Pampanga has had a long history of patronage politics and corruption.

So that was often a real tension in a particular choice, and invariably the patronage politics would win out over the straight qualification.

"It's patronage politics, but a more enlightened kind of patronage politics," he said.

As Health Minister, he fell into patronage politics.

The Philippines, according to experts, has a reputation for having political issues based on patronage politics and personality politics.

The night before Rappaport leaves her, she is demoted, a victim of corrupt patronage politics.

"We want to see a modernization of the state, respect for the system of separation of powers and an end to traditional patronage politics."

These above appear to confirm the reading of public commentators, including intellectuals and academics, of the success of Babangida's patronage politics.

For voters looking for a way to register their disgust with the crude patronage politics that prevail in judicial endorsements, this is it.

As such, these men have wielded some influence in their communities, and patronage politics was a common undertaking.