Overview and Guide on the Historical Roots of the PAS

Overview and Guide on the Historical Roots of the PAS and its Contexts

The use and purpose of the historical approach in studying the PAS has been recognized by scholars and
historians as discussed in our earlier Topics.

In our course guide, the study of the history and evolution of the PAS has been divided into the
following milestones/periods:

-       Colonial Period (Spanish, American, Japanese)

-       Self-Government (Phil Revo Govt, Phil Commonwealth Govt)

-       Post-war Philippine Republic/Democratic Govt (1947 to 1972)

-       Martial Rule 1972-1986

-       Democratic Rule 1986-2016

The present Duterte Administration will be discussed when we go to the topic on Development and the
role of PAS.

Take note that as indicated in our Course Guide, after finishing the Colonial Period, we will have
Forum 1. You will be given questions and you are expected to submit your answers within one week.
Each forum will merit 10 points.

Suggested Outline

So as to have focus and comparative perspective of the important characteristics during the different
periods and their respective influences or “legacies” to the PAS, I suggest that we follow the outline
below to the extent possible available data or information will permit:

 Historical devt and evolution of the PAS

I.          Pre-colonial period

            A.        Conditions prevailing in the country/context

            -           political/judicial

            -           economic

            -           social/cultural

            B.        Form of government and administrative machinery

II.         Colonial Administrations (Spanish, Americans, Japanese)

            A.     Conditions prevailing/context

            B.        Objectives of colonization/program of govt and the role of the PAS

            C.        Characteristics of the PAS

            -           structure

            -           processes

            -           personnel

            -           systems and procedures 

            D.   Role and extent of participation of the Filipinos in government

            E.    Issues and problems

            F.    Reforms instituted and results

 III.            Self-Government

            A.     Conditions prevailing/context

            B.    Goals and Program of Government of the Government/Administration

            C.   Characteristics of the PAS in terms of structure, processes, personnel, systems and procedures

            D.   Issues and problems

            E.    Reforms instituted and results

 The dates may not be too exact but it is good to bear in mind as we start the study of the development
and evolution of the PAS that we were under the:

-       Spanish rule (1561-1898) for 337 years

-       then the 2-year self- government under the Philippine revolutionary government (1898-1900)

-       then came the Americans (1900-1935)

-       another short taste of self-government during the Commonwealth period but still under the
American shadow (1935-1942)

-       then WW II when we were occupied by another colonial power, the Japanese (1942-1945)
-       then finally the grant of Philippine independence by the Americans in 1946.

 So all in all, the Philippines was under colonial government for 376 years. In between the colonial rules
of Spain and the US were short tastes or periods of self-government. The Philippines has been an
independent nation (reckoning year is 1946) for only 74 years.

 It might sound  that we are justifying the kind of government and bureaucracy we have today. Definitely
not. We will try to explain and understand what happened so that we can think of ways to do away with
what is not good and working for us and make our government and the PAS more efficient, effective and
responsive to the needs of the people, work for the good of our country.

 We will not stop at giving constructive criticisms but proposing solutions as well.

 Reflection question: Do you think it would be easy to make significant changes or reforms in our
government and the PAS and break away from what we have been exposed to and taught by our
different colonial masters for more than 300, almost 400 years? We will go back again and again to this
reflection question after discussing each period in the PAS history.

References: (These resource materials will be used for the whole Topic/Module on the Historical Roots)

 Alfiler, Ma. Concepcion P. (1999). PM 208 The PAS Manual, Quezon City, UP Open University.

 Campoamor, Gonzalo. "Wika, Nasyonalismo at Panlipunang Katarungan” networks.upou.edu.ph.

 Carino, Ledivina V. (1994). Bureaucracy for Democracy, College of Public Administration, U.P.

 Constantino, Renato (1974). Identity and Consciousness: The Philippine Experience, Quezon City: Malaya
Books.

 Corpuz, Onofre D. (1957). The Bureaucracy in the Philippines, Manila: Institute of Public Administration,
UP. 

Cortes, Rosario Mendoza (ed) (1999) Philippine Presidents: 100 Years, Philippine Historical Association,
Quezon City.

De Guzman, Raul P., Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. and Arturo G. Pacho (1988). “The Bureaucracy” in de Guzman,
Raul P. and Mila A. Reforma (eds), Government and Politics of the Philippines, Singapore, Oxford
University Press. http://lynchlibrary.pssc.org.ph:8081/bitstream/handle/0/4024/05_Reinventing
%20Government%20and%20Bureaucracy%20in%20the%20Phils..pdf?sequence=1.

Endriga, Jose N. (1985). “Stability and Change: The Civil Service in the Philippines”, Philippine Journal of
Public Administration (April), pp. 132-154.

Veneracion, Jaime Veneracion, Jaime (1988) Merit or Patronage: A History of the Philippine Civil Service,
QC, Great Books Trading.

“The State of the Nation Address : Traditions and History”  http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph.

Degillo, Bernard (2014). “Presidents of the Philippines and their Achievements and Contributions”
(December 5).  http://prezi.com.

Government documents such as the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) of the
different Administrations, specifically the Chapter/s on Governance/Administrative Reforms and Anti-
Corruption, Socio-Economic Reports, SONAs, Reorganization Plans, Presidential speeches,
Accomplishment Reports of Philippine Presidents.

http://pdp.neda.gov.ph/

http://csc.gov.ph/phocadownload/userupload/csi/hrs_ppt/2018HRS/The%20Political%20Economy
%20of%20Governance%20Reforms%20in%20the%20Civil%20Service_Professor%20Emeritus%20Leonor
%20M.%20Briones.pdf

http://2040.neda.gov.ph/publications-4/