LESSON 5
PHILIPPINE
DEMOCRATIC POLITICS
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE PHILIPPINE
• The history of the Philippines is
believed to have begun with the
arrival of the first humans using
rafts or boats at least 67,000
years ago as the 2007 discovery
of Callao Man suggested.
• Negrito groups first inhabited the
isles.
• Groups of Austronesians later
migrated to the islands.
THE PRE-SPANISH GOVERNMENT
• The early Filipinos had a government which
they called “balangay”. Rajah or Datu is
called for those head or leader.
3 SOCIAL CLASSES
1.Maharlika (Nobles)
2.The Timawas (Freemen)
3. The Apilin (Slaves).
• Visavan Famire was established with a seat in
Sumatra about the 7th century, and extended to
the places now known as Java, Sumatra, the
Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Celebes, the Moluccas,
and the Philippine Islands. At the end of the 13th
century a new empire called Majapahit was
founded in Java, which absorbed the Shri-
Visayan kingdom.
GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES UNDER THE
SPANISH RULE
• During the Spanish period, the people of the
Philippines were governed indirectly by the King of
Spain through the Viceroy of Mexico.
• In theory, he was highest government official in the
country, in practice though frailocracy “rule of the
friars”.
• Mexico, the former colony of Spain, gained her
freedom in 1821 and ruled directly by Spain until
1898.
THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE
AMERICAN REGIME
• Americans started the military rule in the
Philippines on August 14, 1898.
• President of US delegated his authority to the
military governor who exercised all powers of
the government (as long as the war lasted) -
executive, legislative and judiciary.
THE GOVERNMENT DURING THE
COMMONWEALTH
• The administrative body that governed the Philippines from
1935 to 1946, aside from a period of exile in the Second
World War from 1942 to 1945 when Japan occupied the
country.
• It replaced the Insular Government, a United States
territorial government, and was established by the Tydings –
McDuffie Act.
• The Commonwealth was designed as a transitional
administration in preparation for the country's full
achievement of independence.
THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE JAPANESE
OCCUPATION
• Japanese military administration was Establish in
Manila on January 3, 1942.
• Philippine Executive Commission is the civil
government established with Jorge B. Vargas as
Chairman.
• Ultimate source of authority was the Japanese
administrators. It was dissolved on August 17, 1945.
DEFENITION OF TERMS
Polity - A form or process of civil government or constitution
Regime - A system or planned way of doing things, especially one imposed
from above
Evolution - The gradual development of something, especially from a simple
to a more complex form.
Commonwealth - A self-governing unit voluntarily grouped with the US Social
DEFENITION OF TERMS
Stratification - A system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.
Frailocracy - Rule of Friars
Majapahit - A Javanese Hindu-Buddhist thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia, based
on the island of Java that existed from 1293 to circa 1517.
Brahmanistic - Ancient Indian religious tradition that emerged from the earlier Vedic
religion, emphasizing the status of the Brahman, or priestly, class.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
FOR HUMSS: History of Philippine Government
By: Reven Amigo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re0J4xixHJw
THE PHILIPPINE
PRESIDENTS
THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT
Since independence in 1898 and the
ratification of the Philippine Constitution in the
First Republic, there have been 16
presidents. Starting with General Emilio
Aguinaldo all the way to current president
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
EMILIO AGUINALDO (1899 – 1901)
• One way to remember the first president of
the Philippines First Republic is to look at
the five peso coin. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's
face used to grace the five peso bill (which
is not used anymore).
• The back of the bill shows him holding the
Philippine flag at the celebration of the
Philippine Independence Day.
• He led the Filipinos in fighting against the
Spaniards and the Americans.
EMILIO AGUINALDO (1899 – 1901)
Contributions and Achievements:
first (AND only) president of the First Republic (Malolos Republic)
signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and
Philippine revolutionaries
known as the President of the Revolutionary Government
led the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-
Philippine War •
youngest president, taking office at age 28
longest-lived president, passing away at 94
CONTRIBUTION AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• After 34 years of Insular Government under
American rule, Philippine voters elected.
• first president of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines.
• He is known as the “Father of National
Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa).
• He died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake,
New York.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines
first president elected through a national election
first president under the Commonwealth
created National Council of Education
initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth
approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines
appears on the twenty-peso bill
a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after him
his body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle
JOSE P. LAUREL
• Jose P. Laurel's presidency is
controversial.
• He was officially the government's
caretaker during the Japanese
occupation of World War II.
