SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC

& CULTURAL ISSUES

IN THE PHILIPPINES
 the activities of the government, members of law-
making organizations, or people who try to
influence the way a country is governed

relating to society and

the way people live
together
the system of trade and industry by
which the wealth of a country or
region is made and used

the way of life of

a particular
people
EVOLUTION OFTHE PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
3 CONSTITUTIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY GOVERNED
COUNTRY
THE
: 1) 1935 Commonwealth
constitution
2) 1973 Constitution
3) 1986 Freedom Constitution
1897: CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-
BATO
 The provisionary Constitution of the Philippine Republic during the
Revolution
Philippine
 Promulgated by the Philippine Revolutionary Government on November
1, 1897.
 Borrowed from Cuba
 Written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer in Spanish
ORGANS OFTHE CONSTITUTION

1) Supreme Council
2) Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y
Justicia
3) Asamblea de Representantes
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OF THE BIAK-NA-BATO
CONSTITUTION
The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their
formation into an independent state with its own government called the
Philippine Republic has been the end sought by the Revolution in the
existing war, begun on the 24th of August, 1896; and therefore, in its
name and by the power delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting
faithfully their desires and ambitions, we, the representatives of the
Revolution, in a meeting at Biac-na-bato, Nov. 1st. 1897, unanimously
adopt the following articles for the Constitution of the State
WAS IT
IMPLEMENTED?
1899: MALOLOS
CONSTITUTION
 Draft constitution by the selected commission of the elected Malolos
Congress
 Malolos Congress are composed of wealthy and educated men
 September 17, 1898 (draft)
 Approved on November 29, 1898
 Promulgated on January 21, 1899 by Aguinaldo
 “The Political Constitution of 1899”
 Written is Spanish
1899: MALOLOS
CONSTITUTION
 39 Articles, divided into 14 Titles (8 of Transitory provisions, and a final
additional article)
 Patterned after the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the French Constitution
of
1793
 Felipe Calderon (Main author)
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OFTHE POLITICALCONSTITUTION OF
1899
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 Political Constitution.
1899: MALOLOS
CONSTITUTION
 Sovereignty retroverted to people
 The people delegated governmental functions to civil servants
 The 27 Articles of Title IV detailed human rights and sovereignty of Filipinos
 Title III Article 5, declares that the state recognizes the freedom and equality of
all beliefs.
 Title II Article 4, three districts – Legislative, Executive, Judicial
WAS IT
ENFORCED?
 Philippine Organic Act of 1902
 Creation of the popularly elected Philippine Assembly.
 Legislative vested in bicameral
 Bill of Rights for Filipinos
 Appointment of two non-voting Filipino Resident
Commissioners of the Philippines
 Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916
 “Jones Law”
 Removal of Philippine Commission, replacing it with a Senate
 Explicitly declared the purpose of the US
 Appointment of two non-voting Filipino Resident
Commissioners of the Philippines
 Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act (1932)
 Promise of granting Filipinos’ Independence
 Sergio Osmeña and Manuel Roxas
 Opposed by the Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, hence rejected.
 Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)
 “Philippine Independence Act”
 Provided authority and defined mechanisms for the establishment of a
formal constitution
 Constitutional convention members were elected, first meeting on July 30
1934
 Claro M. Recto, unanimously elected as President
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION
 Crafted to meet the approval of the United States
government.
 To ensure that the US would live up to its promise.
PRIMARY SOURCE:
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935 COMMONWEALTH
CONSTITUTION
The Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine Providence, in order to establish a
government that shall embody their ideals, conserve and develop the patrimony of
the nation, promote the general welfare, and secure to themselves and their
posterity the blessings of independence under a régime of justice, liberty, and
democracy, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH
CONSTITUTION
 Commonwealth of the Philippines
 Transitional administration
 Unicameral National Assembly
 Amended in 1940 to have a bicameral
congress
 Right to suffrage
 Male, 21y/o, able to read and write
 Extended to women after two years
1935: THE COMMONWEALTH
CONSTITUTION
Bears traces of the Malolos Constitution, the German, Spanish, and
Mexican Constitutions, Constitutions of several South Americans countries,
and the unwritten English Constitution.
 Draft was approved by the constitutional convention on February 8, 1935
 Ratified on March 25, 1935 by US President Franklin B. Roosevelt
 Elections were held in September 1935
 Manuel L. Quezon was elected President of the Commonwealth
WAS IT
IMPLEMENTED?
 In 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected as President
 In 1967, Philippine Congress passed a resolution calling for a
Constitutional
Convention to change the 1935 Constitution.
 In 1969, Marcos won in re-election
 November 20, 1970 was the Elections of the Delegates to the
Constitutional
Convention
 June 1, 1971 when the convention formally began
 Carlos P. Garcia was elected as the Convention
President
 Succeeded by Diosdado Macapagal
 Martial law was declared.
 Some delegates were placed behind bars, others went hiding or
voluntary exiled.
 Marcos manipulated documents
 November 29, 1972 the convention approved its proposed constitution.
 The constitution was supposed to introduce a parliamentary-style
government
 Pres. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 73 on November 30, 1973
 Citizen Assemblies were held from January 10-15, 1973
 The president issued a proclamation announcing that the
proposed constitution had been ratified.
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITARIANISM
 The constitution was amended several times
 Citizen Assemblies allow the continuation of Martial Law
 Approved the ammendments:
 Interim Batasang Pambansa
 President to become Prime Minister
 In 1980, retirement age of judiciary members was extended to
70yo
 In 1981, parliament changed to French-style
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITARIANISM
 In 1984, Executive Committee was abolished, position of vice president restored
 A way for the President to keep executive powers, abolish the senate, never
acted parliament system to function as authoritarian presidential system
 1980s had been very turbulent
 1983 Assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
 “Snap” Election full of widespread fraud
1973: CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITARIANISM
 A small group of military rebels attempted to stage a coup, but
failed
 Triggered EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986
 Marcoses fled into exile
 Corazon Aquino was installed as President on February 25, 1986
 President Corazon Aquino’s Government
 Revert to 1935 Constitution
 Retain the 1973 Constitution
 Start anew
 “Truly reflective of the Aspirations and Ideals of the Filipino People”
 President Corazon Aquino’s Government
 1986 proclaimed a transitional constitution (Freedom Constitution) to last for
a year
 Constitutional Commission drafted a permanent constitution
 Constitutional Convention was created composed of 48 members
 Keep the President in check
 New Constitution adopted on February 2, 1987
1987: CONSTITUTION AFTER MARTIAL
LAW Begins with preamble and 18 self-contained articles
 “Democratic Publican State”
 Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates
from them
 Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the government
1987: CONSTITUTION AFTER MARTIAL LAW
 Established 3 independent Constitutional
Commissions
 Civil Service Commission
 Commission on Elections
 Commission on Audit
 Office of the Ombudsman
CHANGING THE
CONSTITUTION

 Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution provides for three ways by which
the constitution can be changed