UNIT IX - THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD

TOPICS
1. The Transition;
2. Decade of Unrest; and
3. Entry of Japanese Imperial Forces.

THE TRANSITION

- The Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated on November 15, 1935 at the Legislative Building.
- The country now had a Self-ruling Government except in matters of treasury and foreign affairs.
- Recognition of the Philippine independence by the U.S. was to come in 1945 after this period of transition pursuant to
the Tydings Mcduffie law. "
- Some U.S officials and dignitaries who attended the ceremonies were Vice Pres. Nancy Gamer, the Speaker of the
U.S. house of Representative, General Douglas Mc Arthur & the U.S. Secretary of war George Dem.
- Chief Justice Ramon Avancena of the Supreme Court sworn into office as the new State officials which includes
President Manuel Quezon, Vice-President Osmena and members of the National Assembly.
- In this occasion U.S. Secretary Dem proclaimed the existence of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the
termination of Philippine Government established under the Jones Law.
- Upon assuming to office, President Quezon secured the enactment of laws that would improve the conditions of the
marginalized society. He readily adopted the Policy Of Social Justice, referring to the Justice of common Tao by
improving his condition.

The Policy Measures (Social Justice Policy) included the following

1. The establishment of Court of industrial relation to resolves labor disputes;
2. Promotion of Social Justice as shown by the Eight-hour act;
3. The minimum wage law;
4. Written contracts as between landowners as tenant as requisites, as well as establishment of credit facilities for
farmers were also included; and
5. Authority given to the President to acquire private land for resale to farmers was also part of the Social Justice
Policy.

Commonwealth Period: the transition(Continuation ....)

- Commonwealth Act No.1 (the National Defense Act), which provided for the Citizens' army was enacted by
National Assembly to counter problem in National Security.
- The Joint Preparatory committee on Philippine Affairs (JPCPA) was established on April 14, 1937. For over a
year conference were held in Washington and in Manila. In 1938, the JPCPA recommended the A grant of Political
Independence on July 4, 1946 and the extension Philippine-American preferential trade to December 31, 1960.
- In 1903, when Baguio was chosen as Summer Capital, the Americans hired 1,500 Japanese workers to build the
ZigZag road to that City.
- After the road was completed, one hundred of them stayed and migrated to Davao to work on American hemp and
coconut plantations.
- By 1907, their leader, Kyosaburo S Ohta formed the Ohta, soon after, by 1930 the Japanese had practically
controlled the deep-sea fishing Industry.
- May 1940, the Philippine Immigration Law was enacted. The Law limited to 500 the number of immigrants permitted
annually to enter the country.

Commonwealth Period. (The transition)

- In accordance to Act No. 184 enacted by the National Assembly in 1936, the Institute of National Language was
established to make a study of the different languages for the purpose of evolving and adopting a National Language.
- After comprehensive study of the country's language condition, the Institute recommended to President Quezon the
adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the National Language.
- On December 30,1937, Quezon proclaimed Filipino as the National A Language.
- The teaching of the National Language in all schools in the country began on June 19, 1940.
- By virtue of Act No. 570, Filipino was declared as one of the officials languages, effective July 4, 1946.
- To promote instruction among Filipinos, President Quezon created the National Council of Education in 1936 to
serve as advisory body on matters regarding education. Dr Rafael Palma, became its first chairman.
- The National Assembly passed education Decree 1940, to attained an increased number of children to go to schooling,
which shortened the elementary course from seven years to six years. The minimum age for Grade 1 was raised to
seven.
- Other accomplishments of Commonwealth Government included the creation of National Economic Council, Census
Commission, Commission of Mindanao and Sulu, Filipinization of Judiciary from the Supreme Court to Municipal
Court was completed, Woman suffrage was finally allowed as shown in the May 14, 1935 Plebiscite to ratify the 1935
constitution, etc...

Amendments of 1935 Constitution.

- The Amendments of 1935 Constitution were ratified by the National Plebiscite on June 18, 1940. The Amendments
included are as follows:
1) The tenure of the office of the President and Vice-President to four years with reelection for another term;
2) The establishment of a bicameral Congress of the Philippines, with the Senate as Upper House and the House of
Representative as lower House, and
3) The creation of an Independent Commission on Elections composed of three members to supervise all elections was
also part of the revised provision.