• Criticized as a traitor by some, his
indictment for treason was superseded
later by an amnesty proclamation in
1948.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of
the Philippines
organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong
Pilipinas, or Association for Service to the New Philippines), a
provisional government during Japanese occupation
declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the
U.S./United Kingdom in 1944
with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines
SERGIO OSMEÑA
• Sergio Osmeña was the second
president of the Commonwealth.
• During his presidency, the Philippines
joined the International Monetary
Fund.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold office
first Visayan to become president
joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to
begin restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupation
Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the
International Monetary Fund during his presidency
Bell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidency
Appear in 50 peso bill
MANUEL ROXAS
• Manuel Roxas was the fifth
president of the Philippines: the
third (and last) president under
the Commonwealth, and the
first president of the Third
Republic of the Philippines.
• He held office for only one year,
10 months, and 18 days.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic
after World War II
reconstruction from war damage and life without
foreign rule began during his presidency
under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and
Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by Congress
appears on the 100-peso bill
ELPIDIO QUIRINO
• Elpidio Quirino served as vice
president under Manuel Roxas.
• When Roxas died in 1948, Quirino
became president.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
Hukbalahap guerrilla movement active during his
presidency.
created Social Security Commission
created Integrity Board to monitor graft and
corruption.
Quezon City became capital of the Philippines in
1948.
RAMON MAGSAYSAY
• Ramon Magsaysay was born
in Iba, Zambales.
• He was a military governor
and an engineer.
• He died in an aircraft disaster
while boarding the
presidential plane.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
Hukbalahap movement quelled during his presidency
chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs
first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog during
inauguration
presidency referred to as the Philippines' "Golden Years" for its lack of
corruption
Philippines was ranked second in Asia’s clean and well-governed countries
during his presidency
established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration
(NARRA) among other agrarian reforms
CARLOS P. GARCIA
• A lawyer, poet, and teacher, Carlos P.
Garcia also served as a guerrilla leader
during the Pacific War.
• Born in Bohol, Garcia serviced as vice
president under Ramon Magsaysay
and as secretary of Foreign Affairs for
four years.
• He became president when Magsaysay
died in 1957.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
known for “Filipino First Policy,” which favored Filipino businesses over
foreign investors • established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino
trade and commerce
known as the “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “Bard from Bohol”
cultural arts was revived during his term
was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng
mga Bayani
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
• Born in Lubao, Pampanga,
Diosdado Macapagal was a
lawyer and professor.
• His daughter Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo was the
14th, and second female,
president of the Philippines.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the
purchase of private farmland to be distributed in inexpensive,
small lots to the landless.
placed the Philippine peso on the currency exchange market.
declared June 12, 1898 to be Philippines’ Independence Day.
signed the Minimum Wage Law
Created the Philippine Veteran’s Bank.
FERDINAND E. MARCOS SR.
• Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand
Edralin Marcos
• He was a lawyer and Senate President for
three years. He was president for 21 years.
• He ruled under martial law and his
dictatorship was known for its corruption and
brutality.
• Marcos was removed from office after the
People Power Revolution.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
first president to win a second term
declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972
increased the size of Philippine military and armed forces
by 1980 the Philippine GNP was four times greater than 1972
by 1986 the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asia
built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure
than all former presidents combined
the only president whose remains are interred inside a refrigerated crypt
CORAZON C. AQUINO
• The first woman president of the Philippines and
the first woman to become president of an Asian
country.
• Corazon Aquino was born in Paniqui, Tarlac.
• She was a prominent figure in the People Power
Revolution that brought down Ferdinand Marcos'
dictatorship.
• Her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., was a senator
during the Marcos regime and its strongest critic. He
was assassinated while Marcos was still in power.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
first woman to be president of the Philippines or any
Asian country
restored democracy
abolished the 1973 Marcos Constitution and ushered in
the new Constitution of the Philippines
reorganized the structure of the executive branch of
government
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
signed the Family Code of 1987, a major civil law reform, and
1191 Local Government Code, which reorganized the structure
of the executive branch of government.
initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the
needy
named “Woman of the Year” in 1986 by Time magazine
on the new 500-peso bill together with her husband Benigno
Aquino.
RECEIVED HONORS AND AWARDS INCLUDING:
100 Women Who Shaped World History
20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
65 Great Asian Heroes • J. William Fulbright Prize for
International Understanding
FIDEL V. RAMOS
• Fidel V. Ramos was the chief-of-staff of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines
before he became president.
• He was also a civil engineer.
• As president, he restored economic
growth and stability in the country, even
during the Asian Financial Crisis in
1997.
