PRE

SPANISH
ERA
SPANISH
ERA
REVOLUTIO
NARY
ERA
AMERICAN
ERA
JAPANESE
ERA
PREVIOUS
PHILIPPINE
REPUBLICS
PRE SPANISH ERA
Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines was composed
of settlements or villages, ach called barangay.
In the Pre-Spanish Era each barangay was ruled by a chief called
DATU.

One could be a DATU chiefly by inheritance, wisdom, wealth, or

physical prowess.

The people of the barangay were divided into four classes

namely:

Maharlika to which the datu belonged, Timawa, the serfs Aliping

Namamahay and the slaves Aliping Sagigilid.

In
early
laws,
a
legal
system already existed in the Philippines even in pre-colonial
times.
The early Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws.The
written laws were promulgated by the datus. The two known
written codes in the Pre Spanish Era are about “Maragtas code”
which was said to have been written about 1250 A.D. by Datu
Sumakwel and the “Kalantiaw Code” written in 1433 A.D. by Datu
Kalantiaw.
The unwritten laws consisted of Customs and Traditions which
had been passed down from generation to generation.
The form of government in Pre Spanish Era is Monarchy

SPANISH ERA
Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippine on March 16,1521.
In 1965, Miguel Lopez De Legazpi colonized first the Philippines.
Las Islas De Felipinas is the first name of the Philippines named
after by King Philip
Cebu was the first city to be established in 1565 in the
Philippines, second was Manila in 1571.
The Monarchy form of Government in Spanish Era (lowest to
highest)
BARANGAY- Lowest government unit headed by the Cabeza De
Barangay
PUEBLO- Headed by the gobernadorcillio
AYUNTAMIENTO- city council
ALKADIA- alkalde mayor
The powers of the government were actually exercised by the
Governor General. As governor General he had executive,
legislative, and judicial powers.
As a CAPTAIN GENERAL, He was Commander-in-chief of all the
Armed Forces in the Philippines.
As the VICE ROYAL PATRON- exercised certain religious powers.
The Royal Audiencia which was established in 1583 was the
Supreme Court of the Philippines during the Spanish Times. It’s
decision was final except on ceratin cases of great importance
which could be appealed to the King of Spain.
Two territorial Audiencias established in 1893 one in Cebu and the
other in Vigan.
Monarchy and Unitary is the form of Government the Spanish Era
because Philippines is dependent to Spain.

Revolutionary Era
Katipunan government was the secret society that precipitated
our glorious revolution on August 26,1896 and It was organized
by Andres Bonifacio together with the Filipino patriots.
The Katipunan was the first clear break fom Spanish rule with the
ultimate goal to establish a free and sovereign Philippines.
It was replaced by another government whose officials headed by
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as President the Biak na Bato, it had a
constitution which was to Take effect for 2 years only.
It is also the declaration of first Philippine Independence at Kawit,
Cavite on July 12, 1898.
The Malolos Congress formally ratified on September 29, 1898 the
proclamation of Philippine Independence made by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo in Kawit Cavite on June 12, 1898.
It is the formal Recognition to the Philippines as a free and
Independent nation.
The Declaration of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo as the first Philippine
President.
The establishment of Philippine Republic following the
proclamation of Philippine Independence by Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo, capped our forefathers’ struggle against colonial rule,
which began when foreigners set foot on our native soil in 1521.
American Era
The American military rule in the Philippines began on August 14,
1898, the day after the capture of Manila. The existence of war
gave the President of the United States the power to establish a
Military Government in the Philippines.
His authority was delegated to the military governor who
exercised as long as the war lasted, all powers of government –
executive, legislative, and judicial.
The judicial Supreme Court is created by the Americans.
The Civil Government, established by the American in 1901 were
the first Civil Governor was William H. Taft.
From 1902 to 1916 the Philippine Bill of 1902 was the basic law
for the Philippine Government. It provided for the creation of the
Philippine Assembly to be composed of Filipinos elected by the
people.
From 1907 to 1916 the Philippine Commission acted as the upper
house of the legislative branch with the Philippine Assembly as
the lower house.
Jones law 1916 American built this so that the Filipino’s will
prepared to rule their own country.
Commission and Philippine Assembly deleted and replaced into
Senate and House of Representatives.
The next stage in the political development of the Filipinos was
the establishment of the COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT of
the Philippines pursuant to an act of the United States Congress
on March 24, 1934, commonly known as TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE
LAW.
It was the first national election under the 1935 Constitution held
on September 12, 1935, with Manuel Quezon and Senior Osmeña
as President and Vice President, respectively.
It was reestablished in Manila on February 27, 1945 when
General Douglas Mac Arthur, in a ceremony held at Malacañang
Palace on behalf of the United States Government, turn over to
President Osmeña the full powers and responsibilities of the
Commonwealth Government under the 1935 constitution.

JAPANESE ERA
The Japanese Military Administration was established in Manila on
January 3, 1942. Under a proclamation issued by the Japanese
High Command, the sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippines was declared terminated.
Philippine Executive Commission is also composed with the
Filipinos with Jorge B. Vargas as chairman.
The commission exercised both the executive and legislative
powers. The laws enacted were, however, subject to the approval
of the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Forces.
Commander-in-Chief is more powerful than legislative in making
laws.
On October 14, 1943, the Japanese-sponsored Republic of the
Philippines was inaugurated with Jose P. Laurel, the 2nd President
of the Philippines. It was considered as a Puppet Republic.
On August 17, 1945, President Laurel proclaimed the dissolution
of the Republic.
Douglas Mac Arthur came back because of the declaration of the
second Independence Day on July 4, 1946 known as the Philippine
American Friendship Day.

Previous
Philippine
Republics
Before Corazon C. Aquino took her oath of office on February
25,1986 at Club Filipino, San Juan, Metro Manila, the last day of a
four day “people power” that culminated in the ouster of
President Ferdinand Marcos, she declared that she and her Vice-
President were “taking power in the name and by the will of the
Filipino people” on the basis of clear sovereign will of the people
expressed in the election of February 7,1986.
De jure constituted founded in accordance with the existing
constitution of the state according to law.
De facto government is not so constituted or founded but has the
general support of the people and effective control of the territory
over which it exercise its powers.
The Provisional Constitution self-destruct upon the ratification (as
well as the revolutionary government which operated under it)
and effectivity of the new Constitution on February 2, 198. (Art.
XVIII, Sec. 27.)