Carmela S. Fonbuena
PCIJ Executive Director
The political dynasty series of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) won an Award for Excellence at the 2025 Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) annual Awards for Editorial Excellence.
PCIJ Executive Director Carmela Fonbuena, who led and supervised the months-long series, received the award at a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong on June 26, 2025.
The series began with the report “Meet the ‘obese’ political dynasties of the Philippines,” published in October 2024, shortly after the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2025 midterm elections.
The PCIJ series renewed attention on political dynasties in the Philippines. It dove into the entrenched power of political clans that dominate local and national elections, challenging democratic representation and accountability. It ran multiple pieces that map the scale and influence of these dynasties, offering an in-depth look at one of the country’s most persistent political issues.
“This is an excellent series on how family dynasties dominate politics in the Philippines. It goes beyond the best-known examples to show how the dynamic pervades even local elections and governments. It shined important light on the continued role of political dynasties in the Philippines – as well as the tactics used to stay in power.”
— SOPA Judges’ Comment
The series on political dynasties won the top prize in the explanatory reporting category.
PCIJ Executive Director Carmela Fonbuena worked with the editorial and research team, which includes resident editor TJ Burgonio, staff Guinevere Latoza and Aaron John Baluis, resident artist Joseph Luigi Almuena, and PCIJ research interns.
The first batch of interns who worked on the reports include Angela Ballerda, Maujeri Ann Miranda, Leanne Louise Isip, Jaime Alfonso Cabanilla, Nyah Genelle De Leon, Luis Lagman, Jorene Louise Tubesa, Joss Gabriel Oliveros, and John Gabriel Yanzon.
Succeeding batches of interns and PCIJ contributors continued to work on the series.
