Wazzup Pilipinas!?
"Miss you! May you always serve as an inspiration to all nepo babies created by your family's flood control scheme.”
What may read like a sarcastic farewell is, in truth, a stinging commentary on a deeply ingrained social and political reality: the persistence of nepotism in the Philippines. In just a single sentence, it captures the frustration of many Filipinos who have long witnessed public offices and lucrative government projects handed down like family heirlooms, often at the expense of true merit and accountability.
But others would firmly invalidate the accusation.
The Nepo Baby Phenomenon
The phrase “nepo baby” is no longer just a lighthearted jab in the entertainment industry where children of celebrities rise to fame by virtue of their last names. In Philippine politics, business, and even local governance, the term has taken on a darker tone. It signifies privilege, power, and access not earned but inherited.
Families entrenched in positions of influence tend to reproduce leaders, not necessarily out of sheer talent, but because the machinery and resources to stay in power are already at their disposal. Political dynasties have become the norm rather than the exception. And when public funds are involved, particularly in critical infrastructure projects like flood control, the line between governance and profiteering often becomes disturbingly thin.
Flood Control or Flood of Corruption?
The message references a family’s “flood control scheme”—a phrase loaded with double meaning. On paper, flood control projects are essential. They protect lives, safeguard communities, and ensure continuity of economic activity. But history has repeatedly shown how these projects are also among the easiest avenues for corruption.
Overpriced contracts, poorly built infrastructure, ghost projects, and recurring floods despite billions in allocations have become a cycle too familiar for the ordinary Filipino. When a family controls both the political apparatus and the purse strings for such projects, the result is often an empire of wealth and influence built on the backs of taxpayers. And when their children or relatives automatically inherit these benefits, they become the epitome of the modern nepo baby.
A Public Growing Weary
Filipinos are not blind to these realities. Social media is rife with posts exposing the lavish lifestyles of political heirs, juxtaposed against the daily struggles of ordinary workers. The contrast is stark: while some families feast on multimillion-peso contracts and wield power like personal property, the rest of the nation wades through literal and figurative floods—both of water and of corruption.
The sarcastic “Miss you sis” is therefore more than just a personal remark. It echoes the growing discontent of a public weary of dynastic politics and inherited privilege. It is a reminder that those who benefit from corruption are remembered not for their service, but for their excess.
The Call for Accountability
Nepotism thrives when systems remain weak, when transparency is compromised, and when voters are left with no real alternatives. Yet change remains possible. Accountability measures, stronger anti-dynasty legislation, citizen vigilance, and independent journalism continue to be vital tools in breaking the cycle.
Ultimately, inspiration should not come from “nepo babies” who inherit power and wealth through questionable means, but from leaders who rise through integrity, hard work, and genuine service.
Until then, the biting sarcasm behind “Miss you sis” will continue to resonate—not as a tribute, but as a warning.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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