MANILA – The 2013 elections saw the fall of some so-called political dynasties, but more have firmed up their dominance and even managed to expand in terms of people, places and positions.
In Ilocos Norte, Imelda Romualdez Marcos was reelected representative of the second district while her eldest daughter Imee was elected as governor.
In Leyte, where Imelda's side of the family came from, the former First Lady's nephews also won, first district Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez; and Alfred's councilor-wife Cristina.
Senator Bongbong Marcos is midway his term.
In Cavite, actor and barangay chairman Jolo Revilla moved up to vice governor.
Jolo is the son of incumbent Senator Bong Revilla and reelected second district Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla.
Also reelected was Bong's brother, Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, meanwhile, won a second term while her brother-in-law Lino Cayetano bagged the Taguig-Pateros congressional seat.
Lani's husband, Senator Alan Cayetano, also won his second term and will again join his sister Senator Pia Cayetano in the upper chamber.
In Maguindanao, the Mangudadatu clan is on the rise again led by Governor Toto Mangudadatu, who won a second term.
Toto's brother, Dong, won as second district congressman while another brother, Toy, was elected assemblyman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Mangudadatus also boast of four new mayors and a couple of vice mayors within its ranks.
Not to be left behind are the relatives of President Benigno Cojuangco Aquino.
His cousin, Malabon Mayor Len-Len Aquino Oreta ran unopposed.
Another cousin Bam Aquino is now a senator.
In their home province of Tarlac, the President's uncle Henry Cojuangco was reelected first district congressman while Henry's son, Kit, was elected vice governor.
Also victorious in Pangasinan was fifth district Congresswoman Kimi Cojuangco, wife of PNoy’s cousin Mark Cojuangco.
Vice President Jejomar Binay remains undefeated in Makati City with his son and namesake Mayor Junjun Binay winning a second term.
The vice president's daughter, Congresswoman Abby Binay, won a third term.
For the first time, there's a Binay in the Senate in the person of the Vice President’s eldest daughter Nancy.
But perhaps the biggest winner in terms of reach is the huge clan headed by former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
From San Juan, where Estrada's partner Guia Gomez was reelected mayor and his granddaughter was elected councilor, the clan has expanded to the city of Manila, where the former President won a tough battle for city hall.
Estrada's nephew Laguna Governor ER Ejercito also won his reelection bid.
And for the second time in the post-EDSA Congress, there are two Ejercito-Estradas in the Senate as JV joins his brother Jinggoy.
According to a study by the University of the Philippines, 46% or almost half of today's biggest political families emerged after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, one reason why there has yet to be a law enforcing the constitutional ban on political dynasties.