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SOCIAL SCIENCE

The Social Science component to the Licensure Examination for Teachers includes
Philippine Government New Constitution with Human Rights; Philippine History; Basic
Economics, Taxation, Agrarian Reform; Society, Culture with Family Planning; Rizal and
Other Heroes; Philosophy of Man; Arts; General Psychology; Information and
Communication Technology

PHILIPPINE HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT

The Philippines as a nation has passed through several stages and has been
under different colonial rule in the course of its history. Discussed hereunder is the
evolution of the Philippines together with the different forms of government that had
been implemented by the different colonizers.

THE PRE-SPANISH GOVERNMENT

Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines there were settlements composed
of villages called barangay consisting of more or less 100 families. Evey barangay was
virtually a State for it possessed the four basic elements of the state.

Each barangay was ruled by a datu. He is the chief excecutive, law-giver, chief judge
and military head. He was assisted by the council of Elders called the Maginoos which
served as his advisers. In form the government in a barangay is monarchial nature with
the datu as the monarch.

Social classes in the barangay are divided into four: the nobility or the maharlika;
the freemen or the timawa; the serfs or the aliping namamahay; and the slaves or
aliping saguiguilid.

The early laws were both written and unwritten. The written were promulgated by
the datus. The two known written laws are the Maragtas Code written by Datu
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Sumakwel in 1250 AD and the Kalantiaw Code written by Datu Kalantiaw is 1433 AD
both in Panay. The unwritten laws can be seen in Filipino culture, but the authenticity of
the Code of Kalantiaw is doubtful.

The name Kalantiaw was heard first in an article entitled CIvilizacion prehispana
written by Manuel Rtigas and published in Renancimiento Filipino in July of 1913. It was
mentioned in the said article that Daty Kalantiaw built a fort in Galangin, negros which
was destroyed by an earthquale in the year A.D 435 he was also said to have enacted
16 laws in 1433 he used to goverm his constituents.

Kalantiaws prominence started in 1914 when a certain Jose Marco donated five
manuscripts to the Philippine Library & Museum which included Las antiguas leyendes
de la Isla de Negros, a two volume leather bound to work which was supposedly written
by a Friar Jose Maria Pavon between 1838 and 1839. Jose Marco has no definitive
explanation where how and when he got Fr. Pavons manuscripts.

The Code of Kalantiaw was presumed to be one of the six documents that were
supposedly translated before the arrival of the Spaniard in the Philippines. The Original
Code was claimed to have been discovered in the possession of a Panay datu in 1614.
In 1839 when Pavon wrote the documents the original copies were supposedly in hands
of a certain Don Marcelio ORfila of Zaragoza. Howeever, when the Philippine
government asked he government of spain for the return of the original Code of
Kalantiaw in 1966, the descendants of Marcelio Orfila cannot be located and no records
of that person or his descendants coulb be found in the city of Zaragoza.

To further confound the already confusing issue, Henry Otley Beyer, former head of the
Anthropology Department of the University of the Philippines related a story to a certain
colleague name Mauro Garcia. Otley Beyer told his friend that around 1840 a certain Fr.
Pavon the parish priest of Hiammaylan, Negros was on possession of some important
documents that supposedly forces Jose Marco’s father wh was the looters , stole what
they thought was a chest of coins or jewelries.
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When the chest was opened they discovered that it was full of papers which were
apparently the Pavon Manuscripts.

When Marco explained the origin of the manuscripts to the Philippine Studies
Program at the Univiersity of Chicago in 1954, he declarefd that the manuscripts were
handed to him by an old cook who once worked at the convent in Himamaylan
wherePavon had lived. He added that the cook who was the one who had stolen the
manuscripts during the looting of the convenient in 1899 sold rthem to Marco in 1913,
but this tory remains unverified to this day.

Modern historians no longer believed the authenticity of the Pavon Manuscripts

or the story of the Jose Marco. One major reasons to reject the authenticity of the Code
of Kalantiaw is the inadequancy of historical evidence that would support its existence.
More oever, there are no written or pictorial documents from that time in Philippine
history that will even suggest the existence of the Code. There are also no documents
from other countries that mention the existence of great ruler baned Kalantiaw. On the
other hand the punishments in the cide were so barbaric and not regelctive of the
humane nature of ancient customs at that time allowed even the most serious
lawbreakers just to pay a fine or be placed into servitude for a period of time in cases of
debt.

