Philippine Politics and Governance

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 1st Trimester S.Y. 2020-2021
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MODULE 4 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Through this module, the learners are able to:

A. recount the evolution of Philippine politics, government and governance;

B. assess the effects of colonial experience on politics and governance; and
C. evaluate the influence of political developments on contemporary Philippine politics through a
photo essay.

INTRODUCTION

Understanding Political History and Democracy BIG IDEA

POLITICAL HISTORY is a narrative and survey of political
events, ideas, movements, organs of governments, voters, A government without
parties and leaders. political representation or
participation cannot claim
DEMOCRACY means the “power of the people.” It originates
to be democratic
from the Greek words demos, which means “people” and
kratos, which means “strength or power.”

DISCUSSION

EVOLUTION OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, AND GOVERNANCE

PRECOLONIAL PERIOD

BIG IDEA
Women during precolonial
times exercised power and
privileges and enjoyed a
high status

Fig. 5.1 Painting by

Fernando Amorsolo
depicting Princess Urduja
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 1st Trimester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 4 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

Even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines had already its own type of government
in each of the composed settlements or villages called Balangay, a Malayan word meaning “boat.”

Each barangay was headed by a chieftain called Datu. He was the chief executive, law giver,
chief judge, and military head. However, he was assisted by a council of elders called the Maginoos.
Thus, the form of government before was monarchy because of the wealth and physical prowess of
the chieftain. Most of the laws, were unwritten and were passed on to generations by oral tradition. In
terms of justice, a trial by ordeal was administered. Furthermore, a system of punishment was also
evident during the precolonial times. The barangay administered laws, and cases were settled through
mediation and compromise.

Present also during this period was the system of stratification, which was deemed politically
significant. The stratification was based on class.

SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE BARANGAY

MAHARLIKA

TIMAWA

ALIPING NAMAMAHAY

ALIPING SAGUIGUILID
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 1st Trimester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 4 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

SPANISH PERIOD

Fig. 5.2 Depicting the Arrival of Spaniards in the Philippines

Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines became the Spanish Crown’s basis for the
occupation of the Archipelago. However, it was only during Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s conquest of
the islands did the formal establishment of a colonial government take place.

If the precolonial government was characterized by

independent barangays, the Spaniards consolidated power DID YOU KNOW?
under a centralized government. The highest-ranking ruler
The Spanish colonization in the
during the Spanish rule was the Governor-general who served
Philippines led to the introduction
as the representative of the King of Spain in the Philippines. As a
of government structure that
ruler, he exercised the executive, administrative, legislative and
changed the life of Filipinos.
judicial powers.

The first Spanish governor-general in the

Philippines is Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
(picture on the left) and the last was Gen.
Diego Delos Rios (picture on the right).
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 1st Trimester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 4 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD

Fig. 5.3 Carlos Francisco’s painting that depicts Philippine Revolution of 1896

During the second half of 19th century, the nationalist sentiments of the Filipinos were awakened.
The Propaganda Movement, led by the Ilustrados mainly Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Graciano
Lopez-Jaena advocated reforms. However, the failure of the Propaganda to initiate changes in the
society gave birth to a secret association, the Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng
mga Anak ng Bayan (KATIPUNAN) which was organized by Andres Bonifacio.

As an organization, the Katipunan adopted its own form of government. It was governed by the
Kataastaasang Sanggunian (Supreme Council), which was composed of the president, secretaries,
treasurer and fiscal. The Sangguniang Balangay (Provincial Council) and the Sangguniang Bayan
(Popular Council) was also organized in each province and town, respectively. A Sangguniang
Hukuman (Judicial Council) was also created to adjudicate on cases involving members of the
organization.

Eventually, the Katipunan was replaced by another form of government headed by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo who was elected as the President in the election held at Tejeros Convention.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 1st Trimester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 4 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

On November 1, 1897, Emilio Aguinaldo established the Biak na Bato Republic. It had a
constitution which was to take effect for two years only.

The First Philippine Republic, also known as the Malolos Republic was
formed after the declaration of independence and the collapse of the
Spanish rule over the Philippines. Additionally, it was established with the
BIG IDEA
proclamation of the Malolos Constitution. The Republic at Malolos was the
first to frame a comprehensive constitution duly approved by partially The Philippine
elected officials. It declared that sovereignty resides exclusively in the Republic was the first
people, stated basic civil rights, separated the church and the state and constitutional republic
called for the creation of an Assembly of Representatives to act as in Asia.
legislative body. Furthermore, it called for a parliamentary republic as the
form of government. The president was elected for a term of four (4) years
by a majority of the Assembly.