Commonwealth Period
• TOPIC
2. Decade of Unrest

Decade of Unrest
- It was in the 1930's when Hitler troops occupied Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and invaded Norway, m Denmark,
France, Soviet Union and the rest of Europe.
- Japan occupied Manchuria in 1932, and five years later invaded China. In 1940, Japan occupied the Northern part of
French Indo China.
The imperialistic design of japan in Southeast Asia could not be simply ignored.
- The Commonwealth Government feared that the country would be the next target.
- In July 1941, the Philippine reserved and regular forces joined forces with the U.S. Army. This combined military
forces known as United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was placed under the command of General
McArthur.
- From 1935 to the outbreak of 1941, the recognized leader of the peasantry in Central Luzon was Pedro Abad Santos,
known as Don Perico, a Bar topnotcher and a member of the landed Aristocracy.
- He was elected in 1917 to the Philippine Assembly. In 1929 he founded his Socialist Party. Regarded as traitor by his
Hacendero province-mates, he devoted his remaining years of his life to the cause of the peasants.

UNIT IX - THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD

TOPICS
3. Entry of Japanese Imperial Forces.

Entry of Japanese Imperial Forces

- The Philippines was still getting used to the AMERICAN colonial lifestyle when WORLD WAR II (1939-1945)
broke out. "
- While Admiral K. Nomura was in Washington to present Japan's peace proposals to the American officials, the
Japanese forces on December 7, 1941 (Washington time) bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the main base of U.S.
pacific fleet.
- This resulted to the death of 2,897 men. President Theodore Roosevelt asked the U.S. Congress to declare war, which
the latter did with only one dissenting vote.
- After dawn of December 8, 1941 (Philippine Time) the Japanese bombers under the command of Gen. Masaharu
Homma conducted air attacks in various places in the Philippines.
- They destroyed the air and naval defenses in Davao, Tuguegarao Baguio Iba, Tarlac and Clark Field, the Japanese
were able to land in Batan Island without any opposition, and on December 9, the city of Manila experienced its first
wartime air raid.
- Capt. Jesus Villamor of the Philippine Air Corps defiantly led a flight of A pursuit planes against the Japanese who
were then raiding Nichols Field. He was able to destroy an enemy plane in the aerial combat, which took place
December 10, 1941.
- December 22, the main Japanese forces, under the command of Lt. General Homma landed in Lingayen Pangasinan.
- The landing of General Homma's main forces, the 48th Division in Lingayen Pangasinan made Gen. McArthur finally
decided to use the War Plan Orange 3 (WPO 3). This was the master plan later renamed Rainbow 5.
- In the afternoon of December 24, President Quezon, his family and his war cabinet moved to Corregidor. -
- On December 30, 1941 the second inaugural ceremonies of the Commonwealth were held outside the Corregidor
tunnel.
- President Quezon took his oath of office as president of the Commonwealth, marking the commencement of his
second term.
- Administering the oath of office to President Quezon and Vice-President Osmena was Chief Justice Jose Abad
santos.
- To spare the city of Manila from further destruction, on December 26, General McArthur proclaimed it an Open City,
wherein the enemy forces may enter the area provided they stop shooting.
- By January 2, 1942, the Japanese forces had already entered Manila.
- In the midst of enemy attack in the Philippines, President Roosevelt urged President Quezon to flee to the U.S. since
the Japanese could inevitably use him as the leader to rally Filipinos behind Japan.
- President Quezon and his family left Corregidor for Australia on February 18 on board submarine swordfish. From
there, they sailed to America.
- Likewise General McArthur on orders of the President, left Corregidor for Australia on the night of March 11, 1942 to
assumed command of the Newly designated Southwest Pacific Area.
- After landing in Australia on March 17, 1942, General Douglas McArthur made his promise to the Filipinos, "I
came through and I shall return."
- On April 3, Good Friday ( after Singapore surrendered to Japan)the enemy forces launched their final offensive to
Bataan. Bombers attacked every thing that moved. The main thrust centered on Mt. Samat.
- The Capture of Mt Samat would give the Japanese a key Observation post, which overlooked the whole Bataan
Peninsula. Gen. Homma pressed hard on this area to deny the Filipino-American forces to regroup and mount a counter
attack.

