THE INHERITANCE OF POWER: When the Department of Energy Becomes a Family Affair

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In the Philippines, the ladder of success is steep, broken, and slippery—unless you own the building. Then, you simply take the elevator.

It is a narrative as old as the archipelago’s politics, yet it stings with fresh potency every time it hits the headlines. The latest protagonist in this recurring drama is Mandy Romero. At 25 years old, an age where most professionals are navigating entry-level fatigue or studying for Civil Service Exams, she has been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).

She is not just any 25-year-old. She is the daughter of Deputy Speaker and billionaire Congressman Mikee Romero.

To the casual observer, this is just another government appointment. But to those paying attention to the machinery of the Marcos Jr. administration, it is a glaring symptom of a chronic national condition: the "VIP Shortcut" culture that turns public service into a playground for the elite.

The Optic of Privilege

The optics could not be more blinding. On one side of the divide, we have the career public servant. This individual has spent a decade navigating the bureaucracy, earning master’s degrees, passing eligibility exams, and waiting years for a salary grade increase. They are the backbone of the government, grinding through the slow, thankless machinery of the state.

On the other side, we have the scions of the ultra-wealthy. They bypass the queue, skipping the "grind" entirely to land in executive offices that dictate policy for millions.

The appointment of Mandy Romero raises eyebrows not merely because of her youth, but because of the specific seat she now occupies. The Department of Energy is a high-stakes regulator. Her father, Mikee Romero, is a titan of industry with business interests that intersect directly with the energy sector.

In any other context, placing the daughter of a billionaire businessman in a position to help regulate her father’s industry would be flagged as a conflict of interest so bright it could power a city. In the Philippines, it’s just Tuesday.

The Defense: "Youth is Not a Crime"

To be fair, the narrative has two sides, and dismissal of Romero solely based on her surname can be reductive. Supporters of the appointment argue a point that holds theoretical weight: The government needs new blood.

The arguments for Romero are optimistic:

The Innovation Factor: Younger officials are often untainted by bureaucratic cynicism. They bring digital fluency, modern perspectives, and a hunger to prove themselves.

Trust and Confidence: The President has the prerogative to appoint people he trusts. If that trust is placed in the progeny of his allies, it is legally within bounds.

Merit Beyond Age: Being well-connected does not automatically equate to incompetence. If she delivers results, her background becomes a footnote.

"Give her a chance," the defense cries. "Why punish her for her father's success?"

The Critique: A Slap in the Face of Meritocracy

However, the counter-argument is not just noise—it is the sound of morale breaking within the civil service. Critics argue that appointments like this do not just look bad; they actively dismantle the integrity of government institutions.

The criticism is rooted in three harsh realities:

The Death of Meritocracy: When a 25-year-old is vaulted over qualified experts solely due to proximity to power, it sends a clear message to ordinary Filipinos: Hard work is a myth; connections are the currency.

The Conflict of Interest: This is the elephant in the room. How does one objectively regulate sectors where their family fortune is staked? Even if Romero acts with perfect integrity, the perception of bias undermines the DOE’s authority.

The Dynasty Playbook: This fits a pattern observed under the Marcos Jr. presidency. We are seeing a consolidation of power where political families are no longer content with legislative seats; they are embedding the next generation into the executive branch, effectively capturing the state from all angles.

The Bigger Truth: The Merry-Go-Round

Ultimately, the story of Mandy Romero is not about Mandy Romero. She is merely the latest face on a very old statue.

The Philippines is witnessing history repeat itself, not as a tragedy, but as a system feature. We are watching the formalization of an aristocracy where political and economic power are indistinguishable.

The "VIP Shortcut" reveals a painful truth about the Philippine condition: We have two sets of rules. One for the ordinary Filipino, who must queue, pay taxes, and prove their worth every single day. And another for the children of the gods, who inherit influence as easily as they inherit eye color.

The faces change. The surnames rotate. But the system—the great, exclusive merry-go-round of Philippine politics—keeps spinning, fueled by the same dynastic engines.

Is this the "New Philippines" we were promised? Or is it simply the old oligarchy, dressed in younger, fresher clothes?

As the daughter of a billionaire takes her seat at the Department of Energy, the lights stay on, but the shadow over our democracy grows just a little bit longer.

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