025) – Bulacan is the third vote-rich province in the Philippines with more than 2.1 million voters for the 2025 election. As one of the centers of commercial activities in Central Luzon, the province continues to be shaped by a handful of powerful political families. These families are known for delivering bloc votes from loyal constituents, making them viable allies in the local arena. Some of these families look to reclaim lost ground following stunning defeats in the 2022 elections. Others seek to tighten their grip of power through reelection or succession. 

Drawing from election records spanning three decades — from 1992 to 2022 — a new dataset from the Ateneo Policy Center revealed how several surnames have dominated local politics, highlighting the entrenchment of political dynasties in provincial governance.

SY-ALVARADO FAMILY

The Sy-Alvarado family has been a prominent force in Bulacan politics for decades since the appointment of their patriarch by the post-EDSA government in 1986. Although they suffered losses during the 2022 elections, their political influence remains strong in the province.

Wilhelmino “Willy” Sy-Alvarado

GOVERNOR, VICE GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAYOR

• Willy had a tenure in local politics spanning 36 years. His political career started following the Edsa People Power uprising in 1986, when he was appointed by then-president Corazon Aquino as the officer-in-charge of the town of Hagonoy. Later he was elected mayor for three terms and a representative of Bulacan’s 1^st District for another three terms. He then served as governor from 2010 to 2019. He was elected vice governor afterwards. He ran for governor in 2022 but lost. Willy is eyeing another gubernatorial run in 2025.

Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, VICE MAYOR

• Willy’s wife Victoria started out as vice mayor of Hagonoy in 2004 before becoming a member of the lower house, succeeding him as representative of Bulacan’s 1^st district from 2007 to 2016.

Ma. Rosario “Charo” Sy-Alvarado
VICE MAYOR

• She is the daughter of Willy and Victoria. In 2022, she was the only member to win an election, securing the vice mayoral post of Hagonoy via landslide. She is running for Hagonoy mayor in 2025.

Jose Antonio “Jonathan” Sy-Alvarado
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Jonathan is the son of Willy and Victoria. He represented the same congressional district as her mother for two terms (2016-2022). He was the chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and one of the 70 lawmakers who voted against the franchise renewal of media network ABS-CBN in 2020.

MENDOZA FAMILY

The Mendoza family has had several of its members holding office over the past three decades, with roles spanning from councilors to governor. Collectively, the family’s recurring occupancy in local government underscores their sustained influence in provincial politics.

Josefina “Josie” Mendoza-Dela Cruz
COUNCILOR, VICE MAYOR, PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER, VICE GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR

• Josie made Bulacan history as the province’s first lady governor (1998 to 2007), and vice governor (1992 to 1998). She began her political career as the youngest elected councilor of Bocaue in 1980. Shen then became vice mayor in 1982 at the age of 23. Josie then served as the province’s youngest provincial board member in 1988. After retiring from elective office, Josie was appointed by then-president Noynoy Aquino as the first lady postmaster general of the Philippines.

Joselito Andrew “Jonjon” Mendoza
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER, GOVERNOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Jonjon is Josie’s brother. He served as governor for one term, then was elected as the 3^rd district representative for two terms from 2010 to 2013. Jonjon also became a provincial board member from 2002 to 2007 as head of Bulacan’s Liga ng mga Barangay. He ran for vice governor in 2022 but lost to incumbent Alex Castro.

Josef Andrew “Anjo” Mendoza
COUNCILOR

• Anjo is the son of Jonjon and nephew of Josie. He was elected councilor from 2013 to 2022.  
  

GALVEZ FAMILY

Various members of the Galvez clan have dominated in the local government of the San Ildefonso since the 1990s. Some of them even ran against each other in past elections.

Honorato “Gener” Galvez 
MAYOR

• Gener is a three-term (1989-1998) transformed San Ildefonso into a first-class municipality. He was jailed in 1993 over a fatal shooting during a road-widening dispute but was later acquitted. Gener was assassinated in 2022 while preparing for another mayoral run in 2001. 

Edgardo “Sazo” Galvez
MAYOR

• Sazo is Gener’s brother. He succeeded his late brother as mayor in 2001. But his term was cut short due to an election protest. In 2004, he returned to being the town’s chief executive and served until 2010.  