The Infamous Death March

- On April 9, around 78,000 men from Bataan under General Edward King surrendered, while the rest headed by Lt.
General Wainwright had escaped the Corregidor and to surrounding provinces. General King sent peace feelers to the
Japanese.
- The INFAMOUS DEATH MARCH began in Mariveles and Cabcaben on April 10, 1942.
- The Filipino-American troops were forced at gunpoint to march from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Some were
kicked and beaten. Others were carried on army wool blankets folded on Hammock, tied on Bamboo poles and carried
by other comrades.
- Those who were too sickly to walk were left to die. The Japanese army had little provisions for Filipino-American
POW's.
- Around 10,000 lives were claimed by this infamous trail.
- The POW's reached San Fernando & were billeted in schoolhouses, warehouses and vacant lots. The next day, the
weary marchers were hurled like a cattle into the boxcars.
- Closed to 100 POWS were hurled in every boxcar which was supposed to accommodate only 50 people. Many of the
weak and exhausted passengers died.
- The freight train stop at Capas, Tarlac. From There, they walked seven Kilometers more to Camp O'Donnel, the
Prison Camp. Some 56,000 reached the Camp alive on April 15, 1942.
- The Camp contained the barracks of the Philippine Army before the Japanese occupied the area. It was actually an
unfinished structures made of Bamboo and cogon grass and fenced with barbed wire.
- Inside the Malinta Tunnel, a radio station had been established, called the Voice of Freedom. Major Carlos P.
Romulo, the pre-war editor of the Philippine Herald, headed this station for broadcasting news to men in Bataan and in
occupied areas like Manila.
- General Wainwright decided to surrender to Corregidor and the harbor forts. General Wainwright addressed a message
to Gen Homma, through the voice of freedom offering his surrender with men directly under him.
- General McArthur himself radioed General Sharp that Wainwright's surrender was not valid. General McArthur
ordered Sharp to initiate guerrilla operations against the enemy forces.
- The POWs were brought to Capas. On August 11, 1942, Gen. Wainwright and ranking officers were shipped to
Formosa and later to japan.

THE Japanese Occupation

- On January 3, 1942, a day after Manila became an occupied city. General Masaharu Homma, Commander-in-Chief
of the Japanese Imperial Forces issued a proclamation announcing the end of American Occupation and the imposition
of Martial Law in the country.
- Priest suspected of engaging in subversion activities were also imprisoned like Fr. Rufino Santos, who was then a
young priest and later became the first Filipino Cardinal of the Catholic Church and Archbishop of Manila.
- Jorge Vargas, who was then the Mayor of Manila before the Japanese occupation, had been instructed by President
Quezon and General McArthur to cooperate with the enemy. This was to avert further anguish on the Filipino people.

Japanese Martial Law

- Japanese Premier Hideki Tojo said on January 21, 1942 before the Japanese Diet, Japans Legislature, that the
Philippines would be granted independence provided it recognizes Japan's program of establishing "The Philippines
for the Filipinos" as a member of the Greater East Asia Co Prosperity Sphere. He visited Manila on May, 1942. He
noted that the Filipinos desire to cooperate with the Japanese government.

Life during War time Years

- Currency and banks were also monitored. The Department of Finance of the Japanese Military Administration
controlled all the existing Banks. One of the first acts that the Japanese did was to circulate military money, also known
as military pass money or war notes.
- The New peso bills looked like play money, they lacked serial numbers. They were not backed by silver or gold
reserves.
- The threats convinced the Filipinos to used them but they haughtily called it Mickey Mouse money, others called it
Gurami (small fish plentiful and cheap) and cheap and Apa (the sweet wafer for ice cream cones, implying flimsiness.

Reforming the Philippine Government

- On December 2, 1942, the Japanese Military Administration announced that political parties had been dissolved " of
their own free will." The Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (KALIBAPI), a non-political organization
was established.
- KALIBAPI’S AIM was:
1) to bring about the rapid reconstruction of the Philippines, and
2) the rehabilitation of the Filipino people.
- Jose Vargas became the ex-officio president of the KALIBAPI. .
- Benigno Aquino was appointed director-general of the said organization.

