Unit 4 Historical Development of Philippine Government

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

✔ Describe the different stages in the evolution of the Philippine governance

✔ Understand what and how the evolution of the Philippine government takes place
✔ Explain the effect/impact/consequences of the development of the Philippine government

Introduction

The evolution of Philippine politics may be presented through the various historical periods that the
country has undergone. The discussion will be divided as follows:
1.Pre-colonial period (before 1565)
2.Spanish period (1565 - 1898)
3. Revolutionary period (1898 - 1899)
4. American period (1898— 1946)
5. Japanese Occupation (1942- 1945)
6. Postwar era or the Third Philippine Republic (1946- 1971)
7.Martial Law era (1972-1981) and the Fourth Republic (1981- 1986)
8.Post-EDSA or the Fifth Republic (1986-present)

4.1. PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

Even before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in 1521, there already existed a system
of governance in pre-colonial Philippines. Back then, the Philippines was an archipelago organized
into several independent and self-sufficient political units known as the barangay.
This unit is headed by a chief known as the datu. In other parts of the archipelago, the
rulers were called rajah, sultan, or hadji. The datu held vast legislative, executive, and judicial
powers. You will learn more about these three powers in the succeeding chapters. But for now,

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suffice it to say that the chieftain had powers to create rules, implement these regulations, and decide
on cases. The datu also served as the military head.
During this period, the barangays already add a legal system, too. Most of the laws, which
evolved based on native customs and traditions, were unwritten and were passed on from one
generation the next by oral tradition. In terms of justice, a system of trial in the form of trial by
ordeal was administered. A system of punishment also existed during that time. The barangay
administered laws, and cases were settled through mediation and compromise.
Present also during the pre-colonial times was the system of stratification, which was
deemed politically significant. The stratification was based on class, which included the nobility
(maharlika), the freemen (timawa), the serfs (aliping namamahay) and the slaves (aliping
sagigilid). The datu belonged to the maharlika class. Women also played a pivotal role during this
period as they held important positions in pre-colonial Philippine society. The pre-colonial system
was already complex and sophisticated, such that foreign relations were already established as early
as this period. The following photos depict such organized and systemic government our forefathers
established during that time.

This painting by Fernando Amorsolo depicts Princess Urduha.

Women during the precolonial period exercised a multitude
of powers and the privileges and enjoyed a high status.

A painting y Fernando
Amorsolo depicting
Lapulapu, a datu of
Mactan.

The datu occupies the

highest rank in the
barangay, the most
basic political unit in
precolonial Philippines
and up today.

This painting by Manuel Parenas depicts trade at Port of

Sugbu. Foreign trade was existent long before the
Europeans arrived in the Philippines.

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4.2 SPANISH PERIOD

Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in the Philippines in 1521 became the Spanish crown’s basis
for the occupation of the archipelago. Thereafter, a number of expeditions were sent to formally
colonize the archipelago. However, it was only during Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's conquest of the
islands in 1565 that the formal establishment of a colonial government took place.
The Spanish takeover brought changes in the archipelago’s governmental structure. The
Philippines was indirectly governed by the king of Spain through Mexico through the council of
indies in Spain. When Mexico gained independence in 1821, the Philippines was ruled by Spain
until 1898, when the country was ceded to the United States of America under the Treaty of Paris.
If the pre-colonial government was characterized by independent barangay, the Spaniards
consolidated power under a centralized government, which was led by the governor general with
his authority based in Manila (Intramuros), the governor general was likewise an all-powerful
individual. He has executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and military powers. The
centralization of power and the creation of a basic unitary government are thus a Spanish influence.
The barangay swears consolidated for the purpose of administrative efficiency. When the
Spaniards were about to implement their imperial design, they noticed that the sparse indigenous
population was scattered in forest lands and coastal areas. With this, the friars enticed the natives to
live in towns.
Recognizing the influence of the datus for the easier pacification of natives, the Spaniards
appointed chieftains as the cabeza de barangay. The datu’s traditional powers, however, were lost
and were limited to collecting taxes. The unified barangay composed the pueblos or towns, which
were led by the gobernadorcillo (" little governor"). The consolidated towns then formed into
provinces, which could be categorized into two. Provinces that were fully subjugated were called
alcaldia, headed by the alcalde mayor; while provinces that were not entirely pacified under Spanish
authority were called corregimiento, led by the Corregidor.
If during the pre-colonial period the datu and the council of elders created laws, laws
during the Spanish period emanated from Spain. On the other hand, there was a Royal Audiencia,
which was an independent body created to hear and solve cases. Initially, the governor general
headed the judicial body, but the chief justice replaced him permanently. Audiencias were
established in Manila, Cebu, and Vigan. While the Audencia was not an exact model of the present-
day Supreme Court (Santos, n.d.), it nonetheless had an influence on its structure.

