SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC &

CULTURAL ISSUES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
 the activities of the government, members of law-
making organizations, or people who try to influence
the way a country is governed

relating to society and the

way people live together

the system of trade and industry by

which the wealth of a country or region
is made and used

the way of life of a

particular people
EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
3 CONSTITUTIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY GOVERNED THE
COUNTRY:
1) 1935 Commonwealth constitution
2) 1973 Constitution
3) 1986 Freedom Constitution
1897: CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-BATO
The provisionary Constitution of the Philippine Republic during the Philippine
Revolution
Promulgated by the Philippine Revolutionary Government on November 1,
1897.
Borrowed from Cuba
Written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer in Spanish
ORGANS OF THE CONSTITUTION

1) Supreme Council
2) Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y Justicia
3) Asamblea de Representantes
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OF THE BIAK-NA-BATO CONSTITUTION

The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their
formation into an independent state with its own government called the
Philippine Republic has been the end sought by the Revolution in the
existing war, begun on the 24th of August, 1896; and therefore, in its
name and by the power delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting
faithfully their desires and ambitions, we, the representatives of the
Revolution, in a meeting at Biac-na-bato, Nov. 1st. 1897, unanimously
adopt the following articles for the Constitution of the State
WAS IT IMPLEMENTED?
1899: MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
Draft constitution by the selected commission of the elected Malolos Congress
Malolos Congress are composed of wealthy and educated men
September 17, 1898 (draft)
Approved on November 29, 1898
Promulgated on January 21, 1899 by Aguinaldo
“The Political Constitution of 1899”
Written is Spanish
1899: MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
39 Articles, divided into 14 Titles (8 of Transitory provisions, and a final additional
article)
Patterned after the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the French Constitution of
1793
Felipe Calderon (Main author)
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OF THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF 1899

We, the Representatives of the Filipino people, lawfully convened, in order to

establish justice, provide for common defense, promote the general welfare, and
insure the benefits of liberty, imploring the aid of the Sovereign Legislator of the
Universe for the attainment of these ends, have voted, decreed, and sanctioned the
following Political Constitution.
1899: MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
Sovereignty retroverted to people
The people delegated governmental functions to civil servants
The 27 Articles of Title IV detailed human rights and sovereignty of Filipinos
Title III Article 5, declares that the state recognizes the freedom and equality of all
beliefs.
Title II Article 4, three districts – Legislative, Executive, Judicial
WAS IT ENFORCED?
Philippine Organic Act of 1902
 Creation of the popularly elected Philippine Assembly.
 Legislative vested in bicameral
 Bill of Rights for Filipinos
 Appointment of two non-voting Filipino Resident Commissioners
of the Philippines
Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916
 “Jones Law”
 Removal of Philippine Commission, replacing it with a Senate
 Explicitly declared the purpose of the US
 Appointment of two non-voting Filipino Resident Commissioners
of the Philippines
Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act (1932)
 Promise of granting Filipinos’ Independence
 Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas
 Opposed by the Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, hence rejected.
Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)
 “Philippine Independence Act”
 Provided authority and defined mechanisms for the establishment of a formal
constitution
 Constitutional convention members were elected, first meeting on July 30 1934
 Claro M. Recto, unanimously elected as President
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION
Crafted to meet the approval of the United States government.
To ensure that the US would live up to its promise.
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935 COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION

The Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to establish a
government that shall embody their ideals, conserve and develop the patrimony of
the nation, promote the general welfare, and secure to themselves and their
posterity the blessings of independence under a régime of justice, liberty, and
democracy, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION
Commonwealth of the Philippines
 Transitional administration
 Unicameral National Assembly
Amended in 1940 to have a bicameral congress
Right to suffrage
 Male, 21y/o, able to read and write
 Extended to women after two years
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION
Bears traces of the Malolos Constitution, the German, Spanish, and Mexican
Constitutions, Constitutions of several South Americans countries, and the
unwritten English Constitution.
Draft was approved by the constitutional convention on February 8, 1935
Ratified on March 25, 1935 by US President Franklin B. Roosevelt
Elections were held in September 1935
Manuel L. Quezon was elected President of the Commonwealth
WAS IT IMPLEMENTED?
In 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected as President
In 1967, Philippine Congress passed a resolution calling for a Constitutional
Convention to change the 1935 Constitution.
In 1969, Marcos won in re-election
November 20, 1970 was the Elections of the Delegates to the Constitutional
Convention
June 1, 1971 when the convention formally began
Carlos P. Garcia was elected as the Convention President
Succeeded by Diosdado Macapagal
Martial law was declared.
Some delegates were placed behind bars, others went hiding or voluntary
exiled.
Marcos manipulated documents
November 29, 1972 the convention approved its proposed constitution.
The constitution was supposed to introduce a parliamentary-style government
Pres. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 73 on November 30, 1973
Citizen Assemblies were held from January 10-15, 1973
The president issued a proclamation announcing that the proposed
constitution had been ratified.
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITARIANISM
The constitution was amended several times
Citizen Assemblies allow the continuation of Martial Law
Approved the ammendments:
 Interim Batasang Pambansa
 President to become Prime Minister
In 1980, retirement age of judiciary members was extended to 70yo
In 1981, parliament changed to French-style
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITARIANISM

In 1984, Executive Committee was abolished, position of vice president restored
A way for the President to keep executive powers, abolish the senate, never acted
parliament system to function as authoritarian presidential system
1980s had been very turbulent
1983 Assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
“Snap” Election full of widespread fraud
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITARIANISM
A small group of military rebels attempted to stage a coup, but failed
Triggered EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986
Marcoses fled into exile
Corazon Aquino was installed as President on February 25, 1986
President Corazon Aquino’s Government
 Revert to 1935 Constitution
 Retain the 1973 Constitution
 Start anew
 “Truly reflective of the Aspirations and Ideals of the Filipino People”
President Corazon Aquino’s Government
 1986 proclaimed a transitional constitution (Freedom Constitution) to last for
a year
 Constitutional Commission drafted a permanent constitution
 Constitutional Convention was created composed of 48 members
 Keep the President in check
 New Constitution adopted on February 2, 1987
1987: CONSTITUTION AFTER MARTIAL LAW
Begins with preamble and 18 self-contained articles
“Democratic Publican State”
Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from
them
Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the government
1987: CONSTITUTION AFTER MARTIAL LAW
Established 3 independent Constitutional Commissions
 Civil Service Commission
 Commission on Elections
 Commission on Audit
Office of the Ombudsman
CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION

Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution provides for three ways by which the
constitution can be changed