LESSON 6:

Democratic Politics:
Evolution/History of the
Philippine Politics and
Governance
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

1. Describe Philippine politics and governance from the pre-colonial

period to the Spanish period;
2. Identify similarities and differences between today’s politics and the
experiences and processes of politics in the past;
3. Discuss the changes in Philippine politics and governance; and
4. Assess the effects of the colonial experience of the country in its
present politics and governance.
VENN
DIAGRAM
1. Datu/Rajah PRE-COLONIAL SPANISH
2. Centralized PERIOD PERIOD
Government SIMILARITIES
3. Governor-General

4. No Centralized
Government

5. Animism

6. Political Society

7. Catholicism

8. Political Activities

9. Law and Order

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION

• Pre-colonial period is characterized by independent balangay

consist of 30 to 100 families.
• Contrary to the popular, early Filipinos also exercise politics
where there are a leader, laws, and order. Also, this early days
marks with many small tribal wars which paved a way to the
improvement of the political-society in the pre-colonial period.
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION
• The arrival of the Malay people through balangay and the establishment of
Islamic faith (by Abu Bakr) in Mindanao marks the dawn of the Pre-colonial
in the Philippines.
• Though, there are NO CENTRALIZED government during this period
because of the these factors:
• - Geographical set up of the country.
• - Conflict in belief and religion.
COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION
• The 15th and 16th centuries brought an era of world wide exploration and
expansion that resulted from the desire to gain new lands, power, and
wealth for the explorers and their countries.

• The goals of the Europeans for their expansion can be summarized by these
3Gs:
• GOD – GLORY - GOLD
COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION
• Ferdinand Magellan arrival in the Philippine soil, with his 5 ships namely
(TRINIDAD, SANTIAGO, CONCEPCION, SAN ANTONIO, VICTORIA)
• March 16, 1521 – They saw the shores of Samar, Leyte.
• March 17, 1521 – They landed and made blood-compact with Rajah Kulambu.
• March 31, 1521 – They sailed to Mazawa/Limasawa (Leyte) and have their FIRST MASS.
• April 27, 1521 – Battle of Mactan where Magellan was killed by the men of Lapu-lapu.
COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION
• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrival in the Philippines and established a
colonial government and settled there as a 1st Governor-General.
• He made several blood compacts, waged wars with other tribes, and saw
some established communities practicing Catholicism.
• Then on, eh slowly established colonization with the Philippines for over
333 years.
PRE-COLONIAL AND COLONIAL PERIOD
• The next succeeding slides will show the differences among the 2 periods
of the history of Philippine politics and governance.

• As we go along the history our political nation. We will be talking the 3

following attributes that differentiate these 2 periods:

• 1. Social/political Classes
• 2. Their Government
• 3. Their Economic Activities
 Social/Political Classes
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD SPANISH PERIOD
NATIONAL
King of Spain
GOVERNMENT
Datu/
Rajah Governor
Visitador
General (chief
General
Executive)
Maharlika
Audiencia Residencia
(Judiciary, and (Judiciary for
Legislative) corrupt)
Timawua Provinces:
PROVINCIAL Provinces:
Alcaldia/
GOVERNMENT Corregimentos
Alcalde Mayor

Aliping Namamahay Cities:

Ayuntamiento/
Alcalde

Aliping Sagigilid Barangay:

Cabeza de
Barangay
COMPREHENSION CHECK!!!
• Notice the differences among the two
socio-political structures. How do they
differ to each other?
 Social/Political Classes
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD SPANISH PERIOD
• Datu/Rajah • A well organized government
The tribal leader
• Maharlika
structure design in colonizing a
Merchants/Soldiers/Aristocrats territory in a large scale.
• Timagua
The common class • All of these can only be seated
• Aliping Namamahay
Has his own family/quarters to live, and they
by a Spanish official except the
served their masters. Cabeza de barangay which is a
• Aliping Sagigilid
Has no property owned, could not marry from any Filipino who are loyal to the
above ranks. Prisoners of war, or had been
punished for grave offenses.
Spanish government can hold
Take note: this social classes are also flexible. Means you can go up and down
the seat.
the said classes, depends on the circumstances. This Alipin are sometimes
those who committed grave offenses, or prisoners of tribal wars.
COMPREHENSION CHECK!!!
• Does our political system in today had a
strong resemblance to the political
structure during the colonial period?
Why?
 The Government
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
• No Central government
• The Rajah/Datu exercised all
the 3 branches of the
government.
• Trial by Ordeal
• Balangay composed of 50 to
100 families.
• Tribal wars
• Blood compact (Sanduguan)
SPANISH PERIOD
• Centralized government
• Governor-General a
representative of the king to rule
the colonized land.
• Composed of National and
Provincial/Local Government
• Reduccion System
COMPREHENSION CHECK!!!
• What is a trial by ordeal?
• What is Reduccion system?
 Their Economic Activities
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD SPANISH PERIOD
• Hunting and Agriculture • Bandala System
Imposing taxation in form of harvest from
• Barter System indios.
Exchange of goods for other goods. • Encomienda System
• Industrialization Means land and inhabitants granted to
deserving Spanish who served the Spanish
Ironworking, boatbuilding, pottery, and government.
weaving. • Polo y Servicio
• Trading Male from 16 to 60 yrs old requires to render
services to government for 40 days. (Masonic
trading goods with local or foreign Works)
traders. • Acapulco trade
• Economic Policies Goods from Philippines traded to Mexico to
Spain.
The concept of debt and punishment by
ordeal if debt was not paid.
COMPREHENSION CHECK!!!
• Notice how the colonial government use their power to
impose rules and regulations for the individuals, and the
way how it turns out to us Filipinos.

• Do you think has caused the dawn of the revolt of the

early Filipinos to the birth of Nationalistic movement by
our National Heroes? Why?
VENN
DIAGRAM
PRE-COLONIAL SPANISH
PERIOD PERIOD
SIMILARITIES

1. Datu/Rajah 2. Centralized
6. Political Society Government

4. No Centralized
Government 3. Governor-General
8. Political Leaders

5. Animism
9. Law and Order 7. Catholicism
• Read the question given below. Answer it with minimum of 50 words essay in
your notebook. You will be given 10 to 15 minutes to answer the question. The
teacher will collect and select 2 to 3 students to share their insights in front.

• Imagine yourself discovering a portal that could

send you back in time. If you were to change one
thing that affected today’s politics in the
Philippines from the 2 periods discussed earlier,
what would it be? And why?
 MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST SLT
For your SLT this afternoon. Answer the 10-item
multiple choice test in Google form to be sent by
your teacher later.

https://forms.gle/Hsnnq8HEGzT7Ru2w6
 LESSON 5:
Democratic Politics:
Evolution/History of the
Philippine Politics and
Governance