Compadrazco and Delicadeza in Philippine Political Culture

This paper explores the Filipinized versions of the Iberian concepts of compadrazco (ritual kinship) and delicadeza (noblesse oblige and the importance of being perceived as virtuous in matters of conflicts of interest) in the political culture of the Philippines through almost the entire 20th century. The survival of these concepts depended largely on their adjustment to the dominant culture of kinship politics (defined as utilizing political power for the benefit of the kinship group). Compadrazco thrived because it was compatible with kinship politics, but delicadeza, though held up as an ideal, became marginalized in both discourse and practice.