TEGr103

The Philippine History

The Pre-Spanish Government
Barangay – villages consisting of more or less 100 families
- was virtually a state for it possessed 4 basic elements:
Each Barangay was ruled by a datu.
-chief executive, law-giver, chief judge & military head
Maginoos – a council of Elders served as datu’s adviser &
assistant.
Monarchial – form of government in nature with datu as
monarch
4 Divisions of social classes:
1. The Nobility or the Maharlika
2. The Freemen of the Timawa
3. The Serfs or the Aliping namamahay
4. The Slaves or the Aliping saguiguilid
The early laws were both written and unwritten
The written laws were promulgated by the Datu
Maragtas Code – Datu Sumakwil in AD 1250, in Panay
Kalantiaw Code – Datu Kalantiaw in AD 1433, in Panay
The unwritten laws can be seen in the Filipino Culture
The Spanish Government
Spain’s title to the
Philippines was based on the
discovery by Ferdinand
Magellan in March 1521, and
was consummated by the
conquest of Miguel Lopez de
Legaspi forty five years later.
Spain kept the Philippines for
almost four centuries until 1898
when the Philippines was ceded
by Spain to United States by
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virtue of the Treaty of Paris.
 When Mexico gained its
independence, the Philippines was
ruled directly by Spain through the
council of Indies from 1821 to 1837.
In 1837, legislation of the Philippines
was temporarily performed by the
council of ministers. From 1863, the
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Ministry of Ultramar exercised
general powers of supervision over
The Philippines was
Philippine affairs.
governed by the King of
Spain through Mexico
from 1565 to 1821.
 The Spanish government in the
Philippines was centralized in
structure and national in scope. The
barangays were consolidated in
pueblos (towns) and headed by a
Gobernadorcillo popularly called
Capitan, and the towns into
provinces headed by a Gobernador
who represented the Governor-
General each province. Cities Cebu was the first city
governed under Special Charters established in 1565. The
were created. Each of the cities had second was Manila in 1571.
an Ayuntamiento or Cabildo (City
council)
 The powers of the
government were exercised
by the Governor-General and
assisted by the Board of
Authorities and the Council of
Administration.
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The first Spanish Governor-
General was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
and then the last was Gen. Diego
delos Rios.
To strengthen the judicial system,
Spain established the Royal Audiencia
in 1583 in Cebu and in Vigan, which
appellate jurisdiction over criminal
cases coming from the surrounding
areas. In 1886, Courts of First
Instance were established in each
province and the Justice of Peace
Courts were established on the town
level. Special courts were also
recognized.
The Revolutionary Government
During the Spanish period, several forms of de facto government were established:

The Katipunan. It was a secret society that initiated the Philippine

revolution against Spain on August 26, 1896. The Katipunan organized by
Andres Bonifacio. The central government was vested in the Supreme
Council (Kataastaasang Sangunian). A provincial council was established
in each province. A popular council was established in the town level.
The Judicial power was exercised by the Judicial Council or the
Sangguniang Hukuman. When Bonifacio died,
another government was established by Gen
Emilio Aguinaldo who acted as the first President
of the Philippine Republic by virtue of the election
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in the Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897.
 The Biak-na-Bato Republic. On November 1,
1897, a republic was established by Gen. Aguinaldo
in Biak-na-Bato (now San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan. It had a constitution which took effect for
two years only. The republic lasted up to Dec.15,
1897, with the signing of the Pact of Biak-na-Bato.

The Dictatorial Government. Following the

outbreak of the Spanish-American war on April 25,
1898. Gen. Aguinaldo established the dictatorial
government on May 24, 1898. One of the most
important achievements was the proclamation of
the Independence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
The Revolutionary Government. On June 23, 1898, Gen.
Aguinaldo established the revolutionary government to
replace the dictatorial. The aim of the new government was
to struggle for the independence of the Philippines until all
nations including Spain recognize and to prepare the country
for establishment of a republic.

The First Philippine Republic. On Sept. 15, 1898, a

congress of Filipino representatives met in Malolos, Bulacan and
framed the Malolos Constitution. The Constitution established a
free independent Philippine Republic which was inaugurated on
Jan. 23, 1899 with Aguinaldo as President. The Republic was not
recognized by the family of nations. It was nevertheless an
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organized government because it actually existed from Jan. 23,
1899 to March 23, 1901.
The American Government
There were three kinds of government implemented by the Americans
during their regime:
The Military Government. It started
on April 14, 1898. after the capture of
Manila. The existence of war gave the
President of the US to power to
establish a military government. jasonline.com

His authority was delegated to the Military Governor who exercised, as

long as the war laste, all powers of the government. The three
American military governors were: (1) Gen. Wesley Meritt, (2) Gen.
Elwell Otis, (3) Gen. Arthur McArthur.
The Civil Government. The Spooner Amendment ended the military
regime in the Philippines. On July 4, 1901, a civil government was
inaugurated headed by a civil Governor. On February 6, 1905, the title
was changed to Governor-General who exercised legislative powers and
served as the President of the Philippine Commission, the sole law-
making body of the government from 1901 – 1916. The last Governor-
General was Frank Murphy (1933-1935) who
was the also the first High Commission of the
United States to the Philippines upon the
inauguration of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines.
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The Commonwealth Government. The next step of the political
history of the Filipinos was the establishment of the commonwealth
government of the Philippines based on the Tydings-McDuffie Law of the
US Congress on March 24, 1934. The new government of the Philippines
was inaugurated on Nov. 15, 1935 following the first national election on
Sept. 12, 1935 under the 1935 Constitution. Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio
Osmeňa were elected President and Vice President, respectively. The
Commonwealth government was of republican
and presidential type. The legislative power was
vested in a unicameral National Assembly and
later in a bicameral Congress composed of the
Senate and the House of Representatives. The
Judicial power was vested in the Supreme coloredconventions.org

Courts and other lower courts.

The Japanese Government
The Japanese Military Administration was
established in Manila on Jan.3, 1942, one day after its
occupation. The Japanese High Command
immediately terminated the sovereignty of the US
over the Philippines.
A Civil Government known as Philippine Executive Commission was
established with Jorge Vargas as its chairman. However, laws enacted were
subjected to the approval of the Commander-in-chief of the Japanese
forces.
On Oct. 14, 1943, the Japanese Sponsored Republic of the Philippines was
inaugurated with Jose P. Laurel as President. Like the Commission, the ultimate
source of the authority was the Japanese military leadership. On August 17, 1945,
President Laurel dissolved the Republic.
Learning Task:
Write your analysis/critique of the topics presented:
A. The Pre-Spanish Government
B. The Spanish Government
C. The Revolutionary Government
D. The American Government
E. The Japanese Government
Select only 2 of 5.