Silliman University

Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Topic 7: Commonwealth of the Philippines

The 1935 Constitution. In the first excerpt, the 1935 Constitution established the Commonwealth
Government's legal framework. It took ten years for the US to grant the Philippines independence. In
1940, the 1935 Constitution was revised to eliminate the unicameral legislature and replace it with a
bicameral body. I am shocked because only men can vote.

Commonwealth Act. No. 34. In the second excerpt, it is about women’s right of suffrage. Women
who meet specified voting conditions can vote in plebiscites under Article 5 of the 1935 Constitution.
90% of women, or 447, 725, voted in favor of suffrage, clearing the path for women to participate
actively in Philippine politics. It saddens me because they reall look down on women.

Commonwealth Act. 44. In the third excerpt, Manuel Quezon as President proclaimed a program
of social justice in 1936. From 1936-1941, the Commonwealth government enacted a number of laws for
the protection of peasants and workers. One of these was the Commonwealth Act No. 444 or the Eight-
Hour Labor Law. It’s good to know that workers in the past were given importance.

Inauguration of Commonwealth. In this exceprt, The 1922 legislative elections were a watershed
moment in Philippine politics. This is especially true in light of the internal strife that resulted in the
Partido Nacionalista's split. Sergio Osmea in the House of Representatives and Manuel Quezon in the
Senate were primarily at odds. I am confused with the speech of Manuel Quezon because he said “My
loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins” then, if his party didn’t split he will not
be loyal to the Philippines?

Speech of Senate President Manuel Quezon accepting his nomination as President of the
Philippines, July 20, 1935. In this excerpt, among the problems addressed in his speech were the
economy, education, infrastructure, the United States, foreign relations, and the country's independence.
These difficulties are highlighted in this extract, warning that they could be utilized to stoke public
dissatisfaction. The Sakdal rebellion of that year clearly demonstrated this issue of social unrest. Quezon
and Osmena were fierce opponents for the passage of a law in the United States Congress recognizing the
independence of the Philippines. A bit disappointed because America was catered like, they are our
colonizers.

“Commonwealth Act No. 1 An Act to Provide for the National Defense of the Philippines,
Penalizing Certain Violations Thereof, Appropriating Funds Therefor, And for other purposes.” This
excepr is about The National Defense Act of 1935 was one of the first laws approved by the Philippine
Commonwealth after it was established by the National Assembly. The law stipulated that Filipino men
between the ages of 21 and 50 could be drafted. The Philippine Military Academy would prepare
candidates for permanent commissions in the Regular Force. So, this is where the Philippine Miliary
Academy started and a bit of ROTC.
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Annual Report of the United States High Commissioner to the Philippine Islands Commissioner
to the Philippine Islands Covering the Calendar Year 1935-1936. This is excerpt is about by the time of
the Commonwealth, the highest rank an American official held in the Philippines was that of High
Commissioner to the Philippine Islands. This is an excerpt from the annual report delivered to the United
States government by Frank Murphy, the first High Commissioner. The passage below is from a report on
the October 3, 1936, Sakdal rally in Manila.The Manila event was part of a series of Sakdal Party
activities. The Sakdal Party, founded by Benigno Ramos in 1930, was a populist movement that promoted
Philippine nationalism and independence, as well as agricultural socialism. The majority of their activity
took place in Central Luzon provinces like as Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. Do
we really need to report what happened to our country everyday? It’s annoying.

Letter of President Quezon on Three-point Policy for Mindanao and Sulu, October 8, 1937. The
excerpt is about Jorge Vargas (1890–1980) was a lawyer and diplomat who served as executive secretary
in Quezon's government from 1936 until 1941. This paper was drafted in response to a letter submitted by
Sultan Ombra Amilbangsa to President Quezon. Ambilbagsa expressed reservations about the
Commonwealth government's policies governing its management of Mindanao and Sulu.

“The Significance of the Women Suffrage Referendum” in Encarnacion Alzona: An Anthology.

This excerpt is about Encarnacion Alzona (1895-2001) was a renowned historian and educator in the
Philippines. In 1985, she was named a Philippine National Scientist in History. In this article, she argues
for a suffrage referendum that allows women to vote. Alzona, the first woman to earn a doctorate in
history, focused on women's education. It affirmed the intrinsic equality of Filipino women to males
notwithstanding their lack of education and political rights. Her writings, like this one in The Woman's
World, helped promote women's suffrage. Filipino women got the vote in 1937. Yes, women deserves
more.

It is a privilege to read the 1935 Consitution some of the laws are still the same and the preamble
today is a bit paraphrase. I am annoyed because America were always on the scene. I feel nothing about
Manuel Quezon but I can research about him. Also, one of the problem here is that male can freely vote
and women doesn’t have a righ of suffrage. That is really a patriarchal society, women deserves more.

This topis is a must-read because it is about from 1935 until 1946, the Commonwealth
government was established by the Tydings-McDuffie Act as a transitional administration in preparation
for the country's complete independence. During this time period, the Americans granted the Filipinos the
authority and responsibility to conduct their own affairs. The Commonwealth, led by Manuel Quezon as
its first President, addressed the country's economic and social concerns during that time period.

This topic of the compilation contains the 1935 Constitution, which established the legal
framework and fundamental principles of government; Quezon's speeches during his presidency; and key
Commonwealth laws enacted in response to pressing national needs at the time, such as the National
Defense Act, the Eight Hour Labor Law, and Women's Suffrage.
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Teachers and students will gain a better grasp of the Philippines' economic and sociopolitical
circumstances during the Commonwealth period as a result of these papers.

As a Political Science, student it is important to study history on politics because it can be use as
basis if there is any topic that somehow relatable to this topic.
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

RUBRIC IN BOOK REVIEW FOR GE 2

NAME: BIANCA JOYCE M. FLORES COURSE: AB POLSCI-1 DATE SUBMITTED: 12-05-21

Element Excellent/Advanced

Draws in the reader with

A Hook
a “hook” and describes
the value of the selected
readings

First sentence listing title

Essential
and author is attention-
Selected
getting and provides
Readings
information in addition
Information
to title and author.
Includes genre and how
it fits.
The most important
characters are
mentioned in the review
and described.
Relationships between
characters are clear.

Content and Content is

Development comprehensive,
accurate, and persuasive.
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Major points are stated

clearly and are well
supported. Responses
are excellent, timely and
address assignment
including course
concepts. Content and
purpose of the writing
are clear.

Your Praise and Review demonstrates

Critique strong analytical skills
and insightful dialogue
with the selected
readings

The review provides a

Your
clear recommendation
Recommendatio
statement with strong
n
reasons/support. The the
selected readings is
recommended to specific
types of readers.

Self Rating

Review has no errors;

conforms to the
standards of college level
writing
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Concluding Notes Includes thorough

assessment of the
selected readings

usefulness - Describes
the significance of this
work to historians and
Political Scientists

Effort The selected readings

topic report is completed
in a thoughtful and
reflective manner by the
student; quality effort is
evident.

Completion of All elements of the

selected readings selected readings topic
topic report report review template
are completed
thoroughly and
thoughtfully.

Submission to Before the deadline

SOUL

4
 Silliman University
Dumaguete City
College of Arts and Sciences

Sub totals

40

OVER ALL SCORE 40 ( Kindly encircle the appropriate score HPS 40 points)