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4.3 REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD

During the second half of the 19th century, the nationalist sentiments of the Filipinos were
awakened. The propaganda movement, led by figures such as Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and
Graciano Lopez Jeana, advocated reforms that would grant Filipinos the same rights and freedoms
that Spaniards had.They wrote novels, manifestos, and articles that called for reform. However, the
failure of the propaganda to initiate changes in society gave birth to a secret association, the Kataas-
taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Katipunan). Founded in 1892
by Andres Bonifacio and a group of patriots, the Katipunan sought independence from Spain and
set the 1896 Revolution in motion.

The Pacifist and Europe-based members of the Propaganda Movement were from the elite and wealthy

A Carlos V. Francisco painting that depicts the Philippine Revolution of 1896.

Source: https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle

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

Events, however, led to the division of the Katipunan into two factions: the Magdalo and
Magdiwang. The Spaniards were about to launch an offensive in Cavite and a unified leadership was
deemed necessary. On March 22, 1897, the Tejeros Convention was called, where Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
was elected as president.

On November 1, 1897, Aguinaldo established the Biak-na-Bato Republic. Its constitution

declared the creation of an independent Philippine state. The republic, however, lasted only a month after
the Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed. It provided for the amnesty and monetary indemnity of Aguinaldo
and other revolutionaries, including the exile of the revolutionary government to Hong Kong. The pact
was supposed to signal the end of the revolution, but Aguinaldo and his men purchased more arms and
ammunition to prepare themselves for another siege.

By April 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out. On May 24, Aguinaldo sailed for Cavite
from Hong Kong, and by May 24, he established the dictatorial government. It was under this dictatorial
government that the Philippines' independence from Spain was declared on June 12, 1898, in Kawit,
Cavite.

Soon after, the dictatorial government was replaced by a revolutionary government. On September
15th, 1898, one month after the declaration of independence, the Malolos Congress convened, which
produced the Malolos Constitution. On January 23, 1899, the First Philippine Republic was established
with Emilio Aguinaldo as the president. A Supreme Court of Justice was likewise created, which
addressed cases. However, the outbreak of the Filipino-American War suspended the activities of these
institutions. In 1901, Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces, leading to the dissolution of
the First Philippine Republic.

The opening of the Malolos Congress at the Barasoain Church in Bulacan. Source:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/06/1803453/january-23-declared-first-philippine-republic-day

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 4.4 AMERICAN PERIOD

The signing of the Treaty of Paris signaled the end of the Spanish-American War. The treaty
involved a United States payment of $20 million to Spain after the latter ceded all its imperial possessions,
including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. The American occupation of the Philippines
precipitated the Philippine-American War. Following the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo and the defeat of
revolutionary forces, the official end of hostilities was declared in 1902. Regardless of this, individual
uprisings all over the archipelago still persisted, making the Philippine-American War one of the longest
wars the United States has ever been to.

A photograph of Filipino Soldiers during the

The treaty pf Paris was signed on 10 December 1898
Filipino-American war.

