Module for

PHILIPPINE POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

(WEEK 7 and 8)

EVOLUTION OF POLITICS IN THE PHILIPPINES

I. Overview
One of the first established republics in Asia was no other than the Philippines.
This lesson will discuss the evolution of politics in the Philippines – from barangay to
presidential system which is adopted by Filipinos. How the political system in the Philippines
evolved and what are the changes given the history and development of politics in country will
also be discussed.

Pre-Spanish Period
The Pre-Spanish Period introduced the ”barangay” system where the central
government is headed by the ‘datu’, ‘raha’ or ’sultan’. The chieftain (datu) holds the 3 important
powers in the government – the executive (as the execution of the law), legislative (has the
power to legislate or repeal laws)and the judiciary (the power to interpret laws). The chieftain
was assisted by the council of elders in dealing with laws and he also commanded the army and
the navy. The barangay system is also associated with the Greek Empire where one Greek city-
state waged war against another Greek city-state.

Spanish Period
Then the Spaniards came in the early 16 th century, they imposed the Spanish style of
governance. The King is the head of all colonies under the Ministerio de Ultramar. The
Governor-General serves as the ‘governor of the provinces or what were called colonies’. He is
also the commander-in-chief of all armed forces – army and the navy. He is also the head of the
Real Audiencia (the Spanish Supreme Court). He was also checked by 2 spies – the residencia
and the visitadores. The Residencia was the incoming governor-general who will succeed the
incumbent governor-general. On the other hand, Visitadores are the ones who managed and
monitored all the programs that were implemented by the Spanish Kingdom in their colonies.

Propaganda and Revolution

The Propaganda Movement was established from 1889-1895 through the founding of
La Solidaridad newspaper which became the medium of the propagandists. Among them were
Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez-Jaena. Rizal was a novelist who used his
mighty pen to fight the Spaniards. His classic novels are Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
the best novels written by a Filipino. Del Pilar was also known as one of the articulators of anti-
Spanish sentiments who wrote pamphlets such as Caiingat Cayo and The Frailocracy in the
Philippines. The first editor of La Solidaridad was Graciano Lopez Jaena known as the orator of
the movement.
 The Revolutionary Period begun when plebeians coming from Tondo organized th KKK
(Kataastaasabg Kagakanggalangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) which was patterned
from the Masonry. The organization used the ‘triad method’ for the purpose of separating from
Spain. In the latter part of the revolution, Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo rose to power and became the
President of the Philippine Republic.

American Period
The American Period in the Philippines lasted from1899 to1946 where the Americans
introduced the Presidential system under the 1935 Constitution. The President is the head of
the government while the Vice-President is the head of State. The American Period was divided
into two – the Military Government and the Civil Government. The Military government
suppressed the rebellions in the whole archipelago under the military governor-general. On the
other hand, the Civil government managed the peace and order of the whole archipelago. The
1935 Constitution introduced the basic principles of state such as the separation of church and
state and the powers of the main branches – the Executive (President and Vice-President),
Legislative (congress) and the Judiciary (the Supreme Court).

The Japanese Occupation

The 1935 Constitution was set aside when the Japanese occupied the Philippines from
1941 to 1945. The Japanese implemented the “Monroe Doctrine of Asia” known as the Greater
East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere where the Japanese imposed their laws and customs on the
country. Simultaneously, the Allied Forces occupied Europe which effectively weakened Fascism
in Italy and Germany. Consequently, Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces after the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945.

Republican Period
The Republican Period took place from the Presidency of Manuel Roxas (1946) up to the
first term of the Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1969) where the following recounts;

Independent Philippines and the Third Republic (1946-1972)

