FINALS
MODULE 7: SOCIAL, POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL
ISSUES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
The Evolution of the Philippine
Constitution
 The constitution is defined as a set of fundamental
principles or established precedents according to
which a state or other organization is governed.
 The Constitution of the Philippines, the supreme
law of the Republic of the Philippines, has been in
effect since 1987. There were only three other
constitutions that have effectively governed the
country: the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution, the
1973 Constitution, and the 1986 Freedom
Constitution.
1897: Constitution of Biak-na-Bato
 The Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was the
provisionary Constitution of the Philippine
Republic during the Philippine Revolution, and
was promulgated by the Philippine
Revolutionary Government on 1 November
1897.
 The constitution, borrowed from Cuba, was
written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer in
Spanish, and later on, translated into Tagalog.
 The organs of the government under the
Constitution of Biak-na-Bato were:
1. The Supreme Council, which was vested with the
power of the Republic, headed by the president and
four department secretaries: the interior, foreign
affairs, treasury, and war;
2. The Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y Justicia
(Supreme Council of Grace and Justice), which was
given the authority to make decisions and affirm or
disprove the sentences rendered by other courts
and to dictate rules for the administration of justice;
and
3. The Asamblea de Representantes (Assembly
of Representatives), which was to be convened
after the revolution to create a new Constitution and
to elect a new Council of Government
andRepresentatives of the people.
1899 Malolos Constitution
 After the signing of the truce of Biak-na-Bato, the
Filipino revolutionary leaders accepted a payment
from Spain and went to exile in Hong Kong.
 Upon the defeat of the Spanish to the Americans in
the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May 1898, the United
States Navy. Transported Aguinaldo back to the
Philippines
 The newly reformed Philippine revolutionary forces
reverted to the control of Aguinaldo, and the
Philippine Declaration of Independence was issued
on 12 June 1898, together with several decrees
that formed the First Philippine Republic
The Dictatorial Government
 He was to establish a dictatorial form of government
because such a government was very effective in a
critical period such as what the country was
experiencing. (May 24, 1898)
 Aguinaldo made it that this form of government was
temporary in nature and that in the future the
people may modify.
Mabini Enters the Scene
 He was according to the informant, a bright young
man who could be relied upon times of crisis.
 Mabini was brought before Aguinaldo in his office.
He was thin and obviously sick. (paralyzed from the
waist down to his lower limbs)
 When Aguinaldo heard Mabini's voice, he smiled.
 Mabini's voice was firm, had a deep conviction and
it had a courage.
The Declaration of Independence
 On June 5, Aguinaldo ordered that June 12 be set
aside for the proclamation of independence. He
asked Julian Felipe to compose a march which
would be played during the independence day
ceremonies.
 It was entitled "Marcha Filipina Magdalo"
 June 12, The Philippine flag designed by Aguinaldo
and sewn in Hong Kong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo
was officially hoisted for the first time to the
accompaniment of the "Marcha Filipina".
 The Act of the Declaration of Independence was
prepared and read in Spanish by Ambrosio
Rianzares Bautista.
 The Declaration of Independence was signed by
ninety-eight persons.
 Colonel L. M. Johnson attended the ceremonies on
Dewey's behalf.
Local Government Reorganized
 Mabini prepared the decree of June 18 which
provided for the reorganization of the government in
provinces that were already taken from the
Spaniards.
 The right to vote was given to men of high moral
character and good standing in his community.
 They bwere the ones who would elect the town
head, the cabeza of each barrio, and the delegate
for justice and civil registry, and the delegate for
taxes and property.
 The town chief acted as president of the Assembly:
the cabeza of the poblacion or town proper as the
vice president; and the delegate for justice and civil
registry as the secretary.
 Mabini thought that there should be a Revolutionary
Congress.
 The main function of the Congress was "to
propose...measures concerning the preservation of
internal order and external security of these
islands."
The Revolutionary Government
 The decree, prepared by Mabini, changed the title
of the Chief of State from Dictator to President.
 The June 23 decree also provided for the creation
of Congress.
 Provinces which could not hold any election for
delegates to Congress, because they were still
under Spaniards, would be represented by
appointive delegates to Congress.
The Malolos Congress
 The Basilica of Barasoain was filled with people on
the morning of Sept.15, 1898.
 In the afternoon, the members of Congress elected
the following officers:
 President: Pedro A. Paterno
 Vice President: Benito Legarda
 First Secretary: Gregorio Araneta
 Second Secretary: Pablo Ocampo
 The Malolos Congress was elected, which selected
a commission to draw up a draft constitution on 17
September 1898, which was composed of wealthy
and educated men.
 In the decrees of June 18 & 23 was for the
Congress to function as an advisory group to the
President; he meant for it is not act as a lawmaking
body.
 The members of the congress were opposed to
Mabini.
 They believed that necessary to have a modern
constitution where Congress functioned as an equal
branch of executive charged with legislative power.
The Malolos Constitution
 Mabini prepared a draft of the constitution called
Constitutional Plan of the Philippine Republic and
submitted it to Congress.
 Felipe G. Calderon prepared his version of the
constitution with the advice of Cayetano Arellano.
 The final version of the Constitution was
promulgated by Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899.
 The document they came up with, approved by the
Congress on 29 November 1898, and promulgated
by Aguinaldo on 21 January 1899, was titled The
Political Constitution of 1899 and written in
Spanish.
 The constitution has 39 articles divided into 14
titles, with eight articles of transitory provisions,
and a final additional article.
 The document was patterned after the Spanish
Constitution of 1812, with influences from the
charters of Belgium, Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua,
Costa Rica, and Guatemala, and the French
Constitution of 1793.
 According to Felipe Calderon, main author of
the constitution, these countries were studied
because they shared similar social, political,
ethnological, and governance conditions with
the Philippines.
1. Assembly or the legislative branch was more
powerful than the executive or the judicial branch.
2. It provided that when the Assembly was not in
session, a permanent commission, composed of
members of the Assembly would sit as a legislative