The second reason is the lack of evidfence for a Kalantiaw legend. Many ardent
admirers of the Datu, who disdain all historical evidence to contrary, claim that he has
long been a part of Visayan culture and heritage. This is simply not true .

The Spaniards never recorded any Filipino legend about KAlantiaw. If they were aware
of such legend they had no reason to suppress it bevause those Spaniards who were
sympathetic to the Filipinos could have presented the mere existence of the Code as
proof that their ancestors were civilized, just as many Filipinos do today, while
detractors could have pointed to the maniacal Datu himself as proof of their savagery.
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Even eminent scholars like Scott who docused his inverstigation by tracing the
original source of every reference to the pre-Hispanic history of the Philippines in the
available college text books in use at that time was not convinced in the existence og
the Code. Scott examined the original documents available during his time and
searched almost all archives to find out the truth about Kalantiaw but Scott fount out that
Jose E. Marco contributions to Philippine historiography appear to be deliberate
fabrications with no historic validity. There is therefore no present evidence that any
Filipino ruler by the name of Kalantiaw ever existed or that the Kalantiaw penal code is
any older than 1914.

For these and other causes, there is no compelling reason supported by tangible
evidence to believe the existence of this code or to include the study of the code in
Philippine history classes (Duka, 2008)

THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT

Spain’s title to the Philippines was based, on the discovery of the Philippines by
Ferdinand Magellan on march 16, 1521 and consummated by the conquest of Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi forty-five years later, Spain kept the Philippines for almost four
centuries until 1898 when the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States
byVirtue of the Treaty of Paris.

The Philippines was governed by the King of Spain through Mexico from 1565, to
1821, When Mexico gained its independence, the Philippines was ruled directly by
spain through the council of Indies from 1821 to 1837. In 1837, legislation for the
Philippines was temporarily performed by the Council of Ministers. From 1863, the
Ministry of Ultramar exercised general power of supervisions over Philippine affairs.

The Spanish government in the Philippines was centralized structure and

national in scope. The barangays were consolidated into pueblos (towns) and headed
by a gobernadorcillo popularly called as Capitan and the towns into provinces headed
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by Gobernador who represents the Governor-General in the province. Cities governed

under special Charters were created. Each of these cities had an Ayuntamiento or
Cabildo (city council) Cebu was the first city to be established in 1565 in the Philippines.
These second Manila in 1571.

The powers of government was exercised by the Governor-General and ably

assisted by the Board of Authorities and the Council of Administration. The first Spanish
governor-general was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the last was Gen.Diego delos Rios.
To strengthen the judicial system, Spain established the Royal Audiencia in 1583
in Cebu and Vigan, which exercised appellate jurisdiction over criminal cases coming
from the surrounding areas. In 1886, the Courts were established in the town level.
Special courts were also organized.

THE REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT

During the Spanish period, several forms of de facto government were
established.
Among them were:

The Katipunan-The Katipunan was a secret society that precipitated the

Philippine revolution against Spain on August 26, 1896. The Katipunan was organized
by Andres BOnifacio. The central government of the Katipunan was vested in the
Supreme Council. A Provincial Council was established in each province. A Popular
Council was established in the town level. The judicial power was exercised by a
Judicial Council or the Sangguniang Hukuman. After the execution of Bonifacio, another
government was established by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo who acted as the first President
of the Philippine Republic by virtue of the election in the Tejeros Convention on March
22, 1897.

The Biak-na-Bato Republic- On November 1, 1897 a republic was established by

Gen. Aguinaldo in Biak na Bato. It had a Constitution which was to take effect for two
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years only. The republic lasted up to December 15, 1897, with the conclusion of the
Pact of Biak na BAto.

The Dictatorial Government – Following the outbreak of the Spanish-American

War on April 25, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo established the Dictatorial Government on May
24, 1898. The most important achievements of the government were the proclaimation
of Philippine Independence at Kwait, Cavite on June 12, 1898 and the reorganization of
the local governments.

The Revolutionary Government – On June 23, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo established

the Revolutionary Government replacing the dictorial government. The aim of the new
fovernment was to struggle for the independence of the Philippines, until all nations
including Spain ex[ressly recognize it and to prepare the country for the establishment
of a real republic.