• He is the first, and so far the only, non-
Catholic president of the Philippines.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
oversaw Philippine economic growth
presided over celebrations of Philippine Independence
Centennial in 1998
received British Knighthood from the United Kingdom by
Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St.
Michael and St. George)
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
hosted the fourth Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation Leader's Summit in the Philippines in
1996
Philippine Stock Exchange became an international
favorite during his presidency
death penalty reinstated while he was in office
signed peace agreement with the rebel Moro
National Liberation Front
JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA
• Known as Erap, Joseph Estrada was the first
president who had been a famous film actor.
• His presidency was controversial. During his
years in office economic growth was slow and
he faced impeachment proceedings.
• He was ousted from the presidency in 2001.
• He was later convicted of stealing from the
government but was pardoned.
• He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2010.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
during his presidency Moro Islamic Liberation Front
headquarters and camps were captured
joined other leaders and politicians to try to amend the
1987 Constitution
cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989
among the “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the
agreement that allows for U.S. control of Clark Airbase
and Subic Naval Base
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
• Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14th,
president of the Philippines (and the second
female president).
• Arroyo oversaw road and infrastructure
improvements and higher economic growth
that presidents before her, but there was
also controversy. The so-called "Hello Garci"
controversy involved recordings that
allegedly captured Arroyo ordering the
rigging of the election that put her in office.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
• The Oakwood Mutiny occurred during her
term.
• In 2005 Arroyo faced impeachment
proceedings related to the recordings but
the impeachment failed.
• After she had left office Arroyo faced
additional charges of election fraud and
misuse of state funds.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
second female president of the country
first and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far
first president to take oath outside Luzon
former Economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University,
where current president Benigno Aquino III was one of her
students
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
ex-classmate of former U.S. President Bill Clinton at Georgetown University’s
Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she maintained Dean’s list status
oversaw higher economic growth than the past three presidents before her
peso became the best-performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007
E-VAT Law was implemented under her term
currently on the 200-peso bill
BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO III
• The 15th President of the Philippines
• Benigno Aquino III joined the House of
Representatives and the Senate before his
presidency.
• He is the first president who is a bachelor;
he is unmarried and has no children.
• Died last June 24, 2021, at the age of 61 because
of renal disease, secondary to diabetes.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
created the no "wang-wang" (street siren) policy
appointed statesman Jesse Robredo to serve as secretary of Interior and
Local Government in 2010, where Robredo served until his death in 2012
initiated K-12 education in the Philippines
renamed the Office of the Press Secretary to Presidential
Communications Operations Office and appointed new officers
suspended allowances and bonuses to Government Owed and Controlled
Corporation and Government Financial Institution board members
oversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012
RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
• 16th President of the Philippines and the first from
Mindanao to hold the office.
• Duterte took office at age 71 on June 30, 2016, making
him the oldest person to assume the Philippine presidency.
• He worked as a lawyer and was a prosecutor for Davao
City, before becoming vice mayor and, subsequently,
mayor of the city in the wake of the Philippine Revolution
of 1986.
• Duterte won seven terms and served as mayor of Davao
for over 22 years.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
Duterte ran for president on a platform of combating crime,
corruption and illegal drugs with the campaign slogan "Change is
coming".
Duterte believed an "iron fist" was needed to inculcate discipline in
his administration
Amid community quarantines during the COVID-19 pandemic, he
asked for disciplined adherence to public health mandates, and
used the military and police to enforce social distancing guidelines.
He formulated a comprehensive tax-reform plan, led efforts to pass
the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
Duterte ran for president on a platform of combating crime,
corruption and illegal drugs with the campaign slogan "Change is
coming".
Duterte believed an "iron fist" was needed to inculcate discipline in
his administration
Amid community quarantines during the COVID-19 pandemic, he
asked for disciplined adherence to public health mandates, and
used the military and police to enforce social distancing guidelines.
He formulated a comprehensive tax-reform plan, led efforts to pass
the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
CONTRIBUTION & ACHIEVEMENTS
Duterte advocated federalism as a better system of governance for
the Philippines.
Duterte administration launched Build! Build! Build!; a
comprehensive infrastructure program.
Duterte campaigned to phase out contractualization (locally known
as "endo", derived from "end of contract") and improve labor
policies in the Philippines.
FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.
• Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr.,
commonly referred to by the initials PBBM or BBM, is a
Filipino politician who is the 17th and current president
of the Philippines.
• He previously served as a senator from 2010 to 2016.
In 1983, Marcos became Governor of Ilocos Norte,
Marcos was elected as Representative of Ilocos Norte’s
2nd congressional district from 1992 to 1995.
He was elected Governor of Ilocos Norte again in 1998.
Daghang Salamat