body.
3. The Constitution established a unicameral
legislature.
 Prior constitutional projects in the Philippines
also influenced the Malolos Constitution,
namely;
1. The Kartilya and the Sanggunian Hukuman,
the charter of laws and morals of the
Katipunan written by Emilio Jacinto in 1896;
2. The Biak-na-Bato Constitution of 1897
planned by Isabelo Artacho;
3. Mabini's Constitutional Program of the
Philippine Republic of 1898;
4. The provisional constitution of Mariano
Ponce in 1898 that followed the Spanish
constitutions; and
5. The autonomy projects of Paterno in 1898.
  Primary Source: Preamble of the Political
Constitution of 1899.
 The form of government, according to Title Il, Article
4 is to be popular, representative, alternative, and
responsible, and shall exercise three distinct
powers—legislative, executive, and judicial. The
legislative power was vested in a unicameral body
called the Assembly of Representatives, members
of which are elected for terms of four years.
 Executive power was vested in the president and
elected by a constituent assembly of the Assembly
of Representatives and special representatives.
The president will serve a term of four years without
re-election. There was no vice president, and in
case of a vacancy, a president was to be selected
by the constituent assembly
 The 1899 Malolos Constitution was never enforced
due to the ongoing war.
 The Philippines was effectively a territory of the
United States upon the signing of the Treaty of
Paris between Spain and the United States,
transferring sovereignty of the Philippines on 10
December 1898
The First Philippine Republic
 January 2, 1899 reorganized Aguinaldo's Cabinet.
 President of the Cabinet and Secretary of Foreign
Affairs: Apolinario Mabini
 Secretary of the Interior: Teodoro Sandico
 Secretary of War: Baldomero Aguinaldo
 Secretary of Finance: Mariano Trias
 Secretary of Welfare, Public Instruction, Public
Works, Communications, Agriculture, Industry and
Commerce: Gracio Gonzaga
Education
 Aguinaldo included an item for education amounting
to P35,000.
 The curriculum included subjects such as Latin
grammar, universal geography, English, French,
history, mathematics, physics, chemistry,
philosophy, and natural laws.
 In October 1898, a decree was issued creating the
Literary University of the Philippines.
 The subjects taught were medicine and surgery,
civil and criminal law, pharmacy, and notariat.
Periodicals of the Revolution
 The Revolutionary Government founded it's official
organ, El Heraldo de la Revolucion, which came out
on Sept.29, 1898.
 Later, it's name changed to Heraldo Filipino then to
Indice Official, and finally to Gaceta de Filipinas.
 The most famous of these newspapers was a La
Independencia, it's editor and part-owner was Gen.
Antonio Luna.
 Great Filipino writers in Spanish wrote in it's
columns like Cecilio Apostol, Fernando Ma.
Guerrero, Jose Palma, Rafael, Epifanio de los
Santos, Jose Abreu, Mariano V. del Rosario,
Salvador V. del Rosario, Rosa Sevilla, and
Florentina Arellano.
 Other nationalistic newspapers that were circulated
were La Republica Filipina in Mandaluyong, La
Libertad in Manila, Ang Kaibigan nang Bayan in
Malolos, Columnas Volantes in Lipa, Batangas. La
Federacion in Cabatuan, Iloilo, La Revolucion in
Jaro, Iloilo, La Oportunidad in Tagbilaran, Bohol
and many others.
SCHURMAN COMMISSION 1899
 President Mckinley sent the 1st commission to the
Philippines headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman.
 "Philippines was not yet ready for independence"
 Recommended a bicameral legislature and that
schools be established.
A. The Taft Commission
 Headed by Judge William Howard Taft.
 Members:
 Luke E. Wright
 Henry C. Ide
 Dean C. Worcester
 Bernard Moses
 Establish a civil government in the Philippines.
 To train the Filipinos in self-government.
 Guided by a set of instructions issued to it on April
7, 1900 by McKinley.
B. Civil Government
 Inaugurated on July 4, 1901.
 William Howard Taft as the first Civil Governor.
 In 1905: Governor-General.
 Gov. Taft exercised both executive and legislative
functions.
 His policy "the Philippines for the Filipinos" made
him popular among the Filipinos.
 Taft served until December 1903.
TAFT COMMISSION 1900
 President Mckinley sent the 2nd commission to the
Philippines headed by William Taft. It was both an
executive and legislative body.
 Created statutes Established judicial and taxation
system Established municipal governments
Sedition Act of 1901
 Americans sought support from the Illustrados
 Pro-independence movements were crushed.
 Displaying the Philippine flag was a crime
 Oath of loyalty was required for everyone.
C. Philippine Bill of 1902
 also known as the Cooper Act.
 Sponsored by U.S. Representative Henry A.
Cooper of Wisconsin.
 On July 1, 1902, the Philippine Bill of 1902 was
passed by Congress. It created the Philippine
Assembly.
D. Philippine Assembly
 On July 30, 1907, the first free national elections
were held in the Philippines for members of all the
Filipino lawmaking body.
 Hundreds of candidates campaigned under many
new political parties.
 80 delegates won, most of them came from the
Nacionalista Party.
 Inaugurated on October 16, 1907 at the Manila
Grand Opera House.
Sergio Osmeña: Speaker
Manuel L. Quezon: Majority Floor Leader
The Philippine Assembly
 Lower house represented by Filipinos.
 Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña won the first
election.
 Each province was represented in the Assembly
 Modern Day equivalent of the Congress
G. The Jones Law of 1916
 Signed by President Woodrow Wilson on August
29, 1916.
 Also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act.
 Sponsored by U.S. Representative William Atkinson
Jones of Virginia.
Jones Act of 1916
 Philippine Assembly replaced by House of
Representatives
 Philippine Commission replaced by Philippine
Senate
 Governor General was in charge of the executive
branch
 On October 3, 1916, elections were held for the
new Philippine Legislature.
 It was formally inaugurated on October 16, 1916.
 Sergio Osmeña was elected Speaker of the House
of Representatives.
 Manuel L. Quezon became President of the Senate.
 Two acts of the United States Congress were
passed that may be considered to have qualities of
constitutionality.
1. The Philippine Organic Act of 1902, the first organic
law for the Philippine Islands that provided for the
creation of a popularly elected Philippine Assembly.
2. The Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, commonly
referred to as "Jones Law," which modified the
structure of the Philippine government through the
removal of the Philippine Commission, replacing it
with a Senate that served as the upper house and
its members elected by the Filipino voters, the first
truly elected national legislature.
 In 1932, with the efforts of the Filipino
independence mission led by Sergio Osmeña and
Manuel Roxas, the United States Congress passed
the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act with the promise of
granting Filipinos' independence.
I. The OSROX Mission liberation, the Philippines was declared an
independent republic on 4 July 1946.
 The law's provisions on trade relations were
disadvantageous to the Philippines.

