IT certainly runs in the blood.

The term nepo baby (short for nepotism baby) became a trend in social media in 2022 and continues to draw interest from netizens up to now.

In case you have not heard about it yet, nepo baby is a term used to describe a person who rose to fame because of his or her parents who have been successful in the creative industries.

In  Philippine showbiz, several artists can be considered as nepo babies. Although it may sound a bit negative, it cannot be deniedthat the surnames they have play a significant role in their career.

Here are some of the biggest names in the showbiz industry:

The Barrettos

There’s probably no one who does not know how the Barreto clan took over the showbiz industry throughout the years. From the beauty that they possess to the issues that made them go berserk, Filipinos just recognize them.

Sisters Gretchen, Marjorie, and Claudine Barretto were definitely known for their beautiful and classic looks that are top-tier. Different controversies that they got into also led the public to discover more about them.

Marjorie’s daughter, Julia Barretto, despite being a nepo baby, proved that she can work on creating a name by herself through her hit movies such as Love You to the Stars and Back, Between Maybes, and Vince and Kath and James. The actress was also dubbed as the ‘Drama Princess’ of her generation.

The Gil-Eigenmann Clan

Something you can definitely note about the Gil-Eigenmann clan is that most of their family members played the role of a villain in different movies. There’s no telling whether it’s just a coincidence or playing  an antagonist just runs in their blood.

Their bloodline can be traced back to Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil who gave birth to three of the most talented veterans in the showbiz industry: Michael de Mesa, Mark Gil, and Cherie Gil.

Two out of three children of Michael de Mesa with Gina Alajar entered the world of acting, following in the footsteps of their parents: Ryan and Geoff Eigenmann. Their cousins Sid Lucero and Gabby Eigenmann, sons of Mark Gil, also joined the industry and played different roles from leading roles to antagonists in various Filipino series.

Meanwhile, Mark Gil’s only daughter with veteran actress Jaclyn Jose, Andi Eigenmann also had a big break in the industry for a few years, until she got pregnant with her first child, Ellie. She currently lives in Siargao Island with her husband Philmar Alipayo and their children.

The de Leon family

Veteran actors Christopher de Leon and superstar Nora Aunor used to be partners and had a kid together: Ian de Leon. They also adopted four more children: Lotlot, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth.

Following in the footsteps of their parents, Ian, Lotlot, and Matet took the spotlight and pursued their acting careers, showcasing their own talents in portraying different characters. 

Lotlot’s daughter, Janine Gutierrez also paved her own way in the showbiz industry by starting small then landing bigger roles not just on the big screen but also on primetime TV. Janine, who currently plays the protagonist on the Kapamilya series Dirty Linen, started her career in the comedy sitcom Pepito Manaloto way back 2012.

The Padilla-Fernandez kin

The Padilla and Fernandez families are renowned for their strong and macho appeal. Robin Padilla is one of the notable action stars in the Philippines who set the bar high for ladies during his days as a leading man in his movies. His strong and bad boy image became a hit among viewers. His brothers Royette Padilla and Rommel Padilla also took roles in different series. His sister, Bb. Gandanghari, has settled down for good with her partner.

Robin had children with his previous partner and their youngest daughter Kylie entered showbiz in 2009 as part of the Sunday show SOP in GMA 7.

Rommel Padilla had a kid with actress Karla Estrada, Daniel Padilla, who became popular because of his skills in acting and looks. Rommel’s son RJ Padilla also entered the industry, focusing on comedies. 

They are also related to singers Gino Padilla and Zsa Zsa Padilla. Singer and TV host Karylle is also related to the Padilla clan as she is the child of Zsa Zsa. 

Meanwhile, the bloodline of the Fernandez showbiz clan started from Rudy Fernandez, who is the first cousin of the Padilla brothers. He had a son, Mark Anthony Fernandez, with actress Alma Moreno before he got married to Lorna Tolentino, who gave birth to Rap and Renz Fernandez.

As of the moment, the members of the Padilla-Fernandez clan who are active in the showbiz industry are Karylle, Daniel Padilla, and Kylie Padilla.

The buzz about nepo babies

“Nepo baby” refers to the children of successful adults who benefited from nepotism in industries like entertainment. Is it a bad thing? 

In December 2022, the New York magazine declared 2022 as the “year of nepo baby”. This became a trend on social media platforms and led netizens to unravel the family tree of different personalities and how they are related to each other.

Nepotism does not only occur in the showbiz industry. It can also happen in the workplace and even in government posts. Several families create their own dynasty and keep the position in their clan for years.

So is it a bad thing? Maybe, unless the people who are benefiting from the perks of what they have will make the effort to show they deserve what they have. 

Banner Image via @mscheriegil Instagram