The First Philippine Republic – On September 15, 1898, a revolutionary congress

of Filipino representatives met in Malolos, Bulacan and framed the so-called Malolos
Constitution. The Constitution established a free and independent Philippine Republic
which was inaugurated on January 23, 1899 with Gen. Aguinaldo as President. The
Republic was not recognized by the family of nations. It was nevertheless an organized
government because it actually existed from January 23, 1899 to March 23, 1901. In
February 1899, the United States annexed the Philippines as a result of the Spanish-
American War and in April 1901, Gen. Aguinaldo was captured.

THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

There were three kindsof government implemented by the Americans during their
period:
The Military Government – The American military rule in the Philippines started
on April 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. His
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authority was delegated to the military governor who exercised, as long as the war
lasted, all powers of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. The three
American Military governors were: Gen. Wesley Merrit, Gen. lElwell Otis and the last
was Gen. Arthur McArthur.

The Civil Government – The spooner Amendment ended the military regime in
the Philippines. On July 4, 1901 a Civil government was inaugurated headed by a Civil
Governor. On febryary 6, 1905, the title was changed to Governor-General, who
exercised legislative powers.

He remained as President of the Philippines Comimission, the sole lawmaking body of

the government from 1901 to 1916. The Philippine commission acted as the upper
house of the legislative branch with the Philippine Assembly serving as the lower house.
With the passage of the Jones Law in 1916, these two bodies gave way to the
Philippine legislature.

The Philippines was reoresented in the United States by two Resident Commissioners
where elected by the Philippine Legeslature. These Comissioners had seats in the
United States of Representatives, receiving the same emolumenrts and other previlages
as the American memvers of theat body, but without the right to vote.

The first Civil Governor was Judge Wlliam H. Taft (1901-1903). He was
succeeded by Luke F. Wright (1904-1906) who was the first American to enjoy the title
of Governor-General of the Philippines. The last Governor-General was Frank Murphy
(1933-1935) who was also the first Hig Commissioner of the United States to the
Philippines upon the inauguration of the Commonwealth government of the Philippines.

The Commonwealth Government- The next stage in the political development of

the Filipinos was the establishment of the Commonwealth government of the Philippines
the Filipinos was the establishment of the Commonwealth government of the Philippines
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pursuant to an act of the United States Congress on March 24, 1934, commonly known
as the Tydings-Mcduffie Law.

The law provided for a transition period of ten years during which the Philippine
Commonwealth would operate until July 4, 1946, where in the independence of the
Philippines would be proclaimed and established. The new government of the
Philippines was anaugurated on November 15, 1935, following the first national election
under the 1935 constitution held on September 12, 1935 with Manuel L. Quezon and
Sergio Osmeña as President and Vice President respectively.

The Commonwealth government of the Philippines was republican in form under the
presidential type. The legislative power was vested in a unicameral National Assembly
and later in a bicameral Congress composed of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The Judicial power was vested in the Supreme Court and inferior
courts provided by law. The government of the Commonwealth was automous in nature.
The Filipinos had almost complete control over the domestic affairs, the United States
retaining control only over matters involving foreign affairs.

During World War II, the Commonwealth government functioned in exile in

Washington from May 13, 1942 to Octover 3, 1944. Iw was reestablished in Manila on
February 27, 1945 when Gen. Douglas McArthur turned over to President Osmeña the
full powers and responsibilities of the Commonwealth government under the 1935
Constitution.

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

The Japanese Military Administrator was established in Manila on January 3,
1942, one day after its occupation. The Japanese High Command immediately
terminated the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines.
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A Civil government known as the Philippine Executive Commission was

established with Jorge B. Vargas as its chairman. The Comission exercised both the
executive and the legislative power. However, laws enacted were subjected to the
approval of the Commander-in-chief of the Japanese forces. The Judiciary continued in
the same manner as it had traditionally enjoyed independence.

On Octover 14, 1943, the so called Japanese sponsored Republic of the

Philippines was inaugurated with Jose P. Laurel as President. Like the Comission, the
ultimate source of its authority was the Japanese military authority and government. On
August 17,1945, President Laurel dissolved the Republic.

THE THIRD PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC

When the Philippines was finally liberated from the hands of the Japanese, the
Third Philippine Republic was inaugurated on July 4 1946 with Manuel A. Roxas as
president and Elpidio Quirino as Vice President. Roxas died on April 16 1948, paving
the way for the Quirino presidency which lasted until 1953.

