BEED II

GEED 20023—POLITICS, GOVERNANCE, AND CITIZENSHIP

ASSIGNMENT NO.3

NAME: JEFFREY F. CABANGON

Activities/Assessment: (30 points)

1. From the history of the Philippine government transition, are you satisfied of the government
we have right now? Support your stand.

After reading the articles about the transition of Philippine government, I gained more knowledge and
deeper understanding about the history of our government. Long before we are colonized, we already
had a government which they called "Barangay" and through times it has been replaced by colonizer
after colonizer. I must say that our government goes through a lot of changes and events for it to arrived
at its current and present form that we have now. Our ancestors, late Presidents, and revolutionaries
gave their lives and dedication just for us to gained independence and free government governed by
Filipinos. That is why there is no reason for me not to be satisfied with the government we have right
now. I would prefer this kind of government compared to those revolutionary, dictatorial, or military
government which power is centralized on colonizers. It is good to be a citizen of a country which has its
own sovereignty over its territory. I must say we are very lucky for we are born in a well organized and
we'll constituted government compared to the previous ones. Imagine if we still have those kinds of
government until now, maybe we are not so free to walk outside, enjoy the things our country has to
offer, and deprived of our freedom to express ourselves. Maybe we are revolutionaries and not students
if we did not gained independence. Therefore, as a Filipino born in this present form of government, I
am very satisfied and I appreciate what we have right now because I enjoy this so-called freedom and
independence that the previous generation died just to gained it.

2. Write a comparative analysis of the Philippine governments from pre-Spanish Era to the present
Republic in terms of:

a. Form of government

b. Ruler/Leader

c. Powers/Duties

Note: You may opt to use table for clear and vivid presentation
 Transition
of Forms of
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
Pre-Colonial —long before colonizers
occupied the Philippines, our
ancestors had their own
form of government which
they called the "Barangay",
originated from Malay word
which means "sailboat"
Spanish —The government, which
Spain established in the
Period Philippines, was centralized
in structure. The whole
country was under the
control of a highly
centralized government,
headed by a governar-
general. He was appointed
by the viceroy of Mexico and
later by the Spanish King.
Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
-datu —primary duty was to rule
and govern his people and
-rajah/raha
ultimately to promote their
-lakan welfare and interests
The position was —the datu serves as chief
obtain through executive, legislator, judge,
succession and supreme commander of
the Barangay in times of war
— The powers of (4) The Gouernor-General.
the government
were actually *As Governor-General, he
exercised by the had executive,
administrative, legislative,
Governor General
who resided in and judicial powers. *As
Captain General, he was
Manila. He was:
Commander-in-Chief of all
—Governor General the Armed Forces in the
Philippines. *As the vice-
—Captain General royal patron, he exercised
—Vice-royal patron certain religious powers.
-Because of these broad
powers, it has been said that
the Governor-General
enjoyed more powers than
the King of Spain himself
 Transition
of Forms of
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
Revolutiona 1. Katipunan Government
ry Era Was organized by Bonifacio,
who, together with Filipino
patriots, signed the covenant
of Katipunan with their own
blood on July 7, 1892
2. Biak-na-Bato Republic
—A constitution established
by Gen Emilio Aguinaldo in
Biak-na-Bato on November 1,
1897
3. Dictatorial Government
inaugurated during the
Spanish–American War by
Emilio Aguinaldo in a public
address on May 23, 1898
4. Revolutionary
Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
Andres Bonifacio —The central government
who holds the title of the Katipunan was vested
of "Supremo" in Supreme Council
(Kataastaasang Sanggunian)
—Its ultimate goal is to
establish a free and
sovereign Philippines
—Supreme Council —The provisional
composed of government exercised
President, Vice- control and supervision over
president, Secretary all national and local
of War, and political, social and
Secretary of economic affairs of the
Treasury Philippines
—The revolution aims for
the "separation of the
Philippines from the Spanish
monarchy and their
formation into an
independent state
—Gen. Emilio assumed "command of all
Aguinaldo who the troops in the struggle for
holds the title of the attainment of lofty
"Dictator" aspirations, inaugurating a
dictatorial government to be
administered by decrees
promulgated under his sole
responsibility..."
—Gen. Emilio —as president and a
 Transition
of Forms of
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
Government
Established by Gen.
Aguinaldo on June 29, 1898
replacing the Dictatorial
Government
5. First Philippine Republic
Also then called the Malolos
Republic inaugurated on
January 23, 1899
American 1. The Military Government
Regime Began on August 14, 1898
after the capture of Manila
and existed due to the
presence of war
2. The Civil Government
A system started pursuant to
Spooner Amendment which
ended the military regime in
the Philippines
Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
Aguinaldo as congress, he function as
President and advisory and ministerial
Congress
—Created a decree stating
its aim as a new government
to:
*Struggle for the
independence of the
Philippines, until all nations
including Spain will
expressly recognized it
*Prepare the country for the
establishment of a real
republic
Gen. Emilio —establishing a "free and
Aguinaldo as independent Philippine
President Republic"
—US President —all powers of the
delegated his government:
authority to a
*Executive
Military Governor
*Legislative
*Judicial
—Civil Governor —also exercised legislative
(later changed to power
Governor general)
—President of Philippine
Commission, a sole
lawmaking body of the
 Transition
of Forms of Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
—inaugurated in Manila in Philippine government
July 4, 1901

