Transitional History of

the Philippine
Government
Government during
Revolutionary Era
The Katipunan Government- was the
secret society that precipitated our glorious
revolution on August 26, 1896. it was
organized by Andres Bonifacio, who,
together with a group of Filipino Patriots,
signed the covenant of the katipunan with
their own blood on July 7, 1892.
The central government of the katipunan was
vested in Supreme Council (kataastaasang
Sangguniang).
Each province there was a provincial council
(Sangguniang Balangay).
Each town, a popular council
(Sangguniang Bayan).
The judicial power was exercised by a judicial
council (Sangguniang Hukuman).
 The Biak-na-Bato Republic
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 was to take effect for
two years only.
It declared that the aim of the revolutions was the
separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy
and their formation into an independent state.
The Biak-na-Bato lasted up to December 15,1897, with
the conclussion of the “Pact of Biak-na-Bato.”
 The Dictatorial Government
Following the Spanish-American war on April 25,
1898, Gen Aguinaldo, in view of the chaotic
condition in the country, established the Dictatorial
Government on May 23,1898.
The important achievement of the Dictatorial
Government were the Proclamation of Philippine
Independence at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898
and the reorganization of local governments.
 The Revolutionary Government
June 29, 1898- Gen Aguinaldo established the
revolutionary Government replacing the Dictatorial
government with himself as President and a congress
whose function was advisory and Ministerial.
The decree making such change stated that the aims of
the new government were “to struggle for the
independence of the Philippines, until all nations
including Spain will expressly recognized it”, and “to
prepare the country for the establishments of a real
Republic”.
 The First Philippine Republic
September 15,1898- revolutionary Congress of
Filipino representatives met in Malolos, Bulacan at the
call of the Revolutionary Government.
The Malolos congress ratified on September 29,1898
the proclamation of Philippines independence made
by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit Cavite on June
12,1898 and framed the so-called Malolos
Constitution. This constitution was the first democratic
constitution ever promulgated in the whole Asia.
It establish a “free and independent Philippine
Republic” which was inaugurated on January 23,
1899 with Gen.Aguinaldo as President.
The first Republic was not recognized by the
family of nations. It was nevertheless an organized
government because it actually existed and its
authority was accepted by the people. It existed
from January 23,1899 to March 23,1901.
February 1899- the United States annexed the
Philippines as a result of the Spanish-American
War 1898 and April 1901, Gen. Aguinaldo was
captured.
Philippine Revolution of 1896- the first
war of independence fought by Asians
against foreign domination and it gave to
the first constitutional democracy in Asia
and West Pacific.
Government during
the American
Regime
Government during the American Regime
1. Military government- The American military rule in
the Philippine began on August 14, 1898, the day
after the capture of manila. The existence of war
gave the president of the United States the power to
establish a military Government in the Philippines, as
Commander-in-chief of all Armed Forces of the
United States. His authority was delegated to the
military governor who exercised as long as the war
lasted, all powers of government- executive,
legislative, and judicial.
 American Military Governor:
General Wesley Merritt-1st military
governor
General Elwell E. Otis-2nd military
governor
Major General Arthur McArthur-3rd and
4th military governor.
2. The Civil Government- pursuant to the so-
called Spooner Amendment which ended
the military regime in the Philippines, the
Civil Government was inaugurated in
Manila on July 4, 1901, headed by a Civil
Governor whose position was created on
October 29, 1901. He remained as
president of the Philippine Commission, the
lawmaking body of the government from
1901 to 1907.
Judge William H. Taft( 1901-1903)- the first
civil governor succeeded by Luke F. Wright.
Luke F Wright (1904-1906)-the first American
to enjoy the title of Governor-General of the
Philippines.
Frank Murphy- the last governor-general who
was also the first high commissioner of the
United State to the Philippines upon the
inauguration of the Commonwealth
Government of the Philippines.
3. The Commonwealth Government of the Philippines- the
next stage in the political development of the Filipinos was
the establishment of the Commonwealth Government of
the Philippines pursuant to an act of the United States
Congress on March 24, 1934 commonly known as the
Tydings-Mcduffie Law.
 The new Government of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines, deemed successor to the Government of the
Philippine Islands, was inaugurated on November 15,1935,
following the first election under the 1935 Constitution held
on September 12,1935, with Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio
Osmena as President and Vice President, respectively.
During World War II, the commonwealth
Government functioned in exile in Washington
from May 13, 1942 to October 3,1944. It was re-
established in Manila on February 27, 1945.
when Gen. Douglas Mcarthur, in a ceremony
held at Malacanang palace on behalf of the
United State Government, turned over to
president Osmena the full powers and
responsibility of the Commonwealth Government
under the (1935) constitution.
Government During
the Japanese
Occupation
1. The Japanese Military Administration- it was
establish in Manila on January 3, 1942, one
day after its occupation. Under a proclamation
issued by the Japanese high command, the
sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippines was declared terminated.
2. The Philippine Executed Commission- A civil
government known as the Philippine Executive
Commission composed of Filipinos with Jorge B.
Vargas as chairman, was organized by the military
forces of occupation. The commission exercised both
the executive and legislative powers. the laws enacted
were, however, subject to the approval of the
Commander-in-chief of the Japanese Forces. The
judiciary continued in the same form as it was under
the Commonwealth. However, it functioned without the
independence which it had traditionally enjoyed.
3. The Japanese-sponsored Republic of the
Philippines- on October 14, 1943, the so-called
Japanese-sponsored Republic of the Philippines
was inaugurated with Jose P. Laurel as
President. It was of the same character as the
Philippine Executive Commission. Like the latter,
the ultimate source of its authority was the
Japanese military authority and government. On
August 17, 1945, President Laurel proclaimed
the dissolution of the Republic.
Previous Philippine
Republic.
1. Under the Joint Resolution No. 93, approved by the
United States of Congress on June 29, 1994, the
President of the United States was authorized ton
proclaim the Independence of the Philippines prior to July
4 1946, after the Japanese had been vanquished and
constitutional processes an the country restored.
 The Republic of the Philippines was formally
inaugurated on July 4, 1946 with Manuel L. Roxas as the
first President and Elpidio Quirino as the Vice President.
Roxas and Quirino also served from May 28, 1946 to July
4, 1946 as the last Commonwealth President and Vice
President, respectively.
The 1935 Constitution served as the fundamental law
not only for the Commonwealth Government which
was interrupted by the second World War but also for
the Republic of the Philippines until the “ratification”of
the 1973 Philippine Constitution establishing a
parliamentary form of government, effected by virtue
of Proclamation No. 1102 of President Ferdinand E.
Marcos on January 17, 1973, after the declaration of
martial law on September 21 1972.
2. The first Republic was established on January 23,
1899 under the Malolos Constitution; the second on
October 14, 1943 under the Japanese – sponsored
Constitution, and the third, on July 4, 1946 under the
1935 Constitution. President Ferdinand E. Marcos, in
his inaugural address on June 30, 1981, proclaim the
birth of the fourth Republic under the 1973 Constitution
which, amended in a plebiscite on April 7, 1981,
installed a modified parliamentary system of
government, thus making him its first President. The
present republic came into being upon the Ratification
of the 1987 Constitution on February 2, 1982.