POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE

PHILIPPINES
 Political parties in the Philippines are of
diverse ideologies and are plentiful in
number. Most of these parties do not have
actual grassroots membership among
ordinary voters but rather that of political
figures and leaders.
 What is a Political Party
A group of people that is organized for
the purpose of winning government
power, by electoral or other means.

Voluntary association of individuals

who advocate certain principles or
policies as superior to all others for
the general conduct of government and
which nominates and supports certain of its leaders as electoral
candidates.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A
POLITICAL PARTY:

1. Has an organized structure with lines of

authority and power distribution.
2. Seek to attract popular support in the form of
votes.
3. Seeks political power directly thru electoral
method
4. Prepared to support a candidate and fight for
victory in an election. (to gain power)
 PARTY MEMBERSHIP

means formal attachment to a political party, usually

involving the assumption of obligations to the party and
receiving privileges from the party.

1. For patronage
2. To get special treatment from the government
3. To enhance their own career
4. Economic benefit
5. Personal gratification
6. To have and to use an influence on the others
7. Ideological fulfillment
 Party Membership Rules:

§ Usually require a person to apply formally for

membership, and party officials can accept or
reject the application (though in fact they are
usually accepted).

§ The person must at least pay annual dues

and sometimes take an oath to support the
party’s principles and candidates.
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES
1. Leadership Recruitment- The political party is still
likely to be a structure that identifies potential leaders,
brings them to public attention, and secures them the
support necessary for taking public office.
2. Coordinate policy across different branches of Gov’t
3. Mobilize voters – get out the vote drives
-President, Congress, local party cooperation
to win elections.
-Leaders stress party loyalty to proposed policies.
4. Provide accountability- unintended side effect
Used by voters to hold elected official accountable
 THE FUNCTIONS OF
POLITICAL PARTIES

5. nominate candidates - by most

common method today.
6. contest election- “wage war” in the
general election
7. form governments- organized along
party lines
government appointments in executive
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES OF PARTIES
1. Selecting Candidates
Parties virtually monopolize nominations,
which give them tremendous power to shape
governments and policies.

2. Election Campaigning
Those professionals, hired by the
candidates for substantial fees, organize high-
tech campaigns that feature such up-to-date
(and costly) techniques and raising money by
computerized direct mail advertising.
 PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES OF PARTIES
CONT..

3. Nominate Candidates—Recruit, choose, and present

candidates for public office.
4. Inform and Activate Supporters—Campaign, define
issues, and criticize other candidates.
5. Act as a Bonding Agent—Guarantee that their candidate
is worthy of the office.
6. Govern—Members of government act according to their
partisanship, or firm allegiance to a party.
7. Act as a Watchdog—Parties that are out of power keep a
close eye on the actions of the party in power for a blunder
to use against them in the next election.
 POLICY FORMULATION

The successful party finds out what people

want and finds way to combine and address
those demands. Specific policies inevitably
begin to emerge in this process.
 
1. Campaigning
In today’s world of mass media, political consultants,
and direct mail advertising, the parties still play a part in
ensuring that voters are registered, that they know the
differences among the candidates, and that they know
when and where to vote on election day.
 2. GOVERNING

The leader of the party winning

the most votes takes the top
leadership role, works with the
advice of a cabinet formed of
his own party.
 SOME PHILIPPINE
POLITICAL PARTIES
NACIONALISTA
PARTY
LIBERAL PARTY
PARTIDO
LIBERAL
NG PILIPINAS
PWERSA NG MASANG
PILIPINO

Force of the Filipino Masses

L
A
K
A
S
K
A
M
P
I
CMD
MINOR PARTIES PLAY SEVERAL IMPORTANT ROLES:

“SPOILER ROLE”

MINOR PARTY CANDIDATES CAN PULL DECISIVE VOTES AWAY

FROM ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES’ CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY
IF THE MINOR PARTY CANDIDATE IS FROM A SPLINTER PARTY.
CRITIC

