HISTORY
CIVIL PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR, CALLED
SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
-GOVERNOR GENERAL WAS APPOINTED BY
THE KING OF SPAIN, POSSESSED EXECUTIVE,
LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL POWERS. HE
ISSUED ORDERS WITH THE FORCE OF LAW.
-PRESIDENT OF THE AUDIENCIA, THE HIGHEST
COURT OF THE LAND.
-HAD THE POWER TO APPOINT AND DISMISS
PUBLIC OFFICIALS
-ISSUED PROCLAMATONS
- CAN STOP ROYAL DECREES
-COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE ARMED
FORCES.
-IT WAS HIS DUTY TO PROTECT THE COLONY
AGAINST ENEMY ATTACKS, QUASH
REBELLIONS, SEND MILITARY EXPEDITIONS
• VISITADOR GENERAL – HE OBSERVED
CONDITIONS IN THE COLONY/
PHILIPPINES AND REPORT HIS
FINDINGS TO THE KING.
• THE AUDIENCIA
- SERVED AS AN ADVISORY BODY TO THE
GOVERNOR GENERAL.
- THE GOVERNOR GENERAL WAS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE AUDIENCIA
- IT IS THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE
PHILS.
- IT EXERCISES JUDICIAL POWERS
- AND THE LOWER COURTS. IT
ADMINISTERS JUSTICE TO THE
AGGRIEVED PEOPLE IN THE COLONY.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT- GOVERNED BY
ALCALDE MAYOR HE WAS APPOINTED BY
GOV. GEN.
- HE HAD THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN TRADE
CALLED INDULTO DE COMERCIO, WHICH
MADE HIM RICH FOR GRAFT AND
CORRUPTION.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
-THE TOWN OR MUNICIPALITY WAS HEADED
BY THE GOVERNADORCILLO (TODAY HE IS
CALLED MAYOR). IT IS COMPOSED OF
BARANGAYS.
- HE IS ELECTED BY 13 ELECTORS IN THE
TOWN, 6 WERE FORMER CABEZA DE BRGY.
AND 6 WERE ACTUAL CABEZA DE BARANGAY,
AND 1 OUTGOING GOVERNADORCILLO.
- TO BE APPROVED BY THE SPANISH FRIAR
CURATE.
GOVERNADORCILLO –WAS ELECTED BY
PROMINENT CITIZENS OF THE TOWN.
-ELECTIONS WERE NOT OPEN TO EVERYONE.
-ONLY FEW MALE VOTERS (THE RICH) VOTED.
CABEZA DE BARANGAY
- AT FIRST, THE HEAD WAS HEREDITARY.
LATER, THIS POSITION WAS ALSO ELECTED.
- THE CABEZA HAD NO SALARY.
-HIS MAIN DUTY WAS TO COLLECT TAXES.
“Independence of the Philippines”
The day of celebration of war and love varied
throughout the nation's history. The earliest
recorded was when Andres Bonifacio, along
with Emilio Jacinto, Restituto Javier, Guillermo
Masangkay, Aurelio Tolentino, Faustino
Manalak, Pedro Zabala and few other
Katipuneros went to Pamitinan
Cave in Montalban, Rizal to initiate new
members of the Katipunan. Bonifacio
wrote Viva la independencia Filipina! or Long
Live Philippine independence on walls of the
cave to express the goal of their secret
society. Bonifacio also led the Cry of Pugad
Lawin, which signals the beginning
of Philippine Revolution. Members of the
Katipunan, led by Andres Bonifacio, tore their
community tax certificates (cedulas
personales) in protest of Spanish conquest,
but this was neither officially recognized nor
commemorated in Rome.
The Philippine Revolution began in 1896.
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December
14, 1897, established a trucebetween
the Spanish colonial government and the
Filipino revolutionaries. Under its
terms, Emilio Aguinaldo and other
revolutionary leaders went into exile in Hong
Kong.[2]
At the outbreak of the Spanish–American
War, Commodore George Dewey sailed from
Hong Kong to Manila Bay leading the U.S.
Navy Asiatic Squadron. On May 1, 1898,
Dewey defeated the Spanish in the Battle of
Manila Bay, which effectively put the U.S. in
control of the Spanish colonial government.
Later that month, the U.S. Navy transported
Aguinaldo back to the Philippines.[3] Aguinaldo
arrived on May 19, 1898 in Cavite. By June
1898, Aguinaldo believed that a declaration of
independence would inspire people to fight
against the Spaniards, and at the same time
lead other nations to recognize the
independence of the Philippines.
The Proclamation on 12 June
independence was proclaimed on 12 June
1898 between four and five in the afternoon
in Cavite at the ancestral home of
General Emilio Aguinaldo some 30 kilometres
(19 mi) south of Manila. The event saw the
unfurling of the Flag of the Philippines, made
in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, Lorenza
Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza, and the
performance of the Marcha Filipina Magdalo,
as the national anthem, now known
as Lupang Hinirang, which was composed by
Julián Felipe and played by the San Francisco
de Malabon marching band.
The Act of the Declaration of Independence
was prepared, written, and read by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista in Spanish. The Declaration
was signed by 98 people, among them
a United States Army officer who witnessed
the proclamation. The final paragraph states
that there was a "stranger" (stranger in
English translation—extranjero in the original