In 1898, after America’s capture of Manila, the United States forces established a military
government in the Philippines. It was led by a military governor, who exercised all the powers of the US
president, who was also the commander in chief of the US armed forces. The military governors were
generals Wesley Merritt (1898), Elwell Otis (1898-1900), and Major General Arthur MacArthur, Jr.
(1900–1901).

The Spooner Amendment eventually ended the military regime. A civilian governor replaced the
military governor. The Americans established the insular government of the Philippine islands under the
authority of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, a division that oversaw the civil affairs of some foreign
territories. What ensued thereafter was the establishment of governmental structures that would later
affect or shape the course of Philippine politics.

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 William H. Taft (in office 1901- 1904) became the first civil
governor of the Philippines. The civil governor acted as the head of
the executive branch and also exercised legislative powers as the
head of the Philippine Commission, a lawmaking body, whose
members were all appointed.
In 1902, the Philippine organic act, (Cooper Act) was
enacted, which provided for the creation of a Philippine legislature.
The legislature would be bicameral, with the all-appointed
Philippine commission on the upper house; and the Philippine
Assembly, whose members were to be elected as the lower house. In
1907, the first nationwide election was held, and the Philippine
legislature held its first session. By 1916, the Philippine Autonomy
Act (Jones Law) provided for the reorganization of the Philippine
legislature into a fully elected and Filipino-controlled bicameral
body. The Philippine Commission became the Senate, while the
Philippine Assembly became the House of Representatives.
William H. Taft, first civil governor of the Philippines.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_William_Howard_Taft

Meanwhile, Filipino statesmen were

already working toward total Philippine
independence from the United States. Until 1934,
the Tydings-Mcduffie Act (Philippine
Independence Act) was ratified by the US
Congress. It established the Philippine
commonwealth, which provided for a 10-year
transition period that would prepare the Filipinos
for self-governance. The 1935 constitution was
promulgated, which paved the way for a
presidential and unicameral legislative system
called the National Assembly of the Philippines.
The legislature was later restored to bicameral after
an amendment to the commonwealth constitution. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the
An independent judiciary was also established, with Tydings-McDuffie Law with American and
judicial power vested in a Supreme Court and such Filipino statesmen behind him.
other inferior courts as provided by the law.
President Manuel Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmeña headed the first commonwealth
government. The commonwealth government went into exile when the Japanese occupied the
Philippines from 1942- 1945.

The influence of the American occupation on the structure of the government of the
country is very evident. The democratic political institutions established, such as electoral and party

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politics, constitutional law, the secret ballot, and the legislature, are manifestations of Americans' strong
influence on our current political system.Similarly, our belief in the democratic ideals that guide the
governance of the country is by itself an American influence. As Teehankee (2002) noted, colonialism
became the defining force in the emergence of democracy in the Philippine nation-state.

Read

Read the poem “The White Man's Burden" written by Rudyard Kipling in 1899 for
you have another perspective on the American colonization of the Philippines.

Take up the White Man's burden— Take up the White Man's burden—
Send forth the best ye breed— And reap his old reward:
Go bind your sons to exile The blame of those ye better,
To serve your captives' need. The hate of those ye guard—
To wait in heavy harness The cry of hosts ye humor
On fluttered folk and wild— (Ah, slowly!) toward the light: —
Your new-caught, sullen peoples, "Why brought ye us from bondage,
Half devil and half child. Our loved Egyptian night?"

Take up the White Man's burden— Take up the White Man's burden—
In patience to abide, Ye dare not stoop to less—
To veil the threat of terror Nor call too loud on Freedom
And check the show of pride. To cloak your weariness.
By open speech and simple, By all ye cry or whisper,
An hundred times made plain. By all ye leave or do,
To seek another's profit, The silent, sullen peoples
And work another's gain. Shall weigh your Gods and you.

Take up the White Man's burden— Take up the White Man's burden—
The savage wars of peace— Have done with childish days—
Fill full the mouth of Famine The lightly proffered laurel,
And bid the sickness cease. The easy, ungrudged praise.
And when your goal is nearest Comes now, to search your manhood
The end for others sought, Through all the thankless years,
Watch Sloth and Heathen Folly Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
Bring all your hopes to naught. The judgment of your peers!