Carla Galvez-Tan
MAYOR

• She is Sazo’s daughter. Like her father, Carla completed three terms as mayor from 2010 to 2022. She was suspended in 2018 due to two administrative violations. Carla will run for vice mayor in 2025 in tandem with cousin, incumbent vice mayor Rocky Galvez-Sarmiento, and against another cousin Chariz Galvez.

Gerald Galvez 
MAYOR

• He is Gener’s son, who served as mayor from 2013 to 2016. He lost reelection to his cousin Carla.

Fernando “Gazo” Galvez Jr.
MAYOR

• Gazo is the nephew of Gener and Sazo. In 2022, he defeated his cousin Carla in the mayoral race by only 264 votes. He will vie for reelection in 2025 against cousin Rocky Galvez-Sarmiento, the incumbent vice mayor.

Rocky Galvez-Sarmiento
VICE MAYOR

• She is a cousin of Sazo, Carla, and Gerald. Rocky became vice mayor in 2022. Instead of seeking reelection, she will challenge cousin Gazo for mayor in 2025.  

Aron Galvez
COUNCILOR

• He is the son of Sazo and a brother of Carla. Aaron became councilor in 2022 and is seeking reelection this year.

Alexander “Zander” Galvez
COUNCILOR

• Zander, another relative, was first elected councilor in 2016. He became acting vice mayor in 2018 following the nine-month suspension of Carla as mayor (Zander replaced vice mayor Luis Sarrondo who assumed the mayoral post). He was reelected councilor in 2019 and is seeking a third term in 2025. 

CRUZ FAMILY

Numerous members of the Cruz family have taken up various local posts such as councilors in various parts of Bulacan, but a number of them have also taken up higher local executive and legislative posts in recent decades.

Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr.
MAYOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Boy has been the representative of Bulacan’s 5^th district since its creation in 2022. He was also the mayor of Guiguinto from 1998 to 2007, and then from 2013 to 2022. Boy is running unopposed as Guiguinto mayor in 2025.

Agatha “Agay” Cruz
MAYOR

• Boy’s daughter Agay succeeded him as mayor in 2022. She will run for 5^th district representative in 2025.
  

ESTRELLA FAMILY

The Estrellas’ longevity in Baliwag underscore a systemic blending of grassroots service with patronage networks. Their push for Baliwag’s cityhood and enduring control over local development agendas are keys to keeping the town a formidable bailiwick.

Romeo M. Estrella
MAYOR

• He served as Baliwag mayor from 2004 to 2013. He was charged with over the alleged appointment of his niece, Julieta Estrella-Laguna, in violation of anti-nepotism laws but the case was dismissed in 2019. Romeo is often credited for Baliwag’s recent developments leading to its elevation as a component city in 2023. His wife Sonia is running for mayor in 2025.

Ferdinand “Ferdie” Viceo Estrella 
COUNCILOR (EX-OFFICIO MEMBER), MAYOR

• Ferdie, the son of Romeo, is the current mayor of Baliwag. He became the city’s chief executive in 2016 and spearheaded Baliwag’s cityhood through Republic Act No. 11929 which was ratified in 2021. Ferdie is best remembered by constituents for implementing a free medicines program for senior citizens and instituting education reforms in the city. Before assuming the mayoralty, Ferdie was an ex-officio member of the municipal council from 2010 to 2016. He is the vice mayoral tandem of his mother Sonia in 2025.

Casey Estrella Howard 
PROVINCIAL BOARD MEMBER (EX-OFFICIO MEMBER)

• He is the SK Federation President of Bulacan province and an ex-officio member of the provincial board.
  

Why Bulacan matters in 2025

Bulacan is consistently among the top five vote-rich provinces in the country, with over 2 million registered voters based on Commission on Elections data. This makes the province a strategic battleground not only in local elections but also in national races, where local dynasties often serve as political brokers to deliver critical votes to allied candidates. The province’s strategic proximity to Metro Manila and its rapid urbanization and industrialization also adds to its electoral value beyond Central Luzon. The province is described as a “gateway to progress,” with major infrastructure projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway and the Bulacan International Airport further boosting its regional influence.

Bulacan’s capital, is historically significant as the birthplace of the First Philippine Republic in 1899. This legacy contributes to the province’s image as a symbol of resilience and progress, making it an attractive venue for major political rallies and campaign launches. As the 2025 midterm elections approach, understanding the extent of the entrenchment of political dynasties in the province offers crucial context for voters, analysts, and policymakers seeking to address issues of political concentration and representation.