Spanish, meaning foreigner) who attended
the proceedings, Mr. L. M. Johnson, described
as "a citizen of the U.S.A, a Colonel of
Artillery". Despite his prior military
experience, Johnson had no official role in the
Philippines.
Ratification
The proclamation of Philippine independence
was, however, promulgated on 1 August,
when many towns had already been
organized under the rules laid down by
the Dictatorial Government of General
Aguinaldo.[5][6] 190 municipal presidents of
different towns from 16 provinces—
Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Bat
aan, Infanta, Morong, Tayabas, Pampanga, Pa
ngasinan, Mindoro, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, La
Union and Zambales—ratified the
Proclamation of Independence in Bacoor,
Cavite.
Later at Malolos, Bulacan, the Malolos
Congress modified the declaration upon the
insistence of Apolinario Mabini who objected
to that the original proclamation essentially
placed the Philippines under the protection of
the United States.
Philippine Independence from the
Americans
Freedom is among the rights that Filipinos did
not enjoy during the Spanish rule. It was a
struggle for the Philippine revolutionary
leaders to achieve independence from foreign
power. The Filipinos fought countless battles,
resulting to bloody revolutions since the 19th
century under the Spanish government. The
Filipino forces were persistent to achieve
independence for the country. In 1896, the
Philippine Revolution started, which
incriminated Jose Rizal resulting to his
execution on allegations of treason and rouse
the Katipunan in Cavite to organize in two
groups creating conflict.
America summoned Aguinaldo to return to
the Philippines from exile and with confidence
towards the pleasant US relations, Aguinaldo
anticipated independence from Spain with the
help of America.
Returning to the Philippines and leading the
Filipino troops to hold the fort of Luzon with
success except for Intramuros,
Aguinaldo declared the Philippine
Independence from the Spanish colonial
government on June 12, 1898 under the First
Philippine Republic. The Philippine National
flag was held up, and swayed proudly before
the joyous cries of the Filipinos by 4:20 in the
afternoon at General Aguinaldo’s balcony of
his mansion in Kawit, Cavite. Albeit, the fact
that Spain lost the battle to the Filipino
troops, Admiral George Dewey schemed to
convince the Spaniards to surrender to
America.
The Philippine-American War erupted in
February 4, 1899 in the struggle of the
Filipinos for freedom conflicting with the
interests of America to become a world
power by establishing overseas empire to
include the Philippines under the US imperial
rule. The Filipino forces applied conventional,
then guerrilla tactics in fighting against the US
army as they become fully aware, under the
leadership of General Emilio Aguinaldo, of the
strength of the US military heavily equipped
with superior firearms
Although, General Aguinaldo was captured in
1901, the insurgencies, particularly by the
Muslim Moros in the Southern part of the
Philippines continued. Nonetheless, America
was preparing Philippines for independence
that started with the creation of civil
government. The US President Woodrow
Wilson promised Philippine Independence
and started to entrust authority over Filipino
leaders with the establishment of the
Philippine Senate by a democratic election.
The Philippine Commonwealth, with
elected President Manuel L. Quezon, was
instituted in 1935 under the Tydings-McDuffie
Act that granted Philippines its self-
government, although the legislative power
was not absolute, which still required
approval from the US President. At that time,
it was a good start towards the eventual
Philippine Independence.
When the events were gearing towards
Philippine independence as promised by the
United States of America, the Japanese
invasion and occupationbolstered in a
surprise. Bataan was surrendered to the
Japanese but President Quezon along with
Osmeña fled to America. World War II broke
out that created immense damage to Filipinos
with roughly about one million casualties.
After the war, Manuel Roxas was elected
President in April 1946 for the independent
Second Republic of the Philippines. In a formal
declaration, the American flag was lowered in
Luneta, Manila and raised the Filipino
National flag in tri-color of red, white, and
blue looked up by proud Filipinos. Finally,
independence was granted to the Republic of
the Philippines dated July 4, 1946. The
National anthem of the Philippines was
played next to America’s. It was indeed a
moment of liberating glory, for all Filipinos
after pools of blood were shed in many
revolutions.
July 4, however, holds less inspiration for the
Filipinos according to the elected President of
the Republic of the Philippines in