AMERICAN PERIOD

Fig. 5.4 An image of the Filipino students and the Thomasites during the American
Occupation in the Philippines
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

In 1898, after America’s capture of Manila, the United States forces established a military
government in the Philippines. The Spooner Amendment eventually ended the military regime. A
civilian government replaced the military governor. The Americans established the Insular
Government. Hence, there were several acts that were passed that defined the fundamental
principles, and established structures, procedures, powers and duties of the Philippine government.

• PHILIPPINE ORGANIC ACT OF 1902

- Sometimes known as the Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act. This was the first organic law
enacted by the United States Congress for the Philippine government. It provided for the
creation of a Philippine Assembly, and specified that legislative power would be vested in a
bicameral legislature composed of the Philippine Commission (upper house) and Philippine
Assembly (lower house).

• PHILIPPINE AUTONOMY ACT OF 1916

- Sometimes known as the Jones Law which modified the structure of the Philippine government
by removing the Philippine Commission as the legislative upper house and replacing it with
a Senate elected by Filipino voters, creating the Philippines' first fully elected national
legislature.

• HARE-HAWES CUTTING ACT

- This act was the precursor of Tydings-McDuffie Act which laid down the promise of
independence to the Philippines after 10 years of transition period and other provisions;
however, because of infighting within the Philippine Congress, it was not ratified and only
became the basis for the creation of the Tydings–McDuffie Act.

• TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE ACT
- It provided for the autonomy and defined mechanisms for the establishment of a formal
constitution.

COMMONWEALTH ERA

The Commonwealth
Government was
inaugurated on November
15, 1935 with Manuel
Quezon as President and
Sergio Osmeña as Vice
President

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the administrative body that governed the
Philippines and replaced the Insular government. The Commonwealth was established by the Tydings-
McDuffie Act and was designed as a transitional administration in preparation for the country’s full
achievement of independence.

The 1935 Constitution was written, approved and adopted in 1934 by the Commonwealth of
the Philippines and later used by the Third Republic. The original 1935 Constitution provided for a
unicameral National Assembly, and the President was elected to a six-year term without the possibility
re-election. It was amended in 1940 to have a bicameral Congress composed of a Senate and House
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

of Representatives, as well the creation of an independent electoral commission and to grant the
President a four-year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms in office.

JAPANESE OCCUPATION (SECOND REPUBLIC)

Fig. 5.5 An image during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines

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. However, the laws enacted were subjected 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.

On October 14, 1943, the Second Republic of the Philippines also known as the Japanese-
sponsored Philippine Republic was established. The Philippines was then a puppet state under the
Japanese occupation. Furthermore, the ultimate source of its authority was the Japanese military
authority and government.

In 1943, a new Constitution was drafted by a committee appointed by the Philippine Executive
Commission during the puppet society. The 1943 Constitution provided for strong executive powers.
The Legislature consisted of a unicameral National Assembly and only those considered to be anti-US
could stand for election, although in practice most legislators were appointed rather than elected.

JOSE P. LAUREL

He served as the president during the Second Republic from

1943-1945.
Shortly after his inauguration, President Laurel, together with
cabinet Ministers Recto and Paredes flew to Tokyo to attend
the Greater East Asia Conference which was an international
summit held in Tokyo, Japan. The Conference addressed few
issues of any substance, Eradication of Western Opium Drug
Trade and to illustrate the Empire of Japan's commitments to
the Pan-Asianism ideal and to emphasize its role as the "liberator"
of Asia from Western colonialism.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

POST WAR ERA

Fig. 5.6 An image during the post war era in the Philippines

The structure of postwar Philippine politics and government was founded on the 1935
Constitution. The said constitution provided for a presidential and unitary system, wherein the president
will be directly elected by the people and will serve for four years with a maximum of two terms. There
will be a bicameral legislature composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, whose
members are also directly elected by the people. An independent judicial body composed of the
Supreme Court and lower courts was also created.

