The 1987 Constitution of

the Republic of the

Philippines

“PREAMBLE”
 What is preamble?

Derived from the Latin word “preambulare”

which means “to walk before”.

It is the prologue of the Constitution and

introduces it’s origin and purposes.
 HISTORY OF THE PREAMBLE

Following the declaration of independence from

Spain by the Revolutionary Government, a
congress was held in Malolos, Bulacan in 1899
to draw up a constitution. It was the first
republican constitution in Asia During that time,
the Malolos Constitution established Spanish
as the official language of the Philippines.
The first Preamble reads:

"Nosotros los Representantes del Pueblo

Filipino, convocados legítimamente para
establecer la justicia, proveer a la defensa
común, promover el bien general y asegurar los
beneficios de la libertad, implorando el auxilió
del Soberano Legislador del Universo para
alcanzar estos fines, hemos votado, decretado
y sancionado la siguiente"
We, the Representatives of the Filipino people,
lawfully convened, in order to establish justice,
provide for common defense, promote the
general welfare, and insure the benefits of
liberty, imploring the aid of the Sovereign
Legislator of the Universe for the attainment of
these ends, have voted, decreed, and
sanctioned the following.
Preamble of 1973 Constitution
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of
Divine Providence, in order to establish a Government
that shall embody our ideals, promote the general
welfare, conserve and develop the patrimony of our
Nation, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the
blessings of democracy under a regime of justice,
peace liberty, and equality, do ordain and promulgate
this Constitution.
 PREAMBLE
We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid
of Almighty God, in order to build a just and
humane society and establish a Government that
shall embody our ideals an aspirations, promote
the common good, conserve and develop our
patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our
posterity, the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law and a regime of
truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do
ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
 What is a Constitution?

A constitution is a system for government,

codified as a written document, which contains
fundamental laws and principles. It usually
contains fundamental political principles, and
establishes the structure, procedures, powers
and duties, of a government.
Source of Constitution’s Authority
The Filipino people-signify oneness and
solidarity of the Filipinos as differentiated from
the words “people of the Philippines” which
may include other inhabitants or aliens.
A sovereign people-intended to emphasized
that the Filipino people in ordaining and
promulgating the Constitution do so on their
own authority as a sovereign people without
intervention from foreign power.
 BELIEF IN GOD STRESSED
The reference to the “Almighty God” points out
the religious nature of the Filipino people as they
acknowledge the existence of Supreme Being that
guides their destinies and the destiny of their
nation. The entire Preamble is like a collective
prayer to this Supreme Being, recognizing Him as
the source of their authority to promulgate the
Constitution.
The Philippines is a predominantly Christian nation
and its people believe in the power of prayer.
CHANGES IN THE PREAMBLE

The Preamble of the 1973 Constitution was

notably changed in the 1987 Constitution.
Among the changes are the insertion of the
following:
The phrase “to build a just and humane
society”; which makes it clear that the adoption
of the new Constitution does not only seek the
establishment of a new government.
A just and humane society may be said to be
the one where every individual, regardless of
his station in life, is treated fairly before the
law, and where special concern is given to the
poor and the less fortunate so that, like the
rest may be able to attain a decent standard of
living;
The phrase “the rule of the law”, as a
reminder to everyone of the nation’s sad
experience under the authoritarian regime
which has been accused, among others, of
numerous violations of human rights, election
frauds, graft and corruption, suppression of
dissent, and other repressive acts;
The word “love”, as a principle together with
truth, justice, freedom, equality, and peace to
stress the need for sense of love to bind all
Filipinos, especially during these critical times
when armed conflicts and intense political
rivalries still continue to divide our nation; and
The word “independence”, to emphasize that
ours is a free nation which does not owe
allegiance to any superior foreign power.
Thank You for Listening
Prepared by:
Apple Joie I. Escolano