Quirino was followed by Ramon Magsaysay, who was not able to finish his term when
he died in a plane crash on March 17, 1957. Carlos Garcia succeeded Magsaysay.
Garcia was followed by Diosdado Macapagal who served the country for only term.
Macapagal was defeated by Ferdinand Marcos in the presidential election of 1965.

The Marcos Years. Marcos took his oath of office on December 30 1965. He was
reelected in 1969, due to his outstanding performance as chief executive. However,
before the end of his second term, Marcos made serious efforts to amend the 1935
Constitution which was in effect at that time. A Constitutional Convention was created
which drafted the 1973 Constitution. But even before the framing of this charter was
finished, Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1081 which placed the entire archipelago
under Martial Law. By virtue of this declaration, the Congress was abolished, the
opposition leader disappeared.
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Marcos assumed the executive, lesgilative, and even judicial powers of the government.
He virtually controlled all the aspects of the Philippine politics through his Presidential
Derees and through the Batasang Pambansa.

The Aquino Presidency. On February 7, 1986, Marcos called for a snap

presidential election which was marked by rampant cheating presumably on both the
administration candidates led by Marcos for President and Arturo Tolentino for Vice
President and the opposition candidates led by Corazon Aquino for President and
Salvador Laurel for Vice President.

This event led to the so called EDSA Peoples Revolution from February 22-25, 1986
that paved the way for the downfall of the 20years of Marcos presidency. Corazon
Aquino was inducted as the first lady President of the Philippines on February 25,1986
in Club Filipino, San Juan, Matro Manila. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 on March
25, 1986 promulgating the Freedom Constitution. Thereafter, on June 2, 1986, she
appointed a Constitutional Commission composed of fifty memvers which drafted the
1987 Constitution.

On February 2, 1987 the people voted to ratify the Charter, thereby legalizing the
restoration of democratic government and institutions in the country. This was followed
Ramos , the formor Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and the anointed successor of
Corazon Aquino was elected president.
Ramos Administration

On May 11, 1992, the first presidential elections undetthe 1987 Constitution were
held. The elections were generally peaceful and resulted in the lawful and orderly
transfer of the presidency. Ramos earlier joined the Majority LDP pParty but bolted
when he losts in the part nomination for president. Thereafter he formed his own Lakas-
NUCD Party and went on to wil by just 23.6% of the vote, over Miriam Defensor-
Santiago of the Peoples Reform Party (PRP), Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. of the Nationalist
Peoples Coalition , House Speaker Ramon Mitra of the Laban ng Demokratikkong
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Pilipino (LDP), former First lady Imelda Marcos of the Kilusang Bagong Lipiunan (KBL),
Senate President jovito Salonga of the Liberal Part(LP) and Vice President Salvador
Laurel of the Nationalista Party (NP)

President Fide Ramos took his oath to as the 12th President of the Republic of
the Philippines onm June 30, 1992at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park. Early in his
administration, Ramos declared “national reconciliation” as his highest priority. He
legalized the communist party and created the National Unification Commission (NUC)
to lay the groundwork for talks with the communist and other insurgent groups.

Ramos, learning from the experiences under the Aquino government, focused his
efforts on the restoration of peace and order and the stabilization of the economy.
Ramos has made big stride in bringing about a new social and political order by actively
reaching out to even political opponents and insurgents to unite the nation behind a
common bision. His framework of governance is sustainable development; energy and
power generation; environmental protection; and a streamlined bureaucracy.

The Estrada Presidency

On May 11, 1998, the former movie star, former Senator and the Vice
President during the Ramos administration, Jose Marcelo Ejercito alsno know by his
screen name Joseph Estrada won in the second democratic presidential election since
the EDSA revolution. He bested Jose De Venecia of Lakas NUCD, Raul Roco of
Aksyon Demokratiko, Juan Ponce Enrile, an independent candidate, Alfredo Lim of the
Liberal Party, Miriam Santiago of the People’s Reform Party, Imelda Marcos of the
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Cebu Governor Emilio Osmena of PROMDI, sweepstakes
Chairman Manuel Morato of Partido Bansang Marangal and Santiago Dumlao of
Kilusan Para sa pambansang Pagbabago.

Estrada was the popular choice for President and not the preferred candidate of the
outgoing President. On June 30, 1998, Estrada took his oath of office as the 13th
President of the Republic of the Philippines in Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan, the
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same place where Emilio Aguinaldo took his oath as the first presiden of the Philippines
a hundred years ago.