Philippine politics and government were democratic in a sense that they provided for the
separation of powers and a system of checks and balances among the three branches of the
government.

From 1946-1961, Independence Day was celebrated on July 4. On May 12, 1962 President
Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28 s. 1962, which declared June 12 as Independence
Day. In 1964, Congress passed Republic Act No. 4166 which formally designated June 12 of every year
as the date on which Philippine Independence would
be celebrated. July 4 in turn has been observed as
Republic Day since then.

Manuel Roxas became the first president of the

Third Republic of the Philippines. The said republic was
established from the recognition of independence in
1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado
Macapagal. It applied the provisions stipulated in the
1935 Constitution. However, the said Constitution was
stained with bribery and corruption. Hence, in 1971 a
Constitutional Convention was held to rewrite it. In any
case, the 1935 Constitution was suspended in 1972 with
Marcos' proclamation of martial law.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

MARTIAL LAW ERA AND THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

Fig. 5.7 People flocked to EDSA in efforts to end the authoritarian regime

In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected to the presidency. In 1969, he ran for reelection and
succeeded, making him the only president under the 1935 Constitution to be elected for a second
term.
Under Marcos’ administration, a new constitution was adopted in 1973. The said constitution
introduced a parliamentary-style government. Legislative power was vested in a unicameral National
Assembly whose members were elected for six-year terms. The President was ideally elected as the
symbolic and purely ceremonial head of state chosen from amongst the Members of the National
Assembly for a six-year term and could be re-elected to an unlimited number of terms.

The Fourth Republic of the Philippines covers the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos
and President Corazon Aquino. Under Aquino, the Philippines adopted a new constitution ending the
Fourth Republic and ushering in the beginning of the Fifth Republic.

Immediately following the 1986 People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos, President Corazon
Aquino issued Proclamation No.3 as a provisional constitution. It adopted certain provisions from the
1973 Constitution while abolishing others. It granted the President broad powers to reorganize the
government and remove officials as well as mandating the president to appoint a commission to draft
a new and more formal Constitution. This document was known as the “Freedom Constitution” or the
1986 Constitution which is the transitional constitution that lasted a year and came before the
permanent constitution.

FIFTH REPUBLIC

The Fifth Republic of the Philippines covers the presidency of Corazon Aquino up to the
administration of Rodrigo Duterte. During this period, the Philippines uses the 1987 Constitution. The
constitution was ratified by a nationwide plebiscite on February 8, 1987.
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

ASSESSMENT

BACKGROUND CHECK: A photo essay is a series of photographs that is intended to tell a story or
evoke emotions from the viewers.

PHOTO ESSAY: A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

INSTRUCTIONS: Make a photo essay about the political development of the Philippines. Choose
one (1) practice that was applied from each of the various historical periods that the Philippines has
undergone which are still applied in the present Philippine politics. Then, download from the internet a
picture of such practice. If photographs are not available, drawings/ illustrations are allowed.
Furthermore, write a short caption for each photo depicting the impact of each historical period to
contemporary Philippine politics. Make sure to include a catchy title for your report. Follow the given
format below. (see attached example and rubric).

TITLE:_______________________________________________

PRE-COLONIAL SPANISH PERIOD REVOLUTIONARY ERA AMERICAN PERIOD

Caption 1: Caption 2: Caption 3: Caption 4:

COMMONWEALTH ERA JAPANESE OCCUPATION POST WAR ERA MARTIAL LAW ERA

Caption 5: Caption 6: Caption 7: Caption 8:

PHOTO ESSAY RUBRIC

CRITERIA DESCRIPTION SCORE

Content All images are appropriate to the topic, 10 points
evocative, and visually captivating.
Point of View Provided a strong and clear opinion of the 5 points
relevance of historical period to contemporary
context.

Organization Presentation is logically sequenced and 5 points

presented with utmost quality.
TOTAL: 20 POINTS
 Philippine Politics and Governance
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section: 12 1st Semester S.Y. 2020-2021
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 5 – PPG Subject Teacher: Humanities and Philosophy

SAMPLE PHOTO ESSAY

SOURCE: Retrieved from Brainly: https://brainly.ph/question/696893

REFERENCES

• Ramos, Renan E. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance. Quezon City: Vibal
Group, Inc.

• Villanueva, Prince Aian G. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Makati City:
DIWA Learning System, Inc.