 He objected the provision limiting the immigration of

Filipinos to the U.S.

 He also objected to the retention by the U.S. of

military bases in the Philippines.

 OSROX claimed that the Hare-Hawes Cutting Act

was the best independence law that the Filipinos
could obtain from the U.S.

 On October 17, 1933, the legislature rejected the

Hare Hawes-Cutting Act.

 The U.S. Congress enacted a new independence

bill sponsored by Senator Milliard Tydings and
Representative John McDuffie.

 Signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on

March 24, 1934.

Tydings-Mcduffie Act of 1934

 Established the Philippine commonwealth.

 Philippine independence shall be granted after 10
years.
 A constitution (basic laws) shall be drafted for the
Philippines
 US in charge of foreign affairs and military forces
 By 1934, another law, the Tydings-McDuffie Act,
also known as the Philippine Independence Act,
was passed by the United States Congress that
provided authority and defined mechanisms for the
establishment of a formal constitution by a
constitutional convention. The members of the
convention were elected and held their first meeting
on 30 July 1934, with Claro M. Recto unanimously
elected as president.
To improve the economy and living conditions of his people,
Marcos hired gifted young experts known as technocrats
and in the first year of his administration, Marcos achieved
the following:
1. Greater production of rice by promoting the cultivation of
"miracle rice", the construction of more irrigation systems,
and giving financial assistance to the farmers.
2. Effective tax collection and securing loans from the IMF
and the government agencies which produced surplus and
increased our Gross National Product (GNP).
3. Implemented counter insurgency measures that
significantly reduced the NPA and criminal acts in the
country.

4. In 1964, signed the Vietnam Aid Law to which our country

 The draft of the constitution was approved by the
constitutional convention on 8 February 1935 and
ratified by then U.S. President Franklin B.
Roosevelt on 25 March 1935. Elections were held
in September 1935 and Manuel L. Quezon was
elected President of the Commonwealth.
would send military support to aid the United States in its
war in Vietnam.
5. Held the Manila Summit Conference in October 1966,
attended by the heads of state of Australia, South Korea,
New Zealand, South Vietnam, Thailand and America.

 The Commonwealth was briefly interrupted by the The Filipino people were satisfied by his performance
events of the World War Il, with the Japanese during his first term and in 1969 elections, Marcos won his
occupying the Philippines. Afterward, upon second term. He was the only President of our country
to win re-election unlike his predecessors who ran for re-
election and lost.
Unfortunately, his second term was commenced by
massive economic problems and opposition from radical
groups and new-emerged political enemies. Marcos
extended his term beyond the 8-year constitutional
declaration. His political maneuvering finally took the
government through military means.
1973 Constitutional Authoritarianism
 In 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected
president, and in 1967, Philippine Congress passed
a resolution calling for a constitutional convention to
change the 1935 Constitution.
 Marcos won the re-election in 1969, in a bid
boosted by campaign overspending and use of
government funds
✔ Elections of the delegates to the constitutional
convention were held on 20 November 1970,
✔ The Constitutional convention began formally on 1 June
1971, with former President Carlos P. Garcia being elected
as convention president.
✔ Unfortunately, he died, and was succeeded by another
former president, Diosdado Macapagal.
 The debates in the convention focused mainly on
the issue of shifting the form of government from
presidential to parliamentary system.
 Pro Marcos delegates mandated parliamentary
form.
 Under the 1935 constitution, the tenure of the
president was limited to two terms or a maximum of
8 years
Terrible incidents which were enough reasons for President
Marcos to put the country into Martial Law:
1. The Bombing of Plaza Miranda (August 21, 1971)
2. Demonstrations and rallies conducted by militant
students, intellectuals and religious groups. One
shocking event occured on the night of January 30,
1970 in Mendiola causing the death of five
students.
3. The bombings of public properties and private
residences which included the U.S. Embassy,
Manila Water System in San Juan Manila, the
Manila City Hall, the Constitutional Convention and
a department store in Carriedo Manila whick killed
an innocent customer in August 1972.
4. Alleged assassination attempts on President
Marcos and other key national leaders such as the
residence of Congressman Eduardo Cojuangco and
Senator Jose Roy and the car ambush of Defense
Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile resulting the death
of his driver.
September 21, 1972 - Marcos secretly signed
Proclamation No. 1081 placing the entire archipelago under
Martial Law.
 Before the convention finished its work, Martial Law
was declared.
✔ Marcos cited a growing communist insurgency as reason
for the Martial Law, which was provided for in the 1935
Constitution. Some delegates of the ongoing constitutional
convention were placed behind bars and others went into
hiding or were Voluntary exiled
✔ With Marcos as dictator, the direction of the convention
turned with accounts that the President himself dictated
some provisions of the Constitution, manipulating the
document to be able to hold power for as long as he could.
✔ On 29 November 1972, the convention approved its
proposed constitution.
 The constitution was supposed to introduce a
parliamentary-style government, where legislative
power was vested in a unicameral National
Assembly, with members being elected to a six-
year term
 President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No.
73 setting the date of the plebiscite to ratify or reject
the proposed constitution on 30 November 1973.
 This plebiscite was postponed later on since
Marcos feared that the public might vote to reject
the constitution.
 The situation in the 1980s had been very turbulent.
As Marcos amassed power, discontent has also
been burgeoning.
 The tide turned swiftly when in August 1983,
Benigno Aquino Jr., opposition leader and regarded
as the most credible alternative to President
Marcos, was assassinated while under military
escort immediately after his return from exile in the
United States.
 A small group of military rebels attempted to stage
a coup, but failed; however, this triggered what
came to be known as the EDSA People Power
Revolution of 1986, as people from all walks of life
spilled onto the streets. Under pressure from the
United States of America, who used to support
Marcos and his Martial Law, the Marcos family fled
into exile
1987 Philippine Constitution after Martial Law