The Second Republic of the Philippines

- On October 14, 1943 Manila was in holiday mood despite the traces of war. Five hundred to Eight hundred thousand
people gathered in front of the legislative that morning to witness the proclamation of independence and the
inauguration of the Republic of the Philippines.
- Then on October 18, Laurel announced the appointment of his cabinet.
- The President of the Republic, elected by majority of all members of the National assembly, was given the highest
executive power by the Constitution. He was to serve a single term for six years.
The Second Republic
- The Constitution did not provide for a Vice-President, however, the ranking minister in the order of precedence
established by law could assume presidency in the event of a permanent disability of the President.
- With the inauguration of the second Philippine Republic President Laurel created the National Education Board to
study curriculum changes and to develop a more suitable educational program for the country.
- The Board advocated enhancement of the Filipino Identity by giving A emphasis to the study of the national
Language and history. It also recommended the teaching of Asian History and Culture.
- The government also sent a selected young men to Japan as Pensionados to study a Japanese school.

Resistance and Restoration

- The United States Army Forces in the Philippines (USAFIP), Northern Luzon, was one of the earliest guerrilla units
to be organized after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.
- The USAFFE soldiers of Northern Luzon who had been unable to join the American and Filipino forces Banded
together under two Filipino Captains, Guillermo Nakar and Manuel P. Enriquez. This was recognized as the first
Guerilla Regiment by USAFFE Headquarters.
- Walter Cushing, an American mine operator in the Mountain Province led the first ambush against the Japanese.
- Unfortunately, on September 19, 1942, Cushing and two of his men were killed instantaneously by Japanese Soldiers
at Jones, Isabela while on a mission contact a large guerilla outfit.
- Major Russel Volkmann (a West Point Graduate), who managed to escape from Bataan organized their own Guerilla
unit. He set up secret training camps for his Guerillas.
- Among the prominent guerrilla leaders under his direction were Governor Roque Ablan and Bado Dangwa in Baguio.
- The Hunters ROTC guerrilla group, headed by two young cadets of the Philippine Military Academy, Eleutero
Adeveso (better known as Terry Magtangol, during the war) and Miguel Ver, was formed at Ver's house in San Juan,
Manila.
- In Bulacan, Captain Alejo Santos "C" Company, 31st Infantry of the USAFFE, who escaped the death march from
Bataan at Betis Pampanga, organized the Philippine Legion at his hometown in Bustos.
- On October 12, 1943, Captain Anderson issued a directive informing Capt. Santos' command over the Bulakan
Military Area (BMA). BMA had four regiment at the start. By the middle of 1944 the BMA was regrouped in to 10
Regiments.
- In August 1944, the Submarine NAWARHAL landed arms and ammunition, signal equipment and other supplies at
the Kalayaan Headquarters of Major Anderson in Infanta, Tayabas.
- Together with the group of Americans was Captain Bartolome A Cabangbang. He manned the Philippine Islands
Detachment of the Allied Intelligence Bureau. A PMA graduate, Capt. Cabangbang fought in Bataan and Corregidor.
He was released from Capas concentration camp to be trained at the Philippine Constabulary School. He later joined
Capt. Villamor in Negros Occidental. He boarded submarine Gabriella to Australia and thereon was trained in
communications and Jungle warfare.
- On November 16, 1944, three men from Admiral William Halsey's third fleet belonging to the Carrier USS Essex
were rescued by the Republic Regiment (Halsey's Fleet undertaken air strikes in the Visayas prior to General
McArthur's landing in Leyte) .
- The Guerilla movement in Samar and Leyte was led by Colonel Ruperto Kangleon, while Colonel Macario Peralta
of Tarlac headed in Panay Island with Governor Tomas Confessor as the civilian leader.
- Another guerilla unit that confronted the Japanese forces was the A communist- led Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon
known as HUKBALAHAP. The organization was founded on March 29, 1942 in a forest near the boundaries of
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac.
- Luis Taruc was chosen chairman of the committee, Casto Alejandrino became second in command.
- The guiding principles of the Huks were found in this documents. The Fundamental spirit. The duties and privileges
of a HUK soldier were discussed in other document, The Iron Discipline.
- Katubusan ng Bayan (Redemption of the People) was the principal Huk Publication.
- There were some Filipinos who choose to cooperate with the Japanese and aided them in apprehending the guerillas
and their supporters.
- These fanatical pro- Japanese included the Ganaps, the Pulahanes, Palaaks, the United Nippon, the Pampars & the
MAKAPILIS.

