GROUP 1

Malolos
Constitution

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 After the failure of the reformist movement led by Rizal and Del
Pilar, Andres Bonifacio led the 1896-98 Philippine Revolution,
which culminated with the inauguration of the Republic on January
23, 1899, at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan. Though
besieged and eventually thwarted by the United States Army, the
Republic had earned the loyalty of the Filipino people and deserved
the recognition of foreign nations.
 Four days later, the Filipino rebels routed the Spaniards in Alapan,
Cavite, a victory celebrated by Aguinaldo with the first, albeit
informal, waving of the National Flag on Philippine soil. The event
pre-empted the May 31st launching of the second phase of the
revolution. By July 1898, the Filipinos liberated the provinces of
Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga, most of Bulacan, and the
suburbs surrounding Manila.
 Mabini’s plan to establish a grassroots government was realized in
the latter half of June 1898. Aguinaldo issued several important
decrees reorganizing the government in the liberated provinces: the
decree of June 18 reorganized municipalities and provinces, through
the election of Popular Assemblies

 Whose heads the town chiefs then elected the provincial councils.
The decree also provided for the election of delegates to the
Revolutionary Congress by the town chiefs.

 To Mabini, the latter was Aguinaldo’s direct link to the masses and
on August 1, 1898, these town officials assembled at Bacoor, then
the seat of the Revolutionary government, and ratified the newly
proclaimed Philippine independence.
 For security reasons, the seat of government had to be moved away
from the Americans. Aguinaldo declared Malolos, Bulacan as the new
Capital. From Bacoor to Malolos officially transferred, five days later
Congress was inaugurated in Barasouin Church on September 15, 1898,
to the influence of the member of congress Felipe Buencamino.

 Not wanting to disappoint Congress Aguinaldo listened to them.

Aguinaldo instructed the delegate to write the constitution, Mabini did
not expect this because for him the government in time of revolution did
not yet need the legislature to hasten decisions by President without the
need for congressional approval especially considering that no nation
yet had recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Philippines.
Congress could no longer be stopped to write the constitution for it had
already formed a committee to do it.
Mabini objections to Malolos
Constitution
 Mabini planned to provide the Revolutionary government the
freedom to deal with American authorities on whatever as long as
doing so would further prevent the horrors of war in addition to
bringing about the recognition of the Filipino's natural rights and the
country’s overall welfare. Although Mabini's comments are
significant, they are also open to misunderstanding.
 Mabini disapproved of a formal declaration of independence but had
no problem with subsequent proclamations that were only
affirmations of what some people already desired.

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 He believed that the greatest way to solve the issues associated with
bringing about the reform movement and revolution was through
independence.

 On January 29, 1899, Pres. Aguinaldo took office and officially

proclaimed the consultation, which reflected the ideology and belief
system of the Filipino people.

 As a result, Mabini left his advisory position in December 1898.

 Aguinaldo did not accept Mabini's resignation instead he accepted
his criticism of the constitution by asserting to insert the needed
amendment of the document formally promulgated constitution that
embodied the ideologist belief system and values of the Filipino
people.

 On January 1, 1899, Pres. Aguinaldo read Mabini's criticism of the

constitution before congress rather than accepting Mabini's
resignation.
 In Aguinaldo's speech, he expressed a congratulatory message to
the members of the Malolos congress, especially to the Filipino
people for their corporate efforts, and sacrifices in the struggle to
gain independence.

 On January 2 Pres. Aguinaldo appointed his cabinet.

 Apolinario Mabini being the adviser of the President, objected
some provision 3 of this constitution until other member of congress
find proper solution.

 President Aguinaldo ascending to insert the needed amendment of

the document and he formally promulgated the constitution that
embodied the Ideologist belief system and values of the Filipino
people on January 29, 1899.

 Thus Mabini resigned as his adviser (December 1898) Pres.

Aguinaldo did not accept Mabini’s resignation instead he accepted
Mabini’s criticism of the constitution and read this in congress on
January 1, 1899.

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 Mabini’s letter (December 1898): “Now that you have other counselors
allow me to retire. When you had no one to consult, I worked by your
side in spite of my sickness. Now that you do not need me, It is only
fair to me that I should think of my health. As soon as the roads dry up,
I will go to Sibul and see if I can still recover.”