 President Corazon Aquino's government had three
options regarding the constitution: revert to the
1935 Constitution, retain the 1973 Constitution and
be granted the power to make reforms or start a
new and break from the vestiges of a disgraced
dictatorship.
 In March 1986, President Aquino proclaimed a
transitional constitution to last for a year while a
Constitutional Commission drafted a permanent
constitution. This transitional constitution, called the
Freedom Constitution, maintained many provisions
of the old one, including in rewritten form the
presidential right to rule by decree.
The Administration and Accomplishments of
President Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)
February 25, 1986- Corazon Aquino was sworn into office
as the seventh President of the Republic. The first thing she
did was the restoration of democracy by appointing a new
set of Cabinet members, freeing all political prisoners and
proclaiming a "freedom constitution" to give way for a new
path of governing the country.
 In 1986, a constitutional convention was created,
composed of 48 members appointed by President
Aquino from varied backgrounds and
representations.
 The convention drew up a permanent constitution,
largely restoring the setup abolished by Marcos in
1972, but with new ways to keep the president in
check, a reaction to the experience of Marcos's
rule. The new constitution was officially adopted on
2 February 1987
Attempts: Changing of Constitution
 Changing the Constitution is a perennial issue that
crops up, and terms such as "Cha-Cha," "Con-Ass,"
and "Con-Con" are regularly thrown around. Article
WII of the 1987 Constitution provides for three ways
by which the Constitution can be changed.
 Congress (House of Representatives and the
Senate) may convene as a Constituent Assembly
(or Con-Ass) to propose amendments to the
Constitution. It is not clear, however, if Congress is
to vote as a single body or separately. How the
Congress convenes as a Con-Ass is also not
provided for in the Constitution.
Attempts to Amend or Change the 1987
Constitution
 The 1987 Constitution provided for three methods
by which the Constitution can be amended, all
requiring ratification by a majority vote in a national
referendum. These methods were Constituent
Assembly, Constitutional Convention, and People's
Initiative.
 The second effort happened in 1997, when a group
called PIRMA hoped to gather signatures from
voters to change the constitution through a people's
initiative. Many were against this, including then
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who brought
the issue to court and won—with the Supreme
Court judging that a people's initiative cannot push
through without an enabling law.
 The succeeding president, Joseph Ejercito Estrada,
formed a study commission to investigate the
issues surrounding charter change focusing on the
economic and judiciary provisions of the
constitution. This effort was also blocked by
different entities.
 After President Estrada was replaced by another
People Power and succeeded by his Vice
President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, then House
Speaker Jose de Venecia endorsed constitutional
change through a Constituent Assembly, which
entails a two-thirds vote of the House to propose
amendments or revision to the Constitution. This
initiative was also not successful since the term of
President Arroyo was mired in controversy and
scandal, including the possibility of extending her
term as president, which the Constitution does not
allow.
 The administration of the succeedin President
Benigno Aquino Ill had no marked interest in charter
change, except those emanating from different
members of Congress, including the Speaker of the
House, Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who attempted to
introduce amendments to the Constitution that
concern economic provisions that aim toward
liberalization. This effort did not see the light of day.
Federalism

Federalism in the Philippines was supported by
President Duterte in the 2016 presidential elections,
saying that it will evenly distribute wealth in the
Philippines instead of concentrating it in Manila, the
capital of the country
 As a form of government, a central governing
authority and constituent political units
constitutionally share sovereignty. Applied to the
Philippines, the country will be broken into
autonomous regions. Each region will be further
divided into local government units.
Philippines Current System
• Our current system is that of a Unitary Form, where
administrative powers and resources are concentrated in
the national government. Mayors and governors would have
to rely on allocations provided to them.