In April 1946, elections were held. Despite the fact that the Democratic Alliance won
the election, they were not allowed to take their seats under the pretext that force had been
used to manipulate the elections. The US withdrew its sovereignty over the Philippines on July
4,1946, as schedule;
Manuel Roxas (Liberal.Party) having been inaugurated as President on July 4, 1946,before the
granting of independence, strengthened political and economic ties with the US in the
controversial Phils.-US Trade Act in March 1947.
- Military Assistance Pact which allowed the US to participate equally in the exploitation of the
country’s natural resources and rented sites for23 military bases to the US for 99 years (later
reduced to 25 years beginning 1967). These bases would later be used to launch operations in
Korea, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
- General Amnesty was granted to those who collaborated with the Japanese while at the same
time the Huks were declared illegal.
- His administration ended prematurely when he died of heart attack on April 15,1948 while at
the US Air Force Base in Pampanga.
Vice President Elpidio Quirino (Liberal Party) was sworn in as President. He ran for election in
November 1949 against Jose P. Laurel (Nacionalista Party, henceforth referred to as NP) and
won his own four-year term.
- During this time, the CIA under the leadership of Lt. Col. Edward G. Lansdale was engaged in
paramilitary and psychological warfare operations to suppress the Huk movement. Among
the measures undertaken were psyops campaigns which demoralized the superstitions of
many Filipinos and acts of violence by government soldiers who were disguised as Huks. By
1950, the US had provided the Philippine military with supplies and equipment worth $200
million dollars.
- The huge task of reconstructing the war-torn country was complicated by the activities in
Central Luzon of the Communist dominated Hukbalahap guerrillas(Huks)
Ramon Magsaysay succeeded to the presidency. He was the Minister of National Defense. His
impressive achievement against the Huks catapulted him to the presidency in the election of
November 1953 defeating Elpidio Quirino. His campaign was massively supported by the CIA
both financially and through practical help in discrediting his political enemies. He had promised
sweeping economic changes, progress in land reform, opening new settlements outside Luzon.
His death in an airplane crash in March 1957 was a serious blow to the national morale. Vice
President Carlos P. Garcia succeeded him and won a full term as president in the elections of
November, 1957.
In foreign affairs, the Philippines preserved a firm anti-Communist policy and joined
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization in 1954. There were difficulties with the US over American
military installations in the islands. Despite formal recognition in1956 of full Philippines
sovereignty over these bases, tensions increased until some of the bases were dismantled
in1959 and the 99-year lease period was reduced. Consequently, the US rejected the
Philippines financial claims and projected trade revisions.
In June,1959, Philippine opposition to Garcia on issues of government corruption and anti-
Amercanism led to the union of the Liberal and Progressive parties led by then Vice Pres.
Diosdado Macapagal, the liberal party leader. This resulted to the election of Pres. Macapagal in
the 1961 national elections. Macapagal’s administration was marked by efforts to combat the
mounting rise of communism that had plagued the republics since its birth; by attempted
alliances with neighboring countries; and by a territorial argument with Britain over North
Borneo (later Sabah), which Macapagal claimed had been leased and not sold to the British
North Borneo Company in 1878.
The coming of Ferdinand Marcos’ (1965-1969) first term was one of the glory days of the
Philippines where he continued the legacy of the Macapagal presidency. However, because of
his ambition to become president for life, he declared Martial Law from1972 to 1981 which is
the main focus of this chapter.

The New Society

 The declaration of martial law according to the account of Zaide was premised on a.)
saving the republic, and b.) creating a new society used by then Pres. Marcos as the main
reasons why he needed extra-constitutional powers. By signing Proclamation No.81on
September 21, 1972 Marcos effectively placed the Phils in a state of Martial Law extending the
powers of the president and ignoring the election in 1973 under the 1935 constitution where
the term of the president is only 4years. To legalize his proclamation, he formed a ’modified
parliamentary system’ the new form of government where the president is the head of state
and the prime minister is the head of the government.

Contemporary Period
Under the contemporary period (1986 to present), there are three groups of presidents as
follows:
a. People Power President – Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)
b. Centennial Presidents –Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998, Joseph E. Estrada (1998-2001) and
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010)
c. Electronic Presidents – Benigno C. Aquino (2010-2016) and Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016-
2022)
All of the above-mentioned presidents of the Republic of the Philippines are covered by
the 1987 Constitution which was promulgated by a national referendum reverting from the
modified-parliamentary system to the presidential system where the president acts as the
nominal and actual head. The vice-president on the other hand can be appointed as the one of
its cabinet members at the discretion of the president.
Under the presidential system based on the 1987 Constitution that in Article VII, section1- the
executive power shall be vested on the president of the Philippines…” where the presidential
system is adopted and he shall be elected by the popular election. The vice-president on the
other hand is the successor of the president in case of problems that may arise from the
following:
a. The president cannot do his duty due to his health;
b. Resignation;
c. Physically incapacitated in doing the duties as president.
The cabinet members who are appointed by the president are considered hi alter-ego in
several departments under the executive branch. On the other hand the legislative branch,
(Congress)is the law making body and the Judicial branch is the interpreter of the laws of the
land.

II. Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
 Analyse the evolution of Philippine politics and governance
III. References:
Module in Philippine Politics and Governance (For Senior High School- HUMSS/GAS Strand)
by Prof. Edwin E. Valenzuela, M.A.
Philippine politics and Governance by R.A. Pawilen and Reidan M. Pawilen

Prepared by:
 FELIX M. PILAR

Name: _______________________________ Score:

_________

Year &Section:________________________
Date:__________
IV. Suggested Activity:
Watch a short video/film about the EDSA People Power Revolution and make reflection
on that significant period of our history. Indicate the title, direction, and date of release of
such video.

