POSC 124: POLITICAL BEHA\

A PERUSAL LOOK ON THE POLITICAL CAREER OF THE DURANOSIN DANAO CITY, CEBU
Submitted by: Catubig, Ella Grazele

Submitted to: Conales, Kay S. Subject Instructor 1:30 3:00 pm MW

ABSTRACT

This academic study would seek to analyze Danao City, Cebus (Danao) most prominent political family, the Duranos. This study will utilize a qualitative style of research for its high reliance to soft data from personal interviews with the Duranos in Danao. The researcher will also be guided by books, newspaper and as well as internet-sourced articles in order to understand the Duranos political career and how they were able to secure their status in Danao despite peace and order issues. At the last point, the researcher will then be able to consider carefully and understand fully the political career of the Duranos in Danao.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES Objectives This study aimed to analyze the political career of the most prominent political family in one of the most progressive cities in the Province of Cebu, Danao City, and the Durano Family. Specifically, this study would seek to acquire the following: To be able to know the underlying reasons why the Duranos ventured into politics To be able to understand why only the Duranos so far, is the only family that reigned over Danao City. To be able to perceive directly the techniques why despite peace and order issues, the Duranos were able to secure their position and status in Danao City.

METHODOLOGY Methodology This academic paper utilizes the qualitative style of information gathering due to its high reliance to soft data, which were interviews. Interviews were conducted in order to gather information about the respondent Durano Family. The participants were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their answers to the interview, as this was necessary, given the personal nature of the answers. All verbal and non-verbal messages were kept secret and were treated with utmost confidentiality. This academic paper also utilizes the Descriptive style of source gathering in order to be thoroughly familiar of the existence of the Duranos in Danao and on how they affect the institutional channels in framing the political landscape in Danao City,Cebu.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND Charles E. Merriam, in his presidential address to the American Political Science Association in 1925 once said: Some day (sic) we may take another angle for approach than the formal, as other sciences do, and begin to look at political behavior as one of the essential objects of inquiry.1 Political Behavior delves into the various ways citizens can influence government. Voting, joining interest groups and political parties, and running for political office are some forms of political participation. Social attributes are important not because they translate directly and deterministically to a set of interests and concomitant preferences, but rather because they locate individuals in social structure and hence affect exposure to political information (McPhee et. al 1963).2 The political loyalties are developed with unexpected turns and its not a simple one-to-one communication between the
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political person and its people. Though the preferences is based on what they have made to gain the trust of its people and to maintain it in the future use. Social context reflects how the people around something use and interpret it. The social context influences how something is viewed. Social context is the influence which affects our perception of the world. These influences can be ascribed, (i.e., gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, class, etc.) or they can be achieved (i.e., company position, Olympic athlete, etc.). Social context also includes a historical component as even ascribed statuses can be seen as fluid over the course of time. An important part of the sociological tradition revolves around the development, articulation and evaluation of alternative models of influence models of influence that place individual at the center of action. The Social Cohesion Model, coined by Burt (1987), portrays social influence in politics as occurring among people who hold each other in high personal regard and hence share a normative climate of opinion. Social influence becomes the by-product of close, intimate tiescitizens are more likely to influence one another to the extent that they hold each other in high personal regard, both as friends and as knowledgeable sources of political information. The people were satisfied with how the Duranos made their place a City and make it a very peaceful place to stay. The people hold-on to the Duranos because they were the ones who helped them in their employment. Danao City, Cebu was known before a city where you could sell firearms with legality and Ramon Durano; the sole person who helped the people in Danao; is protecting them in his own way. So the people felt that they were really important and so they do not allow other person to take care of the place. Social cohesion is the bonds that bring people together in a given society. The concept is a multi-faceted notion covering many different kinds of social phenomena. It is associated with sociological theories of structural functionalism and in broader fields of political science. This is why the people in Danao still trust the Duranos because they felt that they are safe and be able to maintain their lifestyle.

Carmines & Huckfeldt. Political Overview: An Overview.

