Nacionalista Party

The Nacionalista Party (Filipino: Partido Nasyonalista and Spanish: Partido Nacionalista) is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907.

The Nacionalista Party was the ruling party from 1935–1944 (under President Manuel Quezon), 1944–1946 (under President Sergio Osmeña), 1953–1957 (under President Ramon Magsaysay), 1957–1961 (Under President Carlos P. Garcia), and 1965–1972 (under President Ferdinand Marcos).

Platform

The Nacionalista Party, historically, belonged to the conservative wing of Philippine politics, while its main opponent, the Liberal Party and its junior coalition partners all belong to the liberal wing. In practice, the differences between both parties are obscure as changing of party allegiance by individual politicians (as is the case in Italy and pre-reform Thailand), especially prior to major elections, has become a norm in Philippine politics.

Liberal Party (Philippines)

The Liberal Party of the Philippines (Filipino: Partido Liberal ng Pilipinas) is the governing political party and a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator José Avelino, on January 19, 1946 by a breakaway Liberal wing from the old Nacionalista Party. It is the current ruling party after the election victory of Benigno Aquino III as the President of the Philippines. The Liberals control the House of Representatives, while they are part of a coalition agreement in the Senate.

The Liberal Party is the second-oldest extant political party in the Philippines in terms of date of establishment, and the oldest continually-active political party in the Philippines. The party has been led by respected liberal thinkers and pro-development politicians like Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Diosdado Macapagal, Gerry Roxas, Benigno Aquino, Jr., Jovito Salonga, Raul Daza, Florencio B. Abad, Jr., Franklin Drilon, Mar Roxas, and Benigno Aquino III.