1961,Diosdado Macapagal. Macapagal
believes that the June 12, 1896 declaration of
the Philippine independence by General
Emilio Aguinaldo brings to memory the heroes
of the revolution and therefore, Philippine
independence is best commemorated in
honor of the Filipino revolutionary heroes.
People Power Revolution
The Philippines was praised worldwide in
1986, when the so-called bloodless revolution
erupted, called EDSA People Power’s
Revolution. February 25, 1986 marked a
significant national event that has been
engraved in the hearts and minds of every
Filipino. This part of Philippine history gives us
a strong sense of pride especially that other
nations had attempted to emulate what we
have shown the world of the true power of
democracy.
The true empowerment of democracy was
exhibited in EDSA by its successful efforts to
oust a tyrant by a demonstration without
tolerance for violence and bloodshed. Prayers
and rosaries strengthened by faith were the
only weapons that the Filipinos used to
recover their freedom from President
Ferdinand Marcos’s iron hands. The Epifanio
de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) stretches 54
kilometers, where the peaceful
demonstration was held on that fateful day. It
was a day that gathered all Filipinos in unity
with courage and faith to prevail democracy
in the country. It was the power of the
people, who assembled in EDSA, that restored
the democratic Philippines, ending the
oppressive Marcos regime. Hence, it came to
be known as the EDSA People Power’s
Revolution.
People Power Revolution - a series of popular
demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in
Metro Manila from February 22–25, 1986.
There was a sustained campaign of civil
resistance against regime violence and alleged
electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led
to the departure of Ferdinand Marcos, the
end of his 21-year presidential rule, and the
restoration of democracy in the Philippines.
Corazon Aquino (1933-2009) was the first
female president of the Phillipines, and is
known for leading the People Power
Revolution in 1986 which restored democracy
to the country. She was named TIME’s
Woman of the Year in 1986.
In her speech before the United States
Congress which she delivered on September
18, 1986. Seven Months after assuming the
Presidency, President Aquino observed that
“ours must have been the cheapest revolution
ever”.
Despite the People Power Revolution, the
democratic political system of the Philippines
is still fragile and flawed.
The Revolution had an effect on
democratization movements in places such as
Taiwan and South Korea; other effects include
the restoration of the freedom of the press,
adoption of a new constitution, and the
subordination of the military to civilian rule,
despite several cop attemps during the
Aquino administration.
THE 1987 CONSTITUTION’S :
“BILLS OF RIGHTS”
The 1987 Constitution’s third article titled the
“bill of rights” is guaranteed by the state, but
in most instances is largely ignored by the arrogance and snobbery, ignoring the
government, and is viewed by foreign sources existence of the toiling masses and peasants
as “coded to ensure tyranny of the mejority”. in agrarian Philippines.
The Revolution also provided the restoration
of democratic institution after thirteen years
of authoritian rule. These institution have
been used by political and social actors to
challenge the entrenched political clans and
develop Philippine democracy .

While democracy as Filipinos knew it was

restored, rampant corruption plagued the
government that led to the 2001 EDSA
REVOLUTION, which desposed President
Joseph Estrada. While the Marcoses fled and
the former President dided in exile in Hawaii,
his wife Imelda later won a seat in the House
of Representatives and his son Ferdinand Jr.
was elected Senator in 2010. The Revolution
may have had brought changes to the
leadership in the country, the power
“Remained concentrated among a small rich
elite”. The perception of yhe public about the
Marcos regime is changing, with some people
“fucosing on his investments, infrastructure
and public works, rather than the human
rights abuses and claims of lavish personal
spending.

CRITISISM

There are political writers, especially those

living outside of Metro Manila who associate
the People

Power Revolution with what they term as

“Imperial Manila” because it was believed
that Marcos wa stoppled from his position
without the participation of Filipino living in
areas outside of the capital region. In an
article published in Philippine Daily Inquirer,
Amando Doronila wrote that: People Power
Revolution movements have been an Imperial
Manila phenomenon. Their playing field is
EDSA. They have excluded the provincianons
from their movement eith their insufferable