HISTORY OF ELECTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Elections are considered one of the most exciting and dramatic phases of the
democratic process. Innumerable number of public officials are selected by the
sovereign people at regular periods to exercise the political authority in the name of
the people and for the people.
A system of election was first practiced in the Philippines during the Spanish and
American colonial period. But the process was only limited to male voters and was
more of a ceremonial rather than a genuine democratic mechanism.
The first presidential election was on September 15, 1935, after the ratification of
the 1935

Constitution

of

the

Philippines; Manuel

Quezon of

the Nacionalista

Party emerged as the victor, defeating previous president Emilio Aguinaldo.

Sectoral struggle and political participation were only realized in 1937: when Act
4112, granting women the right of suffrage, was implemented; and when the
peasant movements gained meaningful participation in political parties and in
actually filling of government positions.
As a commonwealth then of the United States, the constitution decreed that the
president shall have one term of six years without reelection. In 1940, it was
amended to allow one reelection, but with the term shortened to four years; this
setup was first used in the second election in 1941 with Quezon being reelected.
However, World War II intervened and thus suspended the elections of 1945.
The Empire of Japan set up the Second Philippine Republic that elected Jos P. Laurel
as president by the National Assembly in 1943. After the Japanese were
defeated, Congress rescheduled the much-delayed election in 1946. Manuel
Roxas of the newly formed Liberal Party won the election a few weeks prior to the
granting of independence by the United States. In 1949, the first election for the
newly independent republic was held with President Elpidio Quirino winning; Quirino
succeeded Roxas, who died while in office.
When Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, the 1935 Constitution was scrapped, an
Interim Batasang Pambansa was created and a new (1973) Constitution was
adopted.
Election for the Interim Batasang Pambansa was called for in 1978. The Kilusang
Bagong Lipunan (KBL) became the administration party. The election was claimed to
be towards restoration of old political order but Marcos purpose was to gain
legitimacy for his unpopular administration and to create a rubber stamp
legislature. The exercise defied democratic procedures, and was characterized by
rampant electoral manipulation done by the Marcos government to ensure victory.

Local election in 1980 was characterized by widespread terrorism, violence and

wholesale fraud.
Intense opposition coming from the peasant and student sector in the countryside
supported peasant and labor unrest. In 1981, Marcos submitted himself to the
electoral process to regain legitimacy. This is mandated by the constitutional
provision of a parliamentary system.
The Aquino assassination in 1983 resulted in waves of protest forcing the creation of
wider democratic space. Batasang Pambansa elections happened in 1984 to replace
the Interim Batasang Pambansa. The exercise was intended to divert the peoples
attention away from the Aquino assassination. Still, the period was marked by
weakening popularity of Marcos and the peoples growing political will to guarantee
that their sentiments are reflected in election results.
Snap elections were held in 1986. The widespread election manipulations and
irregularities and the worsening social, political and economic order triggered the
EDSA uprising in the same year. The mass action known as the People Power
Revolution of 1986 led to the ouster of Marcos, the collapse of KBL and the
installation of Corazon Aquino as the President.
Aquinos program of restoring democracy, promoting stability and establishing
political legitimacy involved three major electoral exercises: national plebiscite for
the approval of the 1987 Constitution in February 1987; election for members of the
Senate and House of Representatives in May 1987; and local elections in January
1988. The 1987 Constitution provided for a multi-party system.
During the 1992 synchronized national and local elections, the people voted for
president for the first time under the 1987 Constitution. The main campaign issue
was doing away with trapo or traditional politics. In 1995, congressional and local
elections were held. A new form of fraud dubbed as dagdag-bawas or the
subtraction of votes from one candidate to be added to the contending candidate
was in practice during these two major elections.
In 1998, the first party-list elections were held. Joseph Estrada was seated as
President of the Republic with popular support. However in January 2001, EDSA
DOS, a repeat of the 1986 People Power removed Estrada from Malacaang and
seated Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the new president.
Time and again, the struggle for our independence and for democratic governance
resulted in a kind of political system, political leaders and electorate that we have
right now. Election has been one major feature and mechanism in practice and
through a more informed electorate is hoped to continue to serve as a vehicle
towards genuine democratic governance.