Title:
Written/Directed by:
Date Of Release:
Summary:

Reflection:
V. Self-Check Test:
Answer the following questions:
1. Using other references, what is the meaning of the term, ‘government’?
2. What were the policies implemented by the following:
a. Roxas
b. Quirino
c. Magsaysay
d. Garcia
e. Macapagal
3. What are the contributions of New Society under the Marcos administration?

VI. Enrichment Activity

Martial Law is a special government power that is granted to the president whenever
rebellion or invasion threatens the state, or for public safety. What were the events that
prompted former President Ferdinand Marcos to declare Martial Law in the country in
1972? List down five events.
 Module for
PHILIPPINE POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
(WEEK 9)

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

I. Overview:

“Being a President is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep on riding or he is swallowed.”
 Harry S. Truman

Power in the government is basically divided among the three branches: the executive,
judicial and legislative. We have a presidential form of government in the Philippines. The
president of the Philippines is the center of power, the head of both government and state
(Defensor Santiago 2002). This also means the he/she is not constrained by both the judicial
and legislative branch in the performance of his/her duties as the country’s chief executive
(Watson in Ramirez 1969). The executive power vested upon the president and the
executive branch basically means “the power to enforce and administer the laws” (Ramirez
1969).
To qualify as a candidate for presidency, a person must be:
1. A natural-born Filipino citizen;
2. A registered voter;
3. Able to read and write;
4. At least forty (40) years of age on the day of the election; and
5. A resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such
election.

The same qualifications apply to the vice-president.

The president and the vice-president are elected through direct voting by the majority
of the voters and will begin their six-year term on the 30 th day of June following the day of the
election. The president cannot run for re-election for the said office again unless that person
who served as president only held office for four years or less. In case of death, permanent
disability, removal from office, or resignation by the president, the following line of succession is
observed until the position of president is filled-up: Vice-President, Senate President and
Speaker of the House of the Representatives.

Aside from the executive power, there are other major powers held by the president.
The first major power is the power of appointment provided in Section 16, Article VII of the
Constitution. The president can appoint the heads of executive departments, ambassadors,
 other public ministers and consuls, officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval
captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him/her by the Constitution.

The second major power is administrative power, as stated in Section 17, Article VII. The
president shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus, and offices. He shall
ensure that the laws be faithfully executed.

The third major power is the military power for being the commander-in-chief of all the
armed forces in the Philippines under Section 18, Article VII. Along with this power is the power
to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and to place the country or nay part of the
Philippines under martial law in cases of invasion or rebellion or when public safety requires it.
The president is given 48 hours from the proclamation of martial law to submit a report
regarding such proclamation to the Congress which will then decide if the proclamation be
revoked or suspended.

The president has also the power to grant pardons and amnesty. Pardon is the power to
release a wrongdoer from punishment after conviction. Amnesty is a pardon extended to a
group of persons and abolished the offense before or after conviction.

Other powers of the president include:

1. The power to contract loans on behalf of the Republic subject to prior concurrence
of the Monetary Board and subject to limitations as may be provided by law;
2. The power to sign a Treaty or international agreement provided that the validity and
effectiveness of such treaty will be ratified first by at least two-thirds of all members
of the Senate; and
3. The power of the budget under Section 22,Article VII, where the president submits
to the Congress a budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including
receipts from existing and proposed revenue measure.

The president exercises a lot of powers, but he/she should be reminded that the
true power rests in the people and that the Office of the President, as well as the other
branches of the government, exists to serve the populace.

II. Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
 Analyze the roles and powers of the executive branch of the
government.

III. References:

Module in Philippine Politics and Governance (For Senior High School- HUMSS/GAS Strand)
by Prof. Edwin E. Valenzuela, M.A.
Philippine politics and Governance by R.A. Pawilen and Reidan M. Pawilen
Prepared by:

FELIX M. PILAR
Name: _______________________________ Score:
_________

Year &Section:________________________
Date:__________

IV. Suggested Activity:

Complete the concept map below. Write information or description of the
executive branch in the circles around the main concept.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

V. Self-Check Test:
Answer the following questions:
1. Consulting the 1987 Constitution, what are the qualifications of the President of the
Republic of the Philippines?
2. Enumerate the powers and functions of the president.
3. Explain the quotation of Harry S. Truman found at the introduction of this week’s
module.
VI. Enrichment Activity
Write down the names of the presidents of the Philippines in chronological order.