MODULE 8: PHILIPPINE HISTORY
AND POLITICS &
GOVERNANCE
Origins of States
 ❖ Divine Right Theory – is the belief that God gave
Kings the right to rule.
✔ it holds that the state is of divine creation and the
ruler is ordained by God to govern the people.
 Necessity or Force Theory (conquest theory)– it
maintains that states must have been created through
force, by some great warriors who imposed their will
upon the weak. (Battle of the Fittest).
 Paternalistic Theory – the government is a figurative
father in which the government’s role and justification is
by way of being a method of caring for and ensuring
good conduct by the people within its area of
jurisdiction.
✔ It attributed the origin of states to the enlargement of
the family which remained under the authority of the
father and mother. By natural stages, the family grew
into a clan, then developed into a tribe which broadened
into a nation, and the nation became a state.
Social Contract Theory
✔ The agreement among individuals by which society
becomes organized and invested with the right to
secure mutual protection and welfare.
✔ Individuals waived their liberty or rights for protection.
✔ It asserts that the early states must have been
formed by deliberate and voluntary compact among the
people to form a society and organized government for
their common good
State distinguish from Government
 The government is only the agency through which
the state articulates its will.
 A state cannot exist without a government, but it is
possible to have a government without a state.
 A government may change, its form may change,
but the state, as long as its essential element are
present, remains the same.
Purpose and Necessity of Government
 Advancement of the public welfare
✔ Protection of society and its members
✔ Advancement of the physical, economic, social, and
cultural well-being of the people.
 Consequence of absence; Anarchy, disunity and
chaos.
Functions of the Government
1. Protect and regulate the sustainable natural
resources of the land
2. Foreign Relations
3. Develop business strengths and potentials
4. Determine and enforce civil laws of property and
conduct
5. Implement and regulate fair and responsible
business practices
6. Provide public goods and services for the well-
being of the community as a whole
Forms of Government
 Monarchy - a form of government in which the
sovereignty or power resides in one person or ruler.
Absolute Monarchy – the ruler exercises absolute
sovereign powers. He is the chief executive, the legislator
and the judge at the same time.
Constitutional Monarchy or Limited Monarchy – the ruler
rules in accordance or must guide by the body of rules and
customs which are generally embodied in a written
constitution
Aristocracy and Oligarchy – a form of the government in
which the supreme power resides only to a few persons;
whose privileges arises from birth, wealth, superior, wisdom
or priestly functions. It can also be called as government by
elite of the society
 Communism – refers to the communal ownership
of all property.
 De Facto – government acquired by force and
used from the legally constituted power and
authority.
 De Jure – it is a government by right, lawful and
legitimate, with the general support of the people
and its recognition of supremacy.
 Dictatorship – the power is centralized in the
hands of a single individual and exercise power and
authority characterized by the development and its
political ideology.
 Socialist – can also be considered as a semi-
democratic system and a touch of communism
wherein they control the big companies for the
welfare and interest of their economic activities.
 Parliamentary – the government is centralized,
conferring to the legislature all the power and
authority of the State. The Chief Executive is only
titular in function; members of the Cabinet are also
members of the legislature and the ruling political
party in power.
  Authoritarian System – a way of governance
that recognizes some civil rights of the people.
 Totalitarian System – a way of governance in
which people have no rights. Their civil rights
extended to them only as a promise
 Democracy – a form of government in which the
ruling power belongs to the majority party. It is the
government of the people, for the people and by the
people. A country that has a government which has
been elected by the people of the land. It is a
system in which everyone is equal before law and
has the right to vote, make decision etc.
Kinds of Democracy
 Direct – the people govern themselves directly
and not indirectly through choses representatives.
 Representative – the people select or choose
somebody to represent the interests of another, the
chosen representative derives all the powers,
directly or indirectly from the majority of the people
and is administered by person holding their offices
during pleasures, for limited period of time, or
during good behavior
Definition of State
 A community of persons more or less numerous,
permanently occupying a definite portion of territory,
having a government of their own to which the great
body of inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying
freedom from external control
Elements of State
People – the first and most important element of a state.
Territory – fixed portion of the surface of the earth land
and water inhabited by the people of the state. – includes
not only the land over which the jurisdiction of the state
extends, but also the rivers and lakes therein, a certain area
of the sea, upon its coasts and the air space above it.
Government – is an agency through the will of the state is
formulated, expressed and carried out.
a. The machinery of the state;
b. The regulator and instrumentality of the state for
authorities that obeyed by its people;
c. The implementer of the state policies for the welfare
of the people.
Sovereignty – the supreme power of the state to
command and enforce obedience to its will from people
within its jurisdiction.
d. Free from external control
Three inherent powers of the State
Police Power – the power of the state to enact laws and
regulations in promoting the general welfare of the people
and the common good in relation to the basic human rights
of a person.
• Example; Statues and Ordinance
✔ Must be in line to the interest of the public and its
purpose should not be oppressive on individuals.
Power of Eminent Domain – it is the power of the state
to take private property for public use upon payment of a
just compensation.
 Article 3 Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution;
 Who may exercise it?
a. Congress of the Philippines;
b. President of the Philippines;
c. Local Legislative;
d. Public Corporations;
e. Quasi- Public Corporations.
Power of Taxation – it is the power of the state to
impose and collect taxes for public purposes.
✔ The state imposes taxation to attain its purpose and
objectives.
The Government of the Philippines
in Transition
The Pre- Spanish Government
 The Unit of Government- prior to the arrival of
the Spaniards, the Philippines was composed of
settlement or villages, each called balangay, a
Malayan word meaning “boat”
 Datu- Each barangay was rulled by a chief called
datu in some places, and rajah, sultan, or haji in
other. He was the chief executive, law giver, chief
justice, and military head. In the performance of his
duties, however, he was assisted usually by a
council of elders (maginoos/pantas) which served
as his advisers. One could be a datu chiefly by
inheritance, wisdom, wealth or physical prowess.
 Social Classes in barangay– the people of the
barangay were divided into four classes, namely :
maharlika, timawa, aliping namamahay and aliping
sagiguilid.
 Early Laws- a legal system already existed in the
Philippines even in pre-colonial times. The early
Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws.
 Comparison with other ancient
governments- it can be said that the laws of the
barangay were generally fair. The system of
government. Although defective was not so bad
considering the conditions in other lands in the age
during which it flourished
Government during the Spanish Period
• Spain’s title to the Philippines- it was based on the
discovery made by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521,
consummated by its conquest by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
45 years later and long possession for almost four
centuries, until it was terminated in 1898, when by the
Treaty of Paris, the Philippines was ceded to the United
States.
• Spanish colonial government- From 1565 to 1821,
the Philippines was directly governed by the King of Spain
through Mexico because of the distance of the Philippines
from Spain. From 1821 to 1898, the Philippines was ruled
directly from Spain. The Council in Spain responsible for the
administration of the Philippines was the Council of indies.
In 1837, it was abolished and legislation for the Philippines
was temporarily performed by the Council of Ministers.
From 1863, the Ministry of Ultramar (colonies) exercised
general powers of supervision over the Philippine affairs.
✔ A basic principle introduced by Spain to the Philippines
was the union of the church and the state
• Government in the Philippines unitary- the
government which Spain established in the Philippines was
centralized in structure and national in scope. The
barangays were consolidated into towns (pueblos) each
headed by the governadorcillo (little governor), popularly
called Kapitan, and the towns into provinces, each headed
by a governor who represented the Governor General in the
province. Cities governed under special charters were also
created. Each of these cities had an ayuntamiento or
cabildo (city council) .
• The Governor-General- the powers of the government
were actually exercised by the Governor-General who
resided in Manila. He was “GovernorGeneral”, “Captain-
General” and “vice-royal patron.” as a Governor-General, he
had executive, administrative, legislative, and judicial
powers. As a Captain-General, he was Commander-in-
Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As the vice-
royal patron, he exercised 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.
• The Judiciary- the Royal Audiencia which was
established in 1583 was the Supreme Court of the
Philippines during the Spanish times. Its decision was final
except on certain cases of great importance which could be
appealed to the King of Spain. It also performed functions of
executive and legislative nature
• Evaluation of the Spanish government in the Philippines
Spain ruled the Philippines from 1571 to 1898. The
government which Spain established in the Philippines was
defective. It was a government for the Spaniards and not for
the Filipinos. The Spanish officials were often inefficient and
corrupt. The union of church and state produced serious
strifes between the ecclesiastical and civil authorities.
Equality before the law was denied to the Filipinos.
Government Revolutionary Era
Katipunan Government
 The Katipunan was secret society that
precipitated our glorious revolution on August
26, 1896. It was organized by
 Andres Bonifacio, who, together with a group of
Filipino patriots, signed the covenant of the
Katipunan with their own blood on July 7, 1892.
The Biak-Na-Bato Republic
 On Nov 1, 1897, a republic was established by
Gen. Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato. It had a
constitution which was to take effect for two years
only. It declared that the aim of the revolutions was
to “separation of the Philippines from the Spanish
monarchy and their formation into an independent
state.”
The Dictatorial Government
 Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war on April 25, 1989, Gen. Aguinaldo, in view of
the chaotic conditions in the country, established
the dictatorial government on May 23, 1898. The
most important achievement of the Dictatorial
Government were the proclamation of Philippine
Independence at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898
and the reorganization of local government.
Revolutionary Government
 On June 29, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo established the
Revolutionary government replacing the Dictatorial
Government with himself as President and a
Congress whose function was advisory and
ministerial. The decree making such change stated
that the aims of the new government were “to
struggle for the independence of the Philippines,
until all nations including Spain will expressly
recognize it,” and “to prepare the country for the
establishment of a real Republic.” It sent diplomatic
note to foreign nations, requesting them to accord
formal recognition to the Philippines as a free and
independent nation.
The First Philippine Republic
 On Sept 15, 1898 a revolutionary congress of
Filipino representatives met in Malolos, Bulacan at
the call of the Revolutionary Government. After the
promulgation of the so-called Malolos Constitution
on Sept 15, 1898, The Malolos Congress ratified on
Sept 29, 1898 the proclamation of Philippine
Independence made by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in
Kawit, Cavite on June 12,1898. This Constitution
was the democratic constitution ever promulgated
in the whole Asia. It established a “free and
independent Philippine Republic” which was
inaugurated on January 23, 1899 with Gen.
Aguinaldo as President defining its structure and
articulating its vision.
Government during the American Period The President of the Philippine Republic