VOTING BEHAVIOR OF THE FILIPINOS

Philippine Political Culture can be best understood through a deeper consideration
of political behaviour through the conduct of voting and the entire dynamics of
election in the Philippines. Since Philippine politics is popularity politics, politicians
propel their campaign by using relevant issues of the time to lure votes from the
electorate. That although election per se is a conventional event, the incidents that
precede and come subsequent to it almost always are considered atypical, peculiar
or abnormal.
That is what popular election is for, hope for the elected officials to truly represent
the voice of the people and look after the general welfare rather than on their
individual vested interest. After all, the welfare of the people is the supreme lawSalus Populi est Suprema Lex. (An Analysis on the Trends in Philippine
Political Behavior from 1980-2010 in the Lens of Existing Governmental
Policies of the Time Cyril Bryan Dosdos Cuizon and Ana Leah Llanto Dungog,
College of Arts and Sciences, Cebu Normal University)
What are the criteria that an ordinary Juan Dela Cruz opt to consider in voting his
candidate?
Four determinants that a voter considers in choosing their leaders; (1) Popularity of
the candidates name, (2) Endorsement of traditional networks and organizations,
(3) Characteristics that can be of benefit to the voter, and (4) Party program.
Popularity

According to the recent study conducted by the AIM Policy Center, data shows that
80% of senators belong to political dynasties. These senators have relatives elected
to either local or national positions; 13% of senators served in the military or the
police forces and roughly 6% are either media personalities or served in
government prior to becoming senators.
The study only shows how popularity contest has been the game in electing
officials in our government. Its either they have established their names in the field
of politics or have entrenched political clout and influence. Status quo allows
political dynasty as an accepted practice by politicians for as long as they
consciously advocate for the wellness and development of their constituents. Equal
representation is then said compromised. Potential results of socio-economic and
political injustice are widespread due to limiting public office to members of the
ruling and influential clans. Hence, concentration of power opens several channels
for corruption.
Voters must now know when to consider political names as leverage over other
political candidates. It is never a dependent criterion in choosing their leader.

Endorsements

Pressing issues on ground create a buzz in the whole spectrum of Philippine politics;
concerning the minority stakeholders and vulnerable sectors of the society.
Exemplifying such are reproductive health (RH), divorce, death penalty, same sexmarriage, anti-political dynasty measures, etc. At the height of these never-ending
issues, other established organizations and networks endorsed senatorial
candidates whom they think share the same values and principles . Recently, Purple
Vote Campaign endorsed candidates who advocate for the RH Law, while the White
Vote Movement strongly opposed the these RH advocates.
It is commendable at a certain point how key players involved in this legislative
agenda take stance on urgent issues of the country. Nevertheless, the backlash of
organizations could manifest political agenda and personal interests, and that is to
win which is more popular. It is indeed a battle of principle and practical move in
resolving vital issues that people get plurality of ideas and be able to make a stand
on what they think is politically right that wins the voice of the general public.
Characteristics
The Institute for Political and Electoral Reform (IPER) has conducted a psychographic
research restudying the Filipino voters today. It was a comparison of the 1995 and
2003 update on the behaviors, interest and voting preferences of the electorate in
the whole election process. One of the key determinants that transpired is the
characteristic of the candidate. Study showed that voters tend to vote those who
are more personal.
Indeed, being personal as much as possible is one of the strategies where
politicians could market themselves to the voters. This creates an impression to the
people how genuine they are as public servants. This is where concern to the
masses comes in primarily because it embodies how leaders communicate,
understand and response to the needs of the public. However, we have to
remember that characteristics count but performance and track record is far more
important. These components must work hand in hand in electing a leader.
Party Program
Philippine Politics by nature has many political parties allowed by the 1987
Philippine Constitution. Each has their own political philosophy, belief and advocacy.
However, some would tend to create coalitions if alignment of same set of political
views takes place in forwarding genuine public service. Parties participate in
electoral campaigns, and protest actions and often espouse an ideology or vision
expressed in a party program.
Recently, the Ateneo de Manila University, through the Political Democracy and
Reforms (PODER) program of the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) launched

their latest election related project called FastCheck 2013. The project aims to
study the senatorial candidates claims, positions and track record on five main
issues RH Law, Sin Tax, the impeachment of former Chief Justice Corona, the
prosecution of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former President Gloria
Arroyo and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
Ideally, they form coalitions out of similar platforms and principlessays Prof.
Aceron, program director of PODER. It is then reflected in the study that the
administrations party does not have unified stand on these issues and even need to
explain their exact positions on different reform agenda of the current
administration.
This only concludes that people might be voting not dependent on the party
program alone but would still rely on the personal preferences of the candidates on
the issues at hand.
How then should a Filipino voter select his candidates? The above determinants
should never stand alone; these are interdependent criteria in voting. One may vote
based on popularity while others may consider other variants. What is more
important is that the electorate must never engage in illegal electoral operations
and must only vote based on their principles.

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF YOUR VOTE?

ITS PRICELESS!!!
It will mean:

Better services from the executive

Better policies and laws from the legislative
Brighter future for us, Filipinos

(Voters Education Program National Youth Commission and Vote RIght)