MINOR PARTIES, ESPECIALLY SINGLE-ISSUE PARTIES, OFTEN

TAKE STANDS ON AND DRAW ATTENTION TO CONTROVERSIAL
ISSUES THAT THE MAJOR PARTIES WOULD PREFER TO IGNORE.
INNOVATOR

OFTEN, MINOR PARTIES WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT

ISSUES AND PROPOSE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. IF
THESE PROPOSALS GAIN POPULAR SUPPORT, THEY ARE OFTEN
INTEGRATED INTO THE PLATFORMS OF THE TWO MAJOR PARTIES.
Gabriela Party
Anak mindanao
Party
 Parties Represented in Congress
Philippine Seats in the Seats in the
English name Abbr. Leader Founded International Notes
name lower house upper house
Bagong
New Patriotic Satur International Offshoot of the Communist
Alyansang Bayan 1985
Alliance Ocampo Newsletter 7 / 292 0 / 24 Party of the Philippines
Makabayan
Centrist Democratic Party of Rufus Offshoot of Lakas–Christian
CDP 2012 none
the Philippines Rodriguez 1 / 292 0 / 24 Muslim Democrats
Kilusang
New Society Imelda Offshoot of the Nacionalista
Bagong KBL 1978 none
Movement Marcos 1 / 292 0 / 24 Party
Lipunan
Laban ng
Struggle of Centrist
Demokratik Edgardo Former member of Corazon
Democratic LDP 1998 Democrat
ong Angara 2 / 292 1 / 24 Aquino's UNIDO (1986)
Filipinos International
Pilipino
Partido Philippine
Demokratik Democratic
PDP Aquilino Former member of Corazon
o Pilipino- Party- 1982 none UNA
Laban Pimentel III 1 / 24 Aquino's UNIDO (1986)
Lakas ng People's
Bayan Power
Miriam
People's Reform Party PRP Defensor 1991 none
0 / 292 1 / 24
Santiago
Pwersa ng Force of the
Joseph
Masang Filipino PMP 1991 none See UNA
Estrada
Pilipino Masses
!
 Parties represented in Congress
Seats in Seats in
English name Abbr. Leader Founded International the lower the upper Notes
Philippine name house house
Formerly known as Lakas
Lakas–Christian People Power- Gloria Centrist
Kampi CMD; merged from
Muslim Christian Muslim Lakas Macapagal- 2008 Democrat
14 / 292 2 / 24 original Lakas–CMD and
Democrats Democrats Arroyo International
KAMPI
Liberal
International,
Benigno
Alliance of Originally the Nacionalista
Aquino III
Liberal Party LP 1946 Democrats, Party; member of the
and Mar 110 / 292 4 / 24
Council of Aquino-Laurel UNIDO (1986)
Roxas
Asian Liberals
and Democrats
Nacionalista Oldest political party in the
Nationalist Party NP Manny Villar 1903 none
Party 17 / 292 5 / 24 Philippines
Eduardo Offshoot of the Nacionalista
Nationalist People's Coalition NPC Cojuangco, 1991 none Party; formerly known as
43 / 292 2 / 24
Jr. Partido Pilipino
Pablo P. Offshoot of the Lakas Kampi
National Unity Party NUP 2011 none
Garcia 24 / 292 0 / 24 CMD

Jejomar
Binay,
Joseph Electoral alliance of the PMP
United Nationalist Alliance UNA 2012 none
Estrada and 8 / 292 5 / 24 and the PDP-Laban
Juan Ponce
Enrile
 Party-lists represented in Congress
These parties won more than 2% of the vote
Philippine English Seats in the lower
Abbr. #1 nominee Notes
name translation house (PL only)
1st Consumers Alliance for Edgardo
1-CARE
Rural Energy Masongsong 2 / 58

