After 'Gen Z' Stir In Nepal, Fury Over 'Nepo Babies' In Philippines

A resident sits on a bench outside his flood-ravaged home in Calumpit, Bulacan province.

Persistent monsoon downpours have submerged significant portions of the Philippines, highlighting the vulnerability of low-elevation communities and igniting widespread public outrage over governmental corruption and the ostentatious lifestyles of elite families. The focal point of this indignation is the "nepo babies" - privileged offspring of influential dynasties who showcase their extravagant wealth while flood mitigation infrastructure collapses.

Crissa Tolentino, a 36-year-old educator at a public school in Apalit near Manila, has become accustomed to flooding as a regular occurrence. She navigates the waterlogged streets with a paddle boat to reach her workplace and medical appointments for cancer treatment. According to her, experiencing dry roads is uncommon, occurring only approximately two months annually.

However, this season, Ms Tolentino expresses profound resentment.

"I feel completely betrayed," she revealed to the BBC. "I labor diligently, practice financial restraint, and my monthly salary undergoes tax deductions. Then I discover billions in tax revenue being squandered by corrupt officials."

This backlash mirrors recent events in Nepal, where demonstrations against corruption and "nepo-babies" eventually resulted in governmental collapse. In Philippine history, anti-corruption movements have successfully removed two presidents and prompted legislative amendments.

The exceptionally severe monsoon has left millions displaced, caused vehicles to drift through flooded thoroughfares, and triggered outbreaks of leptospirosis, a hepatic disease transmitted through rodent waste. Social platforms including Facebook and X are flooded with demands for accountability, targeting legislators and construction magnates accused of operating fraudulent flood control initiatives.

Public indignation has concentrated on Pacifico and Sarah Discaya, a couple who transformed from modest beginnings to extraordinary affluence. Once celebrated on YouTube for their "inspirational" ascent to wealth, they now face intense scrutiny after footage revealed their collection of approximately three dozen luxury automobiles. Filipino internet users have unleashed criticism against such "nepo babies," sarcastically suggesting they thank taxpayers for financing their lavish purchases and travels.

Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr acknowledged the severity of the situation during an inspection of a purported flood control dam that was subsequently discovered to be nonexistent.

Economic advisors later confirmed that corruption consumed 70 percent of public funding allocated for flood management. This revelation prompted resignations and removals of prominent political figures, while investigations into involved contractors continue.

A 28-year-old government researcher from Calumpit has begun selling rain gear with integrated boots. "I feel angry and dismayed because funds designated for flood control projects in our province were wasted, diverted to individuals who exploited them for personal enrichment," he told the BBC.