 Needless to say, Aguinaldo’s actuation in the next few weeks

demonstrated that he still felt that he needed Mabini’s wise counsel.

 Aguinaldo did not accept Mabini’s resignation instead he accepted his

criticism of the constitution by asserting to insert the needed
amendment of the document formally promulgated constitution that
embodied the ideologies belief system and values of the Filipino
people.
 Aguinaldo read the constitution in Congress (1, January 1899), he also
changed his Cabinet (2, January 1899) naming Mabini the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs & Chief Minister of the Cabinet. Mabini accepted these
positions as Aguinaldo insisted so that he could have a voice in
government.

 In Pres. Aguinaldo's speech, He expressed his congratulations to the

members of the Malolos congress, and armed forces, especially to the
Filipino people for their cooperative effort, and sacrifices in the struggle to
gain independence. He said that the aspiration ideas of resilient ways “to
live under the democratic regime of the Philippine Republic, free from the
yoke of any domination” “Great is this day! Glorious this date and forever
memorable this moment in which our beloved people were raised to the
theories of independence. On January 2, Pres. Aguinaldo appoint his
Cabinet:
  ApolinarioMabini- President of Cabinet and
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
 TeodoroSandico- Secretary of interior

The Cabinet of  Baldomero Aguinaldo- Secretary of War

 Mariano Trias - Secretary of Finance
Pres.  GracianoGonzaga – Secretary of Welfare
Aguinaldo ( including public instruction,
 Public works, Communication, Agriculture &
Commerce
The Officers of the congress are the ff:
 Pedro Paterno - President
 Benito Legarda – Vice President
 Gregorio Araneta - 1st Secretary
 Pablo Ocampo - 2nd Secretary
Delegates created the committee of Justice &
other different committees:
 Committee on Felicitation
 Committee on Message
 Committee on Internal registration
 Committee on Style
 Committee to draft the constitution
 POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE
THE MALOLOS REPUBLIC
CONSTITUTION  WE, the Representatives of the Filipino people,
Translation by lawfully convened, in order to establish justice,
provide for the common defense, promote the
Sulpicio Guevara
general welfare, and to secure for ourselves the
from the original blessings of liberty, imploring the aid of the
Spanish text Supreme Legislator of the Universe to help us
attain these objectives, have voted, decreed,
and sanctioned the following.

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  Article 1. The political association of all the
Filipinos constitutes a NATION, whose state.

 Article 1. Shall be known as the Philippine

• TITLE I - Republic.
"THE
REPUBLIC"  Article 2. The Philippine Republic is free and
independent.

 Article 3. Sovereignty resides exclusively in

the people.
  Article 4. Government of the Republic is
popular , representative, alternative and
responsible, and shall exercise three (3) distinct
powers: namely the legislative, the executive,
TITLE II - "THE and the judicial.
GOVERNMENT"
 Article 5. The State recognizes the freedom
and equality of all religions, as well as the
separation of the Church and the State.
  Article 6. The following are Filipinos:
• TITLE III -
"THE  All person's born in the Philippine territory. A
vessel of Philippine registry is considered, for this
FILIPINOS purpose, as part of the Philippines territory.
AND THEIR
 Children of a Filipino father or mother, although
NATIONAL born outside of the Philippines.
AND
INDIVIDUAL  Foreign who have obtained certificate of
naturalization. Those who, without such
RIGHTS" certificate, have acquired a domicile in any town
within Philippine territory.
 Article 7 - No Filipino or foreigner shall be
detained nor imprisoned except for the
commission of a crime and in accordance with the
law.

 Article 8 - All persons detained shall be

discharged or delivered to the judicial authority
within 24 hours following the act of detention.

 Article 9 - No Filipino shall be imprisoned except

by virtue of an order by the competent court.

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 Article 10 - No one shall enter the dwelling house
of any Filipino or foreigner residing in the
Philippines without his consent, except in urgent
cases of fire, inundation, earthquake, or other
similar danger, or by reason of unlawful aggression
from within, or in order to assist a person therein
who cries for help.

 Article 11 - No Filipino shall be compelled to

change his residence or domicile except by virtue of
final judgment.
 Article 12 - In no case may correspondence
confined to the post office be detained or opened by
government authorities, nor any telegraphic or
telephonic message detained.