The Military Government

• The American military rule in the Philippines began on
August 14, 1898, the day after the capture of Manila. The
existence of war gave the President of the United States the
power to establish a Military Government in the Philippines,
as the Commander-in-Chief of all Armed Forces of the
United States. His authority was delegated to the military
governor who exercise as long as war lasted, all power of
government – executive, legislative and judicial.

The Commonwealth Government

• The next stage in the political development of the Filipinos
was the establishment of the Commonwealth Government
of the Philippines pursuant to an act of the United States
Congress on March 24, 1934, commonly know as the
Tydings-Mc-Duffie Law. The commonwealth status was a
form of government in transition toward independence.
Among other things, the law provided for a transition period
of ten years during which the Philippine Commonwealth  Manuel Roxas- was the First President of the Third
would operate and at the expiration of said period on July 4, Republic and having been inaugurated as President
1946, the independence of the Philippines would be before the granting of independence, strengthened
proclaimed and established. political and economic ties with the united States in
the controversial Philippine-US trade Act.
Governments during the Japanese
 Proposed the "Parity Rights Amendment" that
Occupation
Filipinos refused
 •The Japanese Military Administration- it was
 Agreement of War Surplus Property (1946)
established in Manila on January 5, 1942, one day
after its occupation. Under a proclamation issued by
the Japanese High Command, the sovereignty of  Military Bases Agreement (1947)
the United State over the Philippines was declared
terminated. Manuel Roxas' Priorities were:
 Industrialization of the Philippines
 The Philippines executive Commission- A civil  Preservation of close cooperation and special
government known as the Philippine Executive relations with the US
Commission composed of the Filipinos with Jorge  Maintenance of the rule of law and order
B. Vargas as chairman, was organized by the
military forces of occupation. The Commission Programs and Policies under the Roxas
exercised both the executive and legislative Administration
powers. The laws enacted were, however, subject  Tydings Rehabilitation Act
to the approval of the Commander-in-Chief of the  Bell Trade Act
Japanese Forces. The judiciary continued in the  Parity Rights
same form as it was under the Commonwealth.
 Military Bases Agreement
However, it functioned without the independence
 Adopted Pro-American Policy
which it traditionally enjoyed.
Problems and Issues during the Roxas
 The Japanese-sponsored Republic of the Administration
Philippines- On October 14, 1943, the so-called 1. Issue of collaboration
Japanese-sponsored Republic of the Philippines 2. Graft and corruption in the government, as
was inaugurated with Jose P. Laurel as President. It evidenced by the "Surplus of War Property
was of the same character as the Philippines Scandal", "Chinese Immigration Quota Scandal”,
Executive Commission. Like the latter, the ultimate "School Supplies Scandal"
source of its authority was the Japanese military 3. The failure to put an end to the communist
authority and government. On August 17, 1945, insurgency and Huk Movement
President Laurel proclaimed the dissolution of the 4. High unemployment rate
Republic.