Abono Fertilizer Abono Conrado Estrella III

2 / 58
Advocacy for Teacher
Empowerment Through Action,
A TEACHER Mariano Piamonte, Jr.
Cooperation and Harmony 2 / 58
Towards Educational Reforms
Agricultural Sector Alliance of
AGAP Nicanor Miral Briones
the Philippines 2 / 58
Member of the Progressive
Alliance;
Citizens'
Akbayan Akbayan Walden Bello Consultative member of the
Action Party 2 / 58
Socialist International;
Allied with Team PNoy
Ako Bicol
I am Bicol Christopher Co or
Political AKB
Political Party Emilio Ubaldo, Jr. 2 / 58
Party
The Waray Neil Benedict
An Waray An Waray
[people] Montejo 2 / 58
Member of the Bagong
Bayan Muna Nation First Bayan Muna Neri Colmenares
2 / 58 Alyansang Makabayan
Buhay Life be
Hayaan Allowed to Buhay Michael Velarde, Jr.
3 / 58
Yumabong Prosper
Citizens' Battle Against Sherwin Tugna or
CIBAC
Corruption Luis Lokin, Jr. 2 / 58
Cooperative NATCCO Network Coop-
Cresente Paez
Party NATCCO 2 / 58
Member of the Bagong
GABRIELA Women's Party GABRIELA Luzviminda Ilagan
2 / 58 Alyansang Makabayan
Magdalo
Cheer for
para sa Magdalo Gary Alejano
Filipinos 2 / 58
Pilipino
OFW Family Club OFW Family Roy Señeres, Sr.
2 / 58
Kinds of Party Systems

1.  The One- Party System

2.  The Two- Party System

3.  The Multi- Party System

 The One- Party System
¨  Only one party holds the power because
it towers above the others or because it
suppresses all other groups.
¨  With two sub- types:

¤ The one party democracy ( usually

found in newly- independent states)
¤ The Totalitarian Party in Communist
states.
 The Two- Party System
a. The turn- over system
b. The system wherein major political
parties alternate with each other
in the exercise of political power.
¤  In the US- Democratic and Republican
¤  In Britain- Conservative and Labour
parties
 The Advantages and
Disadvantages
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

1. Ensures simplicity and

stability in the change of
government.
2. Loosing party acts as “
loyal opposition” to force
the party on power.
3. Assures a measure of
political unity
¤  Allows a free interplay of
opposing forces.
¨  May decline into a
m o n o t o n o u s
political game
wherein politicians
yield to corruption
and patronage of
each other.
 The Multi Party System

More than two political parties fight in an election.
¨  No single party gets the majority control of the
power.
¨  Leads to coalition of parties to secure a
governing control of the government.
¨  Transfer the consensus building on the floor of
the Congress or the inner of chambers of
government itself.
¤ Rightist, leftist, center
 ¨  The Leftist- reform – minded party
which seeks to change the existing
conditions in the country.
¨  The “Rightist” – conservative group

which seeks to maintain the status quo

in the country.
¨  The Center Party has adopted policies
which are mixture of both the left and
right tendencies.
 The Advantages and
Disadvantages:
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

¨  may more honestly

represent the various Occasional
shades of political
opinions.
instability and
¨  may bring out more inaction.
truly democratic
measures
 Party Organization

¨ Why do the major parties have a

decentralized structure?
¨  How does the national party machinery
and the local party machinery operate?
¨  What are the three components of the
parties?
¨  What are the future possibilities for the

major parties?
 The Decentralized Nature of
the Parties
Both of the major parties are highly
decentralized and fragmented.
WHY?
1.  The party out of power lacks a strong leader.

2.  The government system distributes powers

widely, in turn causing the parties to be

decentralized.
3.  The nominating process give way party members
against one another because only one person can
chosen to be the party’s presidential candidate.
 National Party Machinery

¨  The National ¨  The Congressional

Convention Campaign
Committees
¨  The National
Chairperson ¨  The National
Committee

All four elements of both major parties work

together loosely to achieve the party’s goals.
 Three Components of the Party

Party Components

The Party The Party in the The Party in

Organization: Electorate Government
Those who run and Those who always or Those who hold
control the party almost always vote office in the
machinery. for party candidates. government.