Take up the White Man's burden—

No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper—
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Man%27s_Burden
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead!

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 5.5 JAPANESE OCCUPATION

The Japanese occupation of Manila signaled the

establishment of the Japanese military administration on 3rd
January 1942. It consequently led to the interruption of American
rule in the Philippines.
As an initial move, the Japanese military forces
established the Philippine Executive Commission (PEC), a civil
government that would temporarily rule the country. It was
composed of Filipinos, with Jorge B. Vargas as its chairman.
While this commission exercised executive and legislative
powers, everything was subject to approval by the commander in
chief of the Japanese forces.
In 1943, a new constitution was promulgated, and the
Japanese-sponsored Philippine Republic was established. Jose P. Japanese soldiers after the fall of
Laurel served as its president. Also called the Second Republic, Bataan on April 9, 1942
its executive, legislative, and judiciary structures were similar to
those of the PEC. While Filipinos assumed government positions, the Japanese apparently influenced
how the country would be administered. Thus, the second republic is commonly referred to as a "
puppet” government.

Soon after the return of Gen. Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines in 1944 and the
eventual defeat of the Japanese forces, the commonwealth government was reestablished. The 1935
constitution again became the highest law of the land. Meanwhile, Manila suffered as the second
most devastated city after the Second World War, next to the city of Warsaw in Poland. On July 5,
1945, MacArthur announced the liberation of the Philippines. The reestablishment of the government
under Osmeña caused enormous problems: devastation by war, destruction of the economy, political
warfare, and guerrilla violence. Thus, the primary problem during this period was the reconstruction
of the country and of the government.

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5.6 POSTWAR ERA

As what has been mentioned earlier, the Tydings-

Mcduffie Act granted independence to the Philippines after the
10-year transitional period. This happened on 4th of July 1946,
despite the fact that the Philippines was still rising up from the
ashes brought by the war. The Third Republic was also
inaugurated on this day.

The structure of postwar Philippine politics and

government was founded on the 1935 constitution. The said
constitution provides 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
was also a bicameral legislature composed of the senate and the
house of representatives, whose members were also directly
elected by the people. An independent judicial body-composed
of the supreme court and the lower courts-was also created. The Philippine flag was raised
Philippine politics and government were democratic in a sense the us flag was lowered during
that they provided for the separation of powers and a system of the inauguration of the third
checks and balances among the three branches of the Philippine republic.
government. Electoral and party politics also characterized the
pre-and post-war periods.

The first president of the third republic was Manuel Roxas (in office from 1946–48),
followed by Elpidio Quirino (1948–1953), Ramon Magsaysay (1953–1957), Carlos P. Garcia
(1957–1961), Diosdado Macapagal (1961–1965), and the first term of Ferdinand Marcos (1965–
1969). Marcos's second term saw changes in the government structure and the ratification of a new
constitution in 1973.

4.7 MARTIAL LAW ERA AND THE FOURTH

In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected to the presidency, demonstration was characterized
by an increased over cultural productivity, massive infrastructure development, and a defining
diplomatic policy. In 1969, he ran for reelection and succeeded, making him the only president
under the 1935 constitution to be elected for a second term. At that time, however, the country was
undergoing worsening economic conditions, deteriorating peace and order, social discontent, and a
growing communist insurgency.

To "save" the republic from this turmoil and to reform society, Marcos, on September 23,
1972, announced on nationwide radio and television that he was placing the entire country under
martial law. The declaration was made through the virtue of proclamation 1081, which was signed

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on September 21, 1972. Marcos rationalized that martial law was the only option that would solve
the rebellion that posed a threat to the peace and order of the country. He then instituted the Bagong
Lipunan (New Society), which envisioned a thriving and self-reliant society that is based on new
social and political values.