The Fanatical Pro-Japanese

- The GANAPS were former pro-Japanese Sakdalistas who served as Spies for the Japanese military authorities;
- PULAHANES (from Samar "pula" means red) acted as guide for the Japanese in their effort to arrest people who
supported the Guerilla cause.
- PALAAKS armed with bamboo spears, worked as guards for the Japanese army.
- UNITED NIPPON (UN) armed with rifles, wore army uniforms as part of the Japanese military. The members were
recruited from the Ganap Party.
- The PAMPARS (Pambansang Pagasa ng mga Anak ni Rizal) were also armed with rifles. The group members
wore Blue denim uniforms with short pants. The Japanese Military authorities in Pililia, Rizal province organized the
group in 1943.
- The most dreadful one, THE MAKAPILI (Makabayan: Katipunan ng mga Filipino) was headed by General
Artemio Ricarte, Benigno Ramos, and Pio Duran. This group was organized after the American A liberation Forces had
already entered the Philippine territory, Makapili was formally launched in Manila on December 8, 1944, amidst a gala
ceremony attended by General Yamashita, President Laurel, Ricarte, Ramos, Duran and other high officials.

General McArthur's Return

- On October 20, 1944, the Leyte beaches were severely bombarded by American Bombers and Fighter planes. The
New P-38 fighter plane had proven its power in air battles.
- The Americans was again dominated the Philippine skies. The path to leyte was cleared on the same day, paving the
way to General McArthur's Return together with his allied forces, landing at Palo Beach.
- Consequently, the American flag was raised at Hill 120 in Dulag, Leyte. In desperation, Japanese suicide pilots known
as KAMIKAZEE crashed their planes on the American warships at Leyte Gulf. The greatest Naval Battle was
fought from October 24 to 26.
- On December 21, 1944, President Laurel and his Cabinet moved to Baguio. The Japanese forces retreated to the
"Yamashita Line" a battlefront stretching along the jungle of Sierra Madre from Antipolo to Aparri.
- On January 9, 1945, the American landed in Lingayen Gulf. Other American troops landed in Zambales, Tagaytay and
Batangas.
- The US Sixth Army, with its Headquarters in Dagupan city had issued on February 2, a Letter of Instructions calling
for Coordination of all the Guerilla units in Central Luzon in combat operations against the enemy forces,
- The Japanese made their last stand in the historic city of Intramuros.
- By March 3, 1945, the Americans had won the war in Manila.
- Baguio was captured from the Japanese on April 26. By July 4, the Americans had officially completed liberating
Luzon.
- The US 6th infantry entered Kiangan, Mt. Province and engaged in a series of close fighting. The so called "Million
Dollor Hill" sheltered the 4th Area Army under the over al command of General Tomuyuki Yamashita, known as
"Tiger of Malaya" and his elite officer.
- After four months in its Northern Luzon drive, the Buenavista regiment's task was finally ended. Japan finally
announced through radio broadcast its final surrender on August 14, after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
on August 6 and August 9 respectively.

Yamashita's Trial & Execution

- Yamashita went on trial in October 1945 before U.S. War Crimes Commission and was Convicted of War atrocities
on December 7.
- On the early morning of February 23, 1946, Yamashita was Hanged on a Tree on top of a hill overlooking The U.P.
College of Agriculture in Los Banos, Laguna.
- The U.S. Army Police Unit headed by Colonel Charles Haldermann carried the execution order.
- It was on September 2, 1945, that Japan formally accepted defeat upon signing Treaty on Board USS Missouri at
Tokyo Bay. Ten days after the formal surrender, Laurel was arrested by the US Army. He was confined in Sugamo
prison for almost a year and returned to Manila in July 1946.
- Negotiation for the surrender of Yamashita and his troops began after the Filipino officers 2nd Lt. Macario A.
Abarillo, leading a patrol of the 15th infantry combat company had penetrated into the enemy lines northwest of
Kiangan.
- From kiangan, the Japanese officers and their respective staff were brought down by trucks to Bagabag, Nueva
Viscaya and flown to Luna La Union and finally brought up in Jeeps to the American High Commissioners
Residence at Camp John Hay, Baguio City, for the formal Surrender.
- From Baguio, Yamashita and his Staff were brought to the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

Reestablishment of Commonwealth Government

- By July 4, 1945, the Commonwealth was reestablished in Manila.
- Roxas left the Nationalista Party and organized his own party, the Liberal Party. He took many Nationalistas with him.

