PA 2

Philippine Administrative Thought and Institution

I. Philippine History and Filipino Identity and Consciousness

Reasons why we will discuss Philippine Administrative System with PAS
1. The state and bureaucracy or the Philippine Administrative System exists only for and
because of the Filipino people, and
2. To serve our people well, public officials must have a conscious and continuous effort to
know, understand and empathize with our people.

Spanish Colonial Experience

• Lasted more than 300 years
• 2 forms of Spanish colonial strategy: (Physical and Psychological control)
• First type was implemented through “REDUCCION”
• Small and scattered communities were forced to form larger communities to facilitate
physical control and proselytization
• Spanish colonization worked more through religion than through force (priest is the key
actor)
Community during Spanish Colonization – nasa center yung simbahan
Spanish Colonial Experience
• Parishioners resigned to religion hence attention to education resulted in a legacy of
ignorance
• The people’s consciousness for social change remained undeveloped
Struggles Against Colonialism
• But not for long, Spanish repression triggered resistance from the people in different
forms:
• It was described as NATIVISM manifested in the people’s expression of their
dissatisfaction with their material deprivation and oppression by calling on their old gods
to challenge the Gods of the friars
• It was linked to the growth of the local clergy and their demand to equal status within the
Church (Filipino priest executed in Cavite-Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto
Zamora)
• It was the inconsistent pattern of elite participation in the people’s protest against Spanish
oppression (Maniago, Malong and Almazan) however it was pointed out that this local
elites merely used the people to fulfill their own personal ambitions.
• It was the economic and intellect transformation ushered in by the opening of the country
to world trade and liberal ideas. This enabled the educated elite to articulate their protest
against the social injustice and their demand for equality.

The development of the Concept of the Filipino

• World trade in 19th Century
• Economic transformation produced another group of elites (Chinese Mestizos
• British Products –Chinese middleman-Distribution to provinces (vice versa)
• Chinese mestizos (Chinese Father and Filipino Mothers) eventually assumed the
role as Chinese Merchants.
 • World trade also opens Filipinos to liberal ideas in the other parts of the world.
• Families who can afford send their children to Manila and other educational centers
abroad.
• Economic transformation, growing dissatisfaction with Spanish rule and the liberal
ideas through education led discontent of certain subgroups which rise to FILIPINO
CONCIOUSNESS.

The development of the Concept of the Filipino

ANALOGY of FILIPINO
1. Españoles-Filipino (Spaniards born in the Philippines) this Filipinos were also known as
CREOLES or INSULARES as distinguished from Spaniards born in Spain who are
called PENINSULARES. The natives are called INDIOS.
2. Creoles resented the preferential treatment for peninsulares as they believed they should
be equal rights to official positions.
3. This grievance led the insolares to team up with ilustrados who is acceptable to the
insolares because of their wealth, education and acquisition of Hispanic culture.
4. The native priest who were discriminated also made common cause with creole
clergymen.
5. Ultimately, the ilustrados who used the term FILIPINO to refer all inhabitants of the
island, regardless of racial, economic and educational status.

The 1896 Revolution

• Filipinos may have a sense of national identity but not bound by a national
consciousness.
• National consciousness is meant a sense of oneness which comes from a community of
aspirations, response and action.
• Consciousness defines as the manner by which a society in its development explains the
world and views itself. It is also the changing nature of social forms and the awareness of
the necessity for basic and revolutionary change.
• National Identity may not always connote a level of politizatization.
• National Consciousness is always accompanied by politization.
• Identity and Consciousness were united for a brief period during the 1896 revolution
• The grievances and the discontent of all sectors of population led to the national
revolution which demanded that the Philippines be rid of the Spanish colonialism.
• Despite the legacy of ignorance, the masses and the elite grows their awareness to
national identity which transformed their limited consciousness into a revolutionary
consciousness.
• Both masses and the elites saw in their new consciousness the need to eradicate Spanish
rule through straggle that would involve involve the whole nation.
• Identity and Consciousness was united as the Filipino people become one.
• During this brief moment of history, the Filipino masses and the elite shared a common
goal and stood as one nation in their struggle to be free from Spanish colonial repression.
• During this brief moment of history, the Filipino masses and the elite shared a common
goal and stood as one nation in their struggle to be free from Spanish colonial repression.
 • The Philippine Revolution of 1896 marked the birth of the Filipino nation. However, this
unity of national consciousness and identity was short lived.
The American Colonial Period: The Process of Defilipinization
• The Americans came and confronted by a people transformed into a nation forged in
revolution.
• It was described that post-1896 Filipinos as “united and animated by a strong sense of
purpose, their aspirations for freedom had been crystallized, their military success against
the Spanish colonizer had given them confidence.
• The counter-consciousness which prompted the Filipinos to protect their independence
fiercely, was recognized by the Americans as the biggest obstacle to their establishment
of another colonial rule in the Philippines.
• The American colonizers moved to separate IDENTITY and CONSCIOUSNESS.
• American colonial strategy involved recreating the Filipino mind to make it colonial and
submissive to American control (meant AMERICANIZING FILIPINO
CONSCIOUSNESS)

• While the Spaniards used RELIGION, the Americans relied on the educational process.
This was done through 3 aspects of an educational policy:
1. The institution of a nationwide public school system
2. The use of English as a medium of instruction
3. The distortion of the history of early American occupation, with the glorification of the
American way of life, its heroes, and institutions.
• Americans remold the Filipino consciousness and that soon Filipinos were learning not
only a new language but also a new culture.