In 1976, the 1973 constitution was amended. Instead of having an election for the national
assembly, an interim Batasang Pambansa would be established, composed of the incumbent
president, the current regional and sectoral representatives, and the members of the cabinet. The
interim Batasang Pambansa would have the same power as the national assembly.

The third item in the 1976 amendments allowed Marcos to be president and prime minister at the
same time. He shall "continue to exercise all his powers even after the interim Batasang Pambansa
is organized and ready to discharge its functions." Likewise, he shall continue to exercise his powers
and prerogatives under the 1935 constitution and the powers vested in the president and the prime
minister under this constitution. " Finally, Marcos' legislative powers were cemented when the sixth
item authorized him to "issue the necessary decrees, orders, and four letters of instruction, which
shall form part of the law of the land" if the interim Batasang Pambansa or the regular national
assembly failed to address matters deemed requiring immediate action by the president-prime
minister.In 1981, the constitution was again amended. With these changes in the government
structure, Marcos was able to stay in the presidency longer and exercise greater powers.

During Martial Law, the political rights and civil liberties of the people, as well as their human
rights, were suppressed and violated. The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus led to the arrest
and detention of any person without proper court proceedings. There were also cases of human
rights abuses among those who were vocal against the regime. Press freedom was suppressed as
Marcos established control of the mass media. Through Letter of Instruction No. 1, Marcos ordered
the closure of media establishments in the country. He also used his power to seize companies and
industries and to place them under the control of his trusted supporters and relatives, instituting
what came to be known as "crony capitalism."

While Marcos had already lifted martial law by 1981, he continued to exercise dictatorial powers.
Calls to end his dictatorial regime brought Filipinos to take to the streets to participate in a popular
and nonviolent uprising called EDSA People Power, which ousted Marcos and ended his dictatorial
rule.

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 Filipino People during EDSA People Power.
Source: https://www.getrealphilippines.com/2011/02/the-real-story-of-the-last-25-years-since-the-edsa-people-
power-revolution/

4.8 POST EDSA PERIOD

The period from 1986 onwards is the restoration of democracy. The fall of the dictatorship
marked the shift toward re-democratization and a return to constitutionalism. A revolutionary
government was created following Corazon Aquino's ascent to the presidency. A Freedom
Constitution was also framed, which served as the foundation of the transitory government. When
a new Philippine Constitution was ratified in 1987, a democratic and republican government was
established.

The 1987 Constitution featured aspects that reflected those of the 1935 Constitution, albeit changes.
The post-EDSA era, also known as the Fifth Republic, saw the revival of democracy wherein
governmental powers emanated from the people. Elections, political parties, and civil society
organizations were thus reinstituted. Civilian authority (through the president) was recognized as
supreme over the military. An independent judiciary was also reestablished. The Philippine
legislature also returned to a bicameral form with the rebirth of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.

Aquino (in office from 1986–1992) served as the first president of the fifth public. She
was followed by Fidel Ramos (1992–1998) and Joseph Estrada, who only served half of his term
(1998–2001) after being deposed by EDSA People Power II. Estrada was succeeded by his vice
president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who eventually won the 2004 presidential election and thus
served as executive for almost a decade (2001–2010). Benigno Simeon Aquino III (2010–2016),

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the son of former President Corazon Aquino, succeeded her. Today, the Philippines is headed by
Rodrigo Duterte, the first president to have hailed from Mindanao.

You have read in this chapter a brief overview of how Philippine politics and government
have transformed through time. Nonetheless, what this topic points out is that the current
developments in the country’s political landscape are heavily influenced by what took place in the
past. There are several institutions and political processes that trace their roots from the pre-colonial
up to the colonial periods. The structure of Philippine politics to date is not only a reflection of the
country’s struggle with colonialism, but also with dictatorship. After all, the return to democracy
and constitutionalism through the 1987 Constitution reflects the nation’s victory against the
authoritarian system. While it is true that the Philippines espouses democratic ideals, the extent and
real essence of democracy are definitely challenged in the present time. This is addressed in the
succeeding chapters.

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