The 32-year-old barangay captain and practicing lawyer is also running for councilor in the first district of Makati City in the May midterm elections
Makati City is the Philippines’ richest per capita highly urbanized city. In 2023, the country’s financial capital generated an estimated per capita GDP of ₱1.78 million, which more than doubled the combined economic output of second and third placers Pasay and San Juan City.
Yet in a city where any one of its constituents could potentially be a top one percenter—in time for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections—does good governance still matter for these places? Atty. Dino Laurel Imperial, current Barangay Dasmariñas barangay captain and Makati City first district councilor hopeful, believes so.
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A newcomer to Makati’s political arena
At 32 years old, Imperial’s political—not to mention professional—career has barely started. An Archer at heart, he finished grade school and high school at La Salle Green Hills and later earned his psychology degree at De La Salle University Manila.
Imperial initially planned to become a doctor and had already taken the NMAT (National Medical Admission Test) exams by the time he was in his fourth year in college. However, after extending for a fifth year to finish his five UAAP playing years (he played baseball), he realized that med school was not for him and decided to enter law school the following year.
He finished his law degree in Arellano University, School of Law, where he graduated as part of the Order of the Flaming Arrows Honor Society. He also took the bar in February 2022, where he finished as one of the top-notchers of the exam with an overall score of 90.67. Following this, he would eventually become an associate lawyer at Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Ongsiako.
Although he had originally wanted to focus on his private practice—and had no inclination to enter public service—Imperial explains that a group of residents in Barangay Dasmariñas convinced him to run for barangay captain.
“It’s not something I was too keen on doing at the start. You have to imagine that I became a lawyer in 2022, and I started practicing almost immediately. When the barangay elections happened in October 2023, I was only a lawyer for one and a half years. That’s very young in the legal profession,” Imperial says.
“I’m doing this because I feel something is missing in our group of public servants. I felt that if I did not run, I had no right to complain,” he adds.
Doing things differently
Why run for councilor so early? “People ask me why I’m trying to go up to the city council when I’m already barangay captain at 32 years old.”
He explains that although Barangay Dasmariñas is widely considered a posh village, many of its inhabitants and voters are kasambahays, drivers, house boys, gardeners, and security guards. “These people need help. They need the social services the barangay provides. That’s why I ran.”
But outside ideals and illusions of quickly improving government services, Imperial explains that although it cannot happen overnight, slow and steady change can be brought about by action-oriented leadership.
“A lot of people in government service have been doing it for so long, and they get accustomed to a certain way of doing things. If you want change, you can’t just go in and tell them things are going to change. You need to show them the better way, and you have to walk the talk.”
Imperial adds, “Government workers get a bad rap for cutting corners and being lazy. But I don’t see it that way. They just follow the one in command. And if the head of agency previously did not show the dedication and strictness needed to efficiently run a government office, then it follows suit.”
A progress that does not leave behind
For Imperial, Makati City’s track record in public service has allowed it to become an example for LGUs to follow. But in the pursuit of advancements in how they operate—particularly on the use of digital platforms to deliver services and benefits—he believes that such progress shouldn’t come at the cost of the citizens.
“Now they’ve implemented a system where everyone gets their benefits through GCash. But the reality on the ground indicates that there are many senior citizens who don’t even have a phone, much less know how to use GCash.”
Imperial’s platform hinges on ease of access to government services:
1. Free access to a notary public and free legal assistance centers in every barangay
Although there are Public Attorney’s Offices available, they are incredibly overworked and understaffed, according to Imperial.
“Sometimes you just need to talk to a lawyer so they can advise you. Or maybe you just want to fill out several legal forms. I want to have free legal notaries for these in every barangay hall. That’s the point of barangay halls. You’re supposed to bring the service to the people. I don’t want people to go all the way to city hall to ask simple questions and do simple things.”
2. Ease of delivering local medical benefits
“The Makati Yellow Card entitles its holders to free healthcare. However, renewing it is so difficult that whoever needs to has to go through city hall. I want to bring the power back to the barangays and let them handle the renewal process. That way, it’s faster and easier for the people.”
3. Introduce improved youth sports programs and upgrade public sports infrastructure
“We want sports to be accessible. Not only for the sports themselves, but also because it’s a way for the youth to stay away from drugs, stay in school, and make social connections.”
What it means to be a councilor
That being said, for Imperial, a councilor cannot make promises. After all, they can only propose and lobby for certain ordinances to be enacted. The final decision always rests with the mayor.
“At its very core, the city council is the legislative branch of the LGU. Think of it as Congress. It’s almost exactly the same, where the city council enacts ordinances that affect the entire citizenry. These ordinances are the local versions of laws—everything from setting the city budget and appropriating for road rehabilitation to flood control projects and funding for public projects.”
Imperial adds, “We are essentially making laws for the city. I urge the people to be judicious in choosing one. Because, if you elect councilors who don’t know what they’re doing, what’s going to happen to our city?”