How can a young woman who has never held a job stroll into luxury stores and walk out with a handbag worth millions? In a country where most workers can barely make ends meet, the rise of “nepo babies” flaunting unearned wealth is a glaring reminder of how corruption breeds privilege across generations.
It’s no wonder “nepo babies” have been trending online in recent weeks. Social media has been flooded with screenshots of the children of contractors and politicians showing off designer handbags, luxury cars, private jet trips, and even Paris apartment hunts. What once seemed like harmless flexing now looks like digital evidence of a deeper sickness: how wealth tied to ghost projects ends up fueling lifestyles far removed from the everyday struggles of ordinary Filipinos.
From Paris to Private Jets
Take Claudine Co, daughter of contractor Christopher Co and niece of Rep. Zaldy Co. Once known for her glossy vlogs, she became infamous for documenting Paris apartment tours, private jet rides, and luxury shopping. After netizens linked her displays of wealth to her family’s government contracts, she eventually deactivated her social media accounts.
Then there’s Jammy Cruz, daughter of contractor Noel Cruz. A viral clip showed her flaunting a Chanel Boy bag worth nearly half a million pesos and posing with a luxury car gifted by her father—this, while her family’s company secured billions in flood control projects.
Even Angela “Gela” Alonte, daughter of Biñan Mayor Angelo Alonte, drew backlash when a resurfaced clip showed her joking about being part of a political dynasty. While not directly tied to flood contracts, her casual flex struck a nerve in a city repeatedly battered by flooding.
And in a Senate hearing, Sarah Discaya admitted that her family owned 28 luxury vehicles, most of which her children “used all the time.” At a time when entire communities remain underwater, the image of nepo babies joyriding in imported cars was too bitter a pill to swallow.
The True Cost of Millions
When a nepo baby flaunts a handbag worth millions, most people see it as another display of privilege. But what if we calculated what that same amount could have done for flood-prone communities?
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, constructing basic flood infrastructure, such as seawalls or riverbank reinforcements, can prevent thousands of families from being displaced. The price of just one luxury bag could contribute to building protective measures that shield entire barangays from rising waters.
The cost of a single high-end bag could also fund improvements like drainage systems or small-scale flood diversion projects. Instead, it becomes a leather accessory casually paraded on Instagram. One imported SUV, costing millions, could have been traded for multiple kilometers of seawalls or reinforced riverbanks, preventing floods that leave communities submerged and livelihoods destroyed.
Beyond Envy, It’s About Justice
The contrast is brutal: while ordinary jeepney drivers wade through chest-deep floods just to get passengers home, the children of contractors and politicians cruise around in imported cars bought with money funneled from ghost projects.
This is not about envy, it’s about justice. Every designer bag is not just an accessory; it’s a symbol of stolen futures. Every car is not just metal and paint; it’s a rolling reminder of misplaced priorities.
The question Filipinos must now ask is simple: Who deserves these millions more—a nepo baby, or the families who lose everything when the waters rise?