Character of Contemporary Consciousness

• The Americans succeeded in separating Filipino identity from National consciousness
and in creating a contemporary consciousness that was supportive of its design and
western values.
• They also systematically erased the national consciousness of 1896, which motivated the
people to struggle for independence and self reliance.
1. A People trained to accept American values and concepts
2. A Vague loyalty to the motherland and concern over the reactions of the colonial power
3. A tendency to corruption in public and private activities due to the lack of economic
opportunities
4. The institutionalization of a culture that is alien in language, direction and content
5. A consumerist attitude brought about by the colonial nature of the economy

II. The 1896 and 1986 Revolutions: Linking the Past and the Present
The Philippine Revolution of 1896
ERA on the REVOLUTION
1. The Propaganda Movement – This movement functioned from 1870’s to 1892
2. The Katipunan – An organization founded by Andres Bonifacio in July 1892
 3. The Rise of Aguinaldo – The break against the Bonifacio –led Katipunan became
apparent when Aguinaldo advocated the establishment of a revolutionary government to
be organized along republican lines.
4. Pact of Biak-na-Bato – When Cavite fell to the Spaniards, Aguinaldo transferred his
government to Biak-na-Bato, Bulacan.
5. The Filipino Dictatorship – When Aguinaldo came back from Hongkong, he had a
constitution with him.
6. The Revolutionary Government – On June 23, 1898, up to January 21 1899, Aguinaldo
was designated as President of the Revolutionary Government, and he appointed a
cabinet to share executive functions with him.
7. The Malolos Congress – This was convened on September 15, 1898 to promulgate a
constitution.
8. War with the United States – The Philippine government refused to capitulate to the US
government’s attempt to impose American sovereignty to the country.

Salient Factors of the 1896 National Revolution

POLITICAL CONTEXT: The revolution occurred in colonial setting. The Philippines was a
colony of Spain.

The Philippine Revolution of 1896

Salient Factors of the 1896 National Revolution
DEMANDS: Inequality, oppression, and injustice during the colonial rule prompted 2 demands:
1. The ilustrados were initially for assimilation, insisting the Filipinos must have the same
rights as the Spaniards.
2. The masses saw that the tyranny of government would end only once the ties with Spain
were completely severed.
• Salient Factors of the 1896 National Revolution
PRECIPITATING EVENT: Execution of Padres Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto
Zamora
KEY ACTORS/LEADERS: The masses did not believe that their demands would be granted
within the framework of Spanish rule. The elite were eventually convinced of the need for
revolution and they assumed leadership positions in the struggle.
The Philippine Revolution of 1896
Salient Factors of the 1896 National Revolution
ROLE OF THE CHURCH: The Catholic Church was the main mechanism for colonial rule and
oppression
ROLE OF MILITARY: Under a colonial setting, the military had no option but to support the
process of the colonial government.

The Philippine Revolution of 1896

Salient Factors of the 1896 National Revolution
OUTCOME: The revolution led to liberation from colonial power and short-lived independence
as another colonial master assumed control of the islands.

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution

 • The EDSA February revolution of 1986 was the outcome of an extended struggle against
authoritarianism since Marcos imposed Martial law in 1972.
• The February 7 election became the opportunity for the anti dictatorship forces to
consolidate rapidly and widely.

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution

Characteristics of the People Power in the EDSA Revolution:
1. It is based on non-violence
2. It opens itself to all classes and to all kinds of Authority
3. Its participants involved a mix people including priest and nuns, business people and
professionals, students, workers, military officials and even sympathetic foreign observers
4. It banks spontaneity
5. It presents the nature of the struggle in moral terms. It engages politics with an essentially
moral, rather than ideological vision

The 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution

People’s Power in Radical Perspective:
1. It depends on armed force in confronting government
2. It looks at relationships between specific economic classes and the structure of authority
associated with theses classes
3. Its actors tend to focus on the peasantry
4. It relies on planned, systematic and organized action
5. It does not address the internal or spiritual realm but the external world and it engages
politics with an ideological vision

Interpretations of the February 1986 Historical Event

MIRACLE OF EDSA VIEW: represents accounts of religious groups (a total phenomenon used
by God through people in order that their actions could accomplish what needed to be
accomplished.
FATHER OF THE REVOLUTION VIEW: represents that the military as responsible for
handing power to President Aquino.
Interpretations of the February 1986 Historical Event
THE AMERICAN INVISIBLE HAND: credits the Americans with an active role in the ouster
of the Marcoses.
COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES: CCP decided to boycott the February
election.

Salient features of the EDSA Revolution of 1986

POLITICAL CONTENT: The Philippines in 1986 was an independent republic under
authoritarian rule and with neo-colonial ties with the United States in whom the country was still
dependent economically
DEMANDS: The main demand was for the democratization of power. Putting a stop to plunder
and corruption, violations of human rights and military abuses were also important demands.
PRECIPITATING EVENT: The assassination of Binigno Aquino Jr. in August 1983
ACTORS/LEADERS: The urban middle and business classes took the lead; there was popular
support in Manila and adjoining provinces
ROLE OF THE CHURCH: Church declared election result illegal: Church called its members
to support the anti-Marcos faction of the Military.
ROLE OF THE MILITARTY: Divided between those who were pro-people and those who
were pro-Marcos. Break away group’s declaration against the regime triggered people's action
against Marcos.

Interpretations of the February 1986 Historical Event

Salient features of the EDSA Revolution of 1986
ROLE OF THE BUREAUCRACY: The bureaucracy was used by Marcos to prop up his
regime. However, by election time, some members were ambivalent about their support for the
regime especially after 1983.
After the EDSA phenomenon, the bureaucracy was initially supportive of the Aquino
Administration.
OUTCOME: Deposed the dictator; installed a democratic government

1896 vs 1986 Revolution:

Similarities and Differences
1896 vs 1986 Revolution:
Similarities and Differences
1896 vs 1986 Revolution:
Similarities and Differences
Implication to the Philippine Administrative System