Name: Cris Dangel Instructor: Mrs. Charina D.

Pelayo
Course and Section: BSIT 1-B Rating:
Subject: Reading in Philippine History

Reflection Paper
The Philippine Constitution 1899
(Malolos Constitution)

This set the stage to launching the first Philippine Republic. It established a democratic, republication
government with three branches - the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial branches. It called for the
separation of church and state. The said constitution tackles about the Political Constitution of 1899
(Spanish: Constitución Política de 1899), informally known as the Malolos Constitution
It was considered as the fundamental law of the First Philippine Republic. The constitution placed
limitations on unsupervised freedom of action by the chief executive which would have hampered rapid
decision making.
It was formally adopted by the Malolos Congress on January 20, 1899, and President Emilio Aguinaldo
promulgated it on January 21, 1899. It was approved by the Malolos Congress on November 29, 1898,
and the President Emilio Aguinaldo returned the draft for reforms on December 1, 1898, but the Congress
refused.
Under the colonization of the Spaniards and other countries for the longest period of time, hence, in order
to protect the people and their rights, the Malolos Constitution through the Malolos Congress embodied
the protection and promulgation of the rights of citizens.
The Malolos Constitution specifically provided for safeguards against abuses, and enumerated the
national and individual rights not only of the Filipinos and of the aliens. The legislative powers were
exercised by the Assembly of Representatives composed of delegates elected according to law.