3. The Commonwealth President Manuel L. —The Commonwealth

Government of the
Philippines
Established on March 24,
1934 pursuant to Tydings-
Mcduffie law
Quezon Government of the
Philippines was republican
in form under the
presidential type
—Legislative power was
vested first to unicameral
National assembly and later
to bicameral Congress

—Judicial power was vested

to Supreme court and
inferior courts provided by
law.

Japanese 1. The Japanese Military Japanese High —terminated the

Administration command sovereignty of the United
Occupation States in the Philippines
Established in Manila on
January 3, 1942, one day
after its occupation

2. The Philippine Executive Commander–in– —The commission exercised

Commission chief of the both the executive and
Japanese force legislative powers.

—The laws enacted were,

however, subject to the
approval of the
Commander-in-Chief of the
Japanese Forces. —The
 Transition
of Forms of Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
judiciary continued in the
same form as it was under
the Commonwealth.

3. The Japanese-sponsored Filipino President —Like the latter, the

Republic of the Philippines ultimate source of its
—Jose P. Laurel authority was the Japanese
Form of government that military authority and
was of the same character as government.
Philippine Executive
Commission

Current Third Republic under the Manuel A. Roxas —ROXAS: In an effort to

1935 Constitution solve the massive socio-
Governmen Elpidio Quirino economic problems of the
t Ramon Magsaysay period, President Roxas
reorganized the
Carlos P. Garcia government, and proposed
a wide-sweeping legislative
Diosdado
program.
Macapagal
QUIRINO: his goal as chief
executive,revolved around
strengthening the people’s
confidence in the
government and the
restoration of peace.

MAGSAYSAY: To help the

rural masses was the focal
point of the populist
administration

GARCIA: His administration

 Transition
of Forms of Ruler/Leader Powers/Duties
Philippine Government
Governmen
t
promoted the “Filipino First”
policy, whose focal point
was to regain economic
independence

MACAPAGAL: eradicate
corruption, and assured the
public that honesty would
prevail in his presidency.

Fourth Republic under 1973
Constitution
Ferdinand Marcos —His first term was marked
with increased
industrialization and the
creation of solid
infrastructures nationwide

Fifth Republic under 1987
Constitution
Article VII, Section —The President is the Head
1, of the 1987 of State and Head of
Constitution vests Government, and functions
executive power on as the commander-in-chief
the President of the of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines Philippines.

—As chief executive, the

President exercises control
over all the executive
departments, bureaus, and
offices.

3. What is your opinion/stand on the issue about changing the government we have right now?

Our government had gone through a lot of changes until we arrived at democratic country under the
1987 Constitution. Late President Marcos' dictatorship was put an end and given birth to 1987 Philippine
constitution ushering a new era of democracy with an emphasis on bringing about social justice. Past
Presidents attempted to make a change of the constitution in the hope of prolonging their stay in
power. And now Pres. Duterte attempted to make a constitutional change, making a federal form of
government. He aims to decentralize power from what he called imperialistic Manila and improve the
lives of those people living in rural areas (as reported in Aljazeera). I lack knowledge about constitution
and constitutional change however I believe what Ed Garcia—who helped to draft 1987 Constitution,
said "it is not the form of government that is problematic, but the quality of those people in the
government". Yes it is not about how the present constitution works, it is all about the ability and the
capacity of the leader that will make a change and development. If Pres. Duterte wanted to change the
form of government just to bring about a radical change, I think it is unnecessary. We can make a
change even without making constitutional change. They believe that by adapting federalism, it will
eliminate poverty and be freed from the shackle of a nationalistic government. Yet I still cannot fully
understand what are the pros and cons of charter change but I strongly believe that it is unnecessary. It
would just bring chaos, confusion, and would result to trial and error. If it succeed it would bring positive
results and if not, negative results and might even add more problems than it has before. In conclusion,
I'm against constitutional change and the best we could do is to select a wise and effective leader that
would bring prosperity to our country; and cleanse corruption that exists in the government.