• Elpidio Quirino- was sworn in as Second president of the
Third Republic after the death of Roxas. His six years as
President were marked by notable postwar reconstruction,
general economic gains, and increased economic aid from
the United States
Two main objectives of Quirino Administration:
 Economic reconstruction of the nation through
industrialization
 Restoration of the faith and confidence of the
people in the government
Programs and Policies
1. The creation of PACSA (President's Action
Committee on Social Amelioration) to alleviate the
economic plight of the masses;
2. Establishment of the ACCFA (Agricultural Credit
Cooperatives Financing Administration) to help
farmers avail of low- interest loans from the
government.
3. Establishment of Rural banks and Labor
Management Advisory Board, as well as the
Presidential Advisory Body
4. Excelled in foreign relations
Problems and Issues Encountered:
1. Unabated rampage of graft and corruption in his
government
2. Wasteful spending of the people's money in
extravagant junkets abroad;
3. Failure of government to check the Huk menace
which made travel in the provinces unsafe
4. Economic distress of the times, aggravated by
rising unemployment rate, soaring prices of
commodities, and unfavorable balance of trade
5. Frauds and terrorism committed by the Liberal
Party moguls in the 1947, 1949 and 1951 elections.
Taruc- Quirino meeting
1. scrapping of the bell trade act
2. no trade with Japan
3. redistribution of large estates to the
peasants/tenants
4. release of all Huk prisoners
5. industrialization
6. removal of US bases in the country
 The amnesty failed and the peace that reigned in
Central Luzon known as Huklandia, lasted only for
short duration.
• Ramon Magsaysay- the Third President of the Third
Republic, his campaign was massively supported by CIA,
both financially and through practical help in discrediting his
political enemies.
Programs/Policies/Achievements
1. Agraraian reform - creation of NARRA (National
Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration)
2. Breaking the backbone of the HUK Movement
3. Restoration of people's confidence on the
government
4. Establishment of SEATO (South East Asia Treaty
Organization) in 18 September 1954
5. Negotiated with the Japanese government
regarding the reparations agreement that was
signed in Manila (Japan would pay war reparations
of $300,000,000 for 25 years)
6. Imposed high moral standard for public officials
Carlos P. Garcia
 He was among the top ten in the bar examination.
 Rather than practice law right away, he first served
the country by being a teacher for two years at
Bohol Provincial High School.
 He became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where
he earned the nickname "Prince of Visayan Poets"
and the "Bard from Bohol".
Carlos Garcia- Garcia’s administration was anchored in
his austerity program. It was also noted for its Filipino First
Policy- an attempt to boost economic independence. He
sought to expand ties to its Asian neighbors, implement
domestic reform programs, and develop and diversify the
economy.
Filipino First Policy
 This is the law that was passed by the Garcia
administration, to give local businessmen more
priority over foreign investors.
Austerity Program
 The Austerity Program was implemented by Garcia
in order to curt the rampant graft and corruption
within the country. The program centered on wise
spending, industry, thrift, trustworthiness, integrity
and honesty.
Bohlen-Serrano Agreement
 The Bohlen-Serrano Agreement was the law that
shortened the original 99 year lease of US bases
here in the Philippines to 25 years, the agreement
was renewable for periods only up to 5 years.
Republic Cultural Awards
 The Garcia administration also put emphasis on
cultural revival, due to the colonization of many
countries he felt that the revival of the Filipino
culture was needed. The award was given to
Filipino artists, scientist, historians and writers.
 Garcia was criticized by foreign countries, especially the
United States for his anti-foreign policies.
 Corruption in the government by his appointed cabinet
members marred his administration
"Champion of the Common Man"
 President Macapagal enjoying the experience of
planting palay.
 President Macapagal being carried by female
supporters during one of his presidential
campaigns.
 Vice President Macapagal stopped in a Negros
Occidental barrio to swear in Nationalist Party
defectionists into the Liberal Party.
 President Macapagal waves as he rides a carabao-
drawn sled through shallow waters in Linapacan, an
island town of Palawan.
 Vice President Macapagal alights from a banca in
Binaungan, Bulacan.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The historic signing of the agricultural land reform code on
August 8, 1963
The historic signing of the Agricultural Land Reform Code
on August 8, 1963 at the Agrifina Circle in Luneta Manila.
Together with the President were Senator Ferdinand
Marcos (left) and Speaker Cornelio Villareal (right). The said
Code finally abolished the centuries-old institution of
tenancy.
Agricultural Land Reform Code
 One of Diosdado Macapagal's greatest
achievements.
 He instituted a public land clearance program to
make new farmlands available for immediate use.
Goal: To establish owner - cultivator ship and the economic
family - size farm as the basis of Philippine agriculture, and
as a consequence, divert landlord capital in agriculture to
industrial development;
 To create a truly viable social and economic
structure in agriculture conducive to greater
productivity and higher farm incomes;
 To provide a more vigorous and systematic land
resettlement program and public land distribution;
 Change the traditional share tenancy to lease hold
system.
 The tenant would give 25% of their harvest as
payment
MAPHILINDO
 And organization composed of Southeast Asian
countries particularly the Malaysia, Philippines, and
Indonesia.
 Purpose: to boost our country's trade with our
neighbors.
 The organization also have way to the making of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or
better known as ASEAN.
Independence Day
 Through an executive order, he changed the date of
indep. From the july 4, chosen date of the
Americans, to june 12, the day when Aguinaldo
proclaimed the country's independence in Kawit,
Cavite.
 July 4 is now the Philippine-American Friendship
day.
The last president of the Third Republic of the Philippines
was President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Prior to the events of
Martial Law, the first term of the Marcos administration, as
emphasized in his inaugural address on December 30,
1965, focused on “the revival of the greatness of the
nation.”

