ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the socio-political dynamics surrounding persistent support for politicians. As a case study, it looks into support for the Marcos political dynasty among young people in the Marcos family's political base, the Ilocos region in the Northern Philippines. Drawing from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, the chapter finds that support for the Marcos family includes a deeply ingrained and affective loyalty to a political figure that persists despite criticisms and poor political performance. I refer to this phenomenon as “loyalista mentality” (loyalist mentality) following the cue from my research participants. Three observations emerge from my study focused on young people. First, young political actors maintain and contest the loyalista mentality. Second, the influence of family and the elderly is significant but not absolute. Third, social media is a platform for identity (re)construction crucial in (re)defining the loyalista mentality. Explicating the loyalista mentality in this chapter unsettles the idea that Filipino voters are purely misinformed or manipulated. Instead, their political choices are meaningfully constructed within their affective social context, even when those choices may seem irrational to perceived outsiders. Ultimately, this chapter opens a broader discussion on how political actors generally may not always base their decisions purely on rational assessments of governance but also on emotional, historical, and social factors.