- The election of April 23, 1946, resulted in the victory of the Liberal Party with Roxas and Quirino as the elected
President and Vice President respectively.
- On May 6, 1946, Roxas was inaugurated as the Last President of the Philippine Commonwealth. The inaugural
ceremonies was held on the grounds of Legislative Building.

Unit XII – Brief Constitutional History

TOPIC
1. The Malolos Constitution;
2. The 1935 Constitution;
3. The 1973 Constitution;
4. The freedom Constitution, and
5. The present (1987) Constitution.
1. The Malolos Constitution
a) The Philippine Revolution of 1896.
b) Proclamation of Philippine Independence, at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
c) Revolutionary Congress convened at Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan on September 15, 1898. Three (3) drafts
were submitted, namely: The drafts of Pedro Paterno, Apolinario Mabini and Felipe Calderon.
d) The Calderon proposal was reported to the Congress on October 8, 1898, and the Congress approved the proposed
Constitution on November 29, 1898.
e) President Emilio Aguinaldo approve the same on December 23, 1898. Congress ratified it on January 20, 1899.
f) Aguinaldo promulgated the Constitution the following day, along with the establishment of the Philippine Republic
on January 21, 1899.
g) This was the first Republican Constitution in Asia, framed by revolutionary convention which included 40
lawyers, 16 physicians, 5 pharmacists, 2engineers and 1 priest. The Constitution recognized that sovereign power was
vested in the people, provided for a Parliamentary government, acknowledged separation of powers, and contained a
bill o rights.

2. The 1935 Constitution

a. Act No. 4125(May 26, 1934) of the Philippine Legislature, calling for the election of delegates to the Constitutional
Convention.
b. Election of delegates: July 10, 1934; Constitutional Convention inaugural: July 30, 1934.
c. The draft of the Constitution approved by the Constitutional Convention on February 8, 1935: brought to
Washington on March 18, 1935, and on March 23, 1935, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt certified that the
draft Constitution conformed substantially with the Tydings-McDuffie Law.
d) The Constitution was ratified in a Plebiscite held on May 14, 1935.
e) The Philippine Commonwealth inaugurated on November 15, 1935; full independence was attained with the
inauguration of the (third) Philippine Republic on July 4, 1946.
3. The 1973 Constitution
a) Resolution of both Houses (RBH) No.1, March 16, 1967, increasing the membership of the House of representative
from 120 to 180.
b) RBH No. 2, MARCH 16, 1967 calling for a Constitutional Convention to revise the 1935 constitution.
c) Election of Delegates: November 10, 1970, Constitutional Convention was inaugurated June 1, 1971.
d) Declaration of Martial law: September 21, 1972, under Presidential proclamation 1081;
e) Constitutional Convention approved the Draft Constitution on November 29, 1972.
f) On December 31, 1972, Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 86, organizing the Citizens Assemblies, to be
consulted on certain public issues; and
g) On January 5, 1973, issued Presidential Decree No. 86-A, calling the Citizens Assemblies to meet on January 10 -
15, 1973 to vote on certain questions, among them: "Do you approve of the New Constitution?" And "Do you still
want a Plebiscite to be called to ratify the New Constitution?"
h) On January 17, 1973, President Marcos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1102, declaring the New
Constitution had been ratified by the Citizens Assemblies, and "has been thereby come into force and effect.

4. Proclamation of the Freedom Constitution

a) Proclamation No. 1, FEBRUARY 25, 1986, announcing that President Corazon C. Aquino and Vice-President
Laurel were assuming power.
b) Executive Order No. 1 (February 28, 1986).
c) Proclamation No. 3, March 25, 1986, announced the Promulgation of the Provisional (Freedom) Constitution,
pending the drafting and ratification of New Constitution. It adopted certain provision of the 1973 Constitution,
contained additional articles on the Executive Department, on government organization and on existing laws. It also
provided to the calling of Constitutional Commission to be composed of 30-50 members, to draft a New
Constitution.

5. The 1987 Constitution

Adoption of the Constitution:
a) Proclamation No. 9, creating the Constitutional Commission of 50 members.
b) Approval of draft Constitution by the Constitutional Commission on October 15, 1986.
c) Plebiscite held on February 2, 1987.
d) Proclamation No. 58, Proclaiming the ratification of the Constitution.
e) Effectivity of the Constitution: February 2, 1987. the date of the Plebiscite when the people ratified the
Constitution.