Filipino Language President Marcos, faced with the challenge of corruption in

 He declared the Filipino Language as our National
language.
SABAH
 Bordered by Sarawak on its southwestern side, and
Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) to the south.
 It was said the Sabah was a gift to the Sultanate of
Sulu from the Sultan of Brueni.
 A gift for helping the Sultan of Brunei fight against
his enemies. During President Diosdado
Macapagal's administration, the Philippines formally
claimed Sabah based on the Sultanate of Sulu
heirs' claim on the territory.
 The Philippines broke diplomatic relations with
Malaysia after the federation have included
"Sabah".
 The Sultan's heirs have given the Philippine
government the authority to pursue the claim legally
in international courts.
 The succeeding administrations have either have
ignored or set aside the claim for peaceful co-
existent and trade relation with the Malaysians.
the government, reorganized the Armed Forces, the
Philippine Constabulary, and the Bureau of Internal
Revenue.
In an attempt to solve the problem of technical smuggling,
the Bureau of Customs was also reorganized. The
administration, with a goal to strengthen the local economy,
devised construction programs and irrigation projects. The
promotion of Philippine heritage, culture, and arts was
achieved through the establishment of the Cultural Center
of the Philippines (CCP) in 1969
Among the laws approved by President Marcos were:
Republic Act No. 5186 or the Investments Incentives Act;
Republic Act No. 4864 or the Police Act of 1966; and
Republic Act No. 5173, which established the Philippine
Coast Guard.

Among the laws passed during the Macapagal

administration were: Republic Act No. 3844 or the
Agricultural Land Reform Code (an act that established
the Land Bank of the Philippines) ;

Republic Act No. 3466, which established the Emergency

Employment Administration;

Republic Act No. 3518, which established the Philippine

Veterans Bank;

Republic Act No. 3470, which established the National

Cottage Industries Development Authority (NACIDA) to
organize, revive, and promote the establishment of local
cottage industries;

and Republic Act No. 4156, which established the Philippine

National Railways (PNR) to operate the national railroad
and tramways.
 Diosdado Macapagal- he focused on fighting graft and
corruption in the government.
Economic Achievements:
-The Aquino government believed that a large portion of the
nation's wealth was taken by the Marcos and so the
PCGG(Presidential Commission on Good Government) was
created.

 Ferdinand Marcos-embarked on a massive CARL (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform law)

spending in infrastructural development, such as road,
health centers and school as well as intensifying tax
collection which gave the Philippines a taste of
economic prosperity throughout the 1970’s. He built
more schools than all his predecessors combined
 signed by President Aquino which implemented the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
 Made an agrarian reform through this
Social Achievements
 DSWD (Department of Social-Welfare and
Development)
 -Formerly called DSSD/MSSD
 -objectives are:
1. protection and rehabilitation of the mentally and
physically disabled
2. provide complete services for the needy
3. improve inhuman conditions
Generics law
 The Generics Law of 1988 was hailed as a
landmark law that could benefit the public but it has
failed miserably, due to:
1. weak support from doctors
2. strong lobbying by multinational drug companies
3. and the health department's incompetence
• Corazon Aquino- her assumption into power marked
the restoration of democracy in the country.
• Fidel Ramos- declared “national reconciliation his
highest priority. He legalized the Communist Party and
created the National unification Commission to lay the
groundwork for the talks with communist insurgents, Muslim
separatist, and military rebels.
POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
• Energy Crisis
• During the term of Ramos, he requested the
congress to enact a law that would plan and
manage the Philippines' energy demands.
• NIPAS
• National Integrated Protected Areas System.
• This was implemented to sustain the environment
and to protect or conserve the country's natural
resources.
• 4. Garantisadong Pambata Program
• Local Government Code
• He passed this act to provide a more responsive
and accountable government structure
ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
 Foreign Investments from Travel
- Ramos was known as the most traveled
Philippine president in recent history. -He
generated about $20B worth of foreign
investments to the Philippines.
 Asian Tiger Cub Economy
- The countries part of this focused on
developing goods for export to highly-
industrialized nations. Many foreign
investors poured money into the
SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 Philippine Centennial
- On June 12, 1998, the nation celebrated its
centennial year of Independence from
Spain. -One of the major projects of the
commission was the Expo Pilipino, a grand
showcase of the Philippines' growth as a
nation for the last 100 years.
 Clean and Green Campaign
- The program aims to sustain cleanliness,
beautification, and sanitation in the city. -He
approved the adoption of the Integrated
National Waste Management System
Framework.
 Peace Agreements with MNLF
- Ramos was able to secure major peace
agreements with Muslim separatists,
Joseph Estrada
SEPTE,BER 12, 2007, Philippine president Joseph Estrada
was convicted of Plunder.
SOCIAL
Lingap Para sa Mahirap
 emphasis on the 100 poorest families as the basic
targeting unit
 The program includes:
1. provision of health insurance to 100 poorest
of the poor families
2. medical assistance fund to the government
hospitals
3. Sustansya Para sa Masa grant for
community based nutrition projects
ECONOMIC
Agrikulturang Maka-masa
(Makapagpabagong Programa Tungo sa MASAgana at
Maunlad na Pagsasaka at Pangisdaan)
 geared at expanding and revitalizing previous
productivity enhancement programs
 protect consumers by ensuring the safety and high
quality of food items
"This year, agriculture has proven itself once more to be the
lynchpin of the Philippine economy. Angara said in the
report. Despite the lingering effects of the financial crisis
and the El Niño La Niña phenomena, the sector's
production is projected to grow by 6 percent."
• Joseph Estrada- Estrada’s wayward governance took a
heavy toll on the economy. Unemployment worsened, the
budget deficit grew, the currency plunged. Eventually, the
economy recovered but at a much slower pace than its
Asian neighbors.

GLORIA ARROYO

• Gloria Arroyo- 14th President of the Philippines. –

Policies and Programs: E-Vat Law and BEAT THE ODD’S.

BENIGNO AQUINO

 Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino- first president

to make build Bahay Pangarap his official
residence.
✔ No wang-wang policy
✔ Executive Oder no. 1- Truth Commission
✔ Executive Order no.2- removal of all midnight
appointees
✔ K-12 education

Current President Rodrigo Duterte – 16 th President of the

Philippines.