1899: Malolos

Constitution
 1899: Malolos Constitution
The newly reformed Philippine revolutionary
forces reverted to the control of Aguinaldo, and
the Philippine Declaration of Independence was
issued on 12 June 1898, together with several
decrees that formed the First Philippine Republic.
The Malolos Congress was elected, which
selected a commission to draw up a draft
constitution on 17 September 1898, which was
composed of wealthy and educated men.
 1899: Malolos Constitution
The Malolos Congress approved the draft
Constitution on November 29, 1898. It was
returned by President Aguinaldo on December 1,
1898 for amendments, which were refused.
President Aguinaldo finally approved the draft
constitution on December 23, 1898. It was
formally adopted by the Malolos Congress on
January 20, 1899 and promulgated by President
Emilio Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899.
 1899: Malolos Constitution
The document was titled "The Political
Constitution of 1899" (Spanish: Constitución
Política de 1899), informally known as the
Malolos Constitution, was the constitution of the
First Philippine Republic. It was written in
Spanish and the first important Filipino document
ever produced by the people's representatives.
 1899: Malolos Constitution
The constitution has 39 articles divided into 14
titles, with eight articles of transitory provisions,
and a final additional article. The document was
patterned after the Spanish Constitution of 1812,
with influences from the charters of Belgium,
Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and
Guatemala, and the French Constitution of
1793.
 1899: Malolos Constitution
It created a Filipino state whose government
was "popular, representative and responsible"
with three distinct branches – the executive, the
legislative and the judicial. The constitution
specifically provided for safeguards against
abuses, and enumerated the national and
individual rights not only of the Filipinos and of
the aliens.
 1899: Malolos Constitution
The 1899 Malolos Constitution was never
enforced due to the ongoing war. The Philippines
was effectively a territory of the United States
upon the signing of the Treaty of Paris between
Spain and the United States, transferring
sovereignty of the Philippines on 10 December
1898.
 Excerpts from the Malolos Constitution

 Article 2. The Philippine Republic is free and

independent.
 Article 3. Sovereignty resides exclusively in
the people.
 Article 5. The State recognizes the freedom
and equality of all religions, as well as the
separation of Church and State.
 Article 19. No Filipino in the full enjoyment of
his civil and political rights shall be hindered in
the free exercise of the same.
 Excerpts from the Malolos Constitution

 Article 20.1. Neither shall any Filipino be

deprived of: The right of expressing freely his
ideas and opinions either by word or by
writing, availing himself of the press or any
other similar means.
 Article 20.2. Neither shall any Filipino be
deprived of: The right of joining any
association for all the objects of human life
which may not be contrary to public morals.