Political campaigns are off next to disaster without first defining the fundamental task of its management. The task of managing political campaigns is always followed by: 1. Ascertaining the campaigns social environment; 2. Defining the campaigns needs and expectations; 3. Establishing the appropriate campaign organization 4. Effecting the campaigns strategy to set and sustain momentum; and 5. Creating the feedback master file for monitoring evaluation and decision3

ILLUSTRATIVE CASE OF ANALYSIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY: The first person who established the name of Duranos is Ramon Durano, Sr. He was the dominant political power holder in the northeastern towns of Cebu Province. He influenced his heirs to continue his legacy most specifically in Danao City, Cebu. He was a congressman from Cebus First district between 1949 and 1972. Danao was known as the wealthiest districts and most populous municipality, has remained in the hands of Duranos for almost a century. From Danao, the Duranos have exerted wide influence over provincial politics, forming a nucleus of political coalitions that have contented for control of the province since the early 1950s. Don Ramon used his family to consolidate his realm, while simultaneously expanding his external relationships to protect its political and economic assets. GUNS, GOONS AND GOLD Guns and goons imply the use or threat of force influencing electors and gold implies the use of money or materials for vote buying.5
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Dannug, R. 2005. Politics and Governance. Pp. 127-128. Campaign Management. Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc. Mc Coy, Alfred and De Jesus, ED (eds) (2001); Philippine Social History and Local Transformations. Ibid

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The Duranos were known to be the family who used guns and goons just to protect their place from other potential danger. The Duranos never lacked for guns. Danao City is the major manufacturer of guns from the time that the Philippines is under the Japanese occupation, Danao City, together with the Duranos, manufacture guns and supplied the guerillas that are living in Cebu. The industry expanded from then on. And internationally they were known because of the good quality of their guns. Soon the Yakuza was known to be their major client. But the making of guns has been outlived. Since the time of Aquino she reinstated the restriction for manufacturing of weapons. The gun industry contributes a lot to the revenues of Durano. Moreover, the industry keeps the family well stocked with the weapons necessary for local political control. Goons or political enforcers are the main character for the Duranos success. They came from a variety of sources: the urban gangs and ruffians of Cebu City, the personal bodyguards of family members, the Danao City police force.6 The Danao police force is an important component in the maintenance of Durano Control. There are two categories of goons: the regulars and the casuals. The casuals are hired when there is a political threat and usually needed during elections while the regulars are known to be the permanent people who the family trusted their life to be protected from danger. THE CITY OF DANAO The City of Danao was known because of the economic boom that the Duranos has made. Danao did not meet the criteria to become a city but then with the influence and the evolution of their municipality and became a chartered City that greatly facilitate in their process. Undoubtedly, the primary reason the Duranos sought city status for Danao was independence from supervision by Cebus provincial government. As a City, Danaos Durano-controlled government could avoid the scrutiny of their political enemies, Osmenias and the Cuencos, who dominated the provincial government. ANALYSIS From what I have gathered the Duranos are a well-known political figure in Cebu. From what I have gathered from my mother the Duranos are the only family
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Ibid

who has helped the Danaons makes their lives comfortable. The Duranos, with their influence in Danao, made their progress in politics. They have their ways in making the people trust them and they also make it known that they are trusted. Duranos created their dynasty by making their own name. They are not that politically inclined before but when Ramon Durano Sr. started in politics then the other family members just follow his footsteps. He maintained the legacy that the Danaons be prosperous and always kept safe always for the people are the reason why they are still in power.

CONCLUSION This academic paper aimed to analyze and carefully understand how the Duranos make the City of Danao a safe place and also a very peaceful place to live. At the last point, I have concluded the following: 1. That the Duranos are using their mind in keeping their place the safest and independent from the mother City which is Cebu. 2. They are looking into the welfare of their people that are in their jurisdiction.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Mc Coy, Alfred and De Jesus, ED (eds) (2001); Philippine Social History and Local Transformations. Dannug, R. 2005. Politics and Governance. Pp. 127-128. Campaign Management. Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc. Carmines & Huckfeldt. Political Overview: An Overview.