When Estrada delivered his inaugural speech at the Rizal Park later that day, mostly in
the Tagalog language, the people especially his supporters – the masa, were ecstatic
specially when he promised that in his administration “walang kumpare, walang kamag
anak …huwag ninyo akong subukan.” Estrada’s popularity started its decline in the
middle 1999, as mounting allegations of cronyism and a badly managed attempt to
change the constitution to attract more foreign investment led to a sharp drop ratings.

On June 19, 2000, Estrada was accused by the chairman of the Securities Exchange
Commission Perfecto Yasay of pressuring him to clear a friend accused in the country’s
worst insider trading scandal. Yasay was later forced to quit and the stock market
flounders.

Then on April 23,2000, the Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group abducted 21 hostages
from seven nations from the nearby Malaysia resort of Sipadan and brought them to
Jolo, Sulu two days later.The crisis frightened foreign investors and puts Estrada under
pressure for months as foreign governments expressed concern over the safety of the
hostages.The situation worsened when Estrada’s friend, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis
“Chavit” Singson revealed on October 9,2000, that Estrada wa receiving bribes from the
jueteng lords all over the country ,pocketing more than 400 million pesos in bribes from
illegal gambling syndicates and about 130 million pesos in kickbacks from tobacco
excise taxes meant for his province.

Estrada of course denied the accusations but announces an end to state sponsored
gambling and privatized a government –run casino firm. On October 18, 2000 the
opposition legislators filed an impeachment complaint against Estrada in the House of
Representatives over the scandal as thousands of anti-Estrada activists led by former
president Corazon Aquino called for Erap’s resignation.
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Estrada thereafter, announced sweeping reforms in government and offered Arroyo the
country’s top economic post as a gesture of reconciliation. Arroyo rejected the offer,
saying he should step down to prevent an economic collapse.

Estrada was adamant and vowed that he will not resign and will defend himself in
Congress. Estrada’s key supporters in Congress, Senate President Franklin Drilon and
House of Representatives Speaker Manuel Villar, quit the ruling coalition with 45 other
legislators on November 3, 2000. On November 4, 2000 Vice President Gloria Arroyo,
the leaders of the Catholic Church and other key member of the opposition lead some
60,000 people in a peaceful protest in Manila calling for Estrada’s resignation.

Arroyo Assumed Presidency

In the morning of Sunday, January 20, 2001, the fourth day since EDSA People
Power 2 started, the militant groups marched from EDSA towards Malacanang Palace
against the admonition of Cardinal Sin. The Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Hilario
Davide declared tha the office of the president was vacant.
At noon, Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath of office before Chief
Justice Davide in the presence of the crowd at EDSA, becoming the 14 th president of
the Republic of the Philippines. At around two o’clock in the afternoon, Estrada released
a letter saying he had “strong and serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality
of her proclamation as president”, but saying he would give up his office to avoid being
an obstacle to healing the nation.

Thereafter, Estrada, First Lady Luisa Ejercito and their children left Malacanang via the
palace gate at the Pasig River. General Angelo Reyes was in Malacanang to secure the
safe exit of the deposed President and his family.

Amidts the chaos, Estrada and his wife were still smiling, Waving to reporters and
shaking hands with the remaining members of the Cabinet and other palace employees.
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On April 4, 2001 Ombudsman Aniano Desierto charged Estrada with perjury before the
Sandiganbayan for filing a false Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth
(SALN) for the year 1999.

Estrada was accused of declaring a net worth of only P35 million, when evidence
indicated that he had ammased billions of pesos from jueteng payoffs, tax kickbacks
and questionable business deals. On April 18, 2001, the Ombudsman file a case
against Estrada, his son Jinggoy and several others before the Sandiganbayan for
viaolating Republic Act No. 7080 or the Anti Plunder Law.

May 1, 2001 Rebellion

From the time of Estrada’s arrest on April 25, 2001, his supporters from all over
the country converged at the EDSA Shrine, the site of the EDSA People Power 2 that
toppled Joseph Estrada from Malacanang on January 20, 2001. Agitated by the political
allies of Estrada like Senators Miriam Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan,
Ernesto Maceda, Pamfilo Lacson, Tessie Oreta, John Osmena, Nikki Coseteng, Tito
Sotto and Robert Jaworski the throngs of angry mob marched towards Malacanang
Palace on May1, 2001 to demand the ouster of Arroyo.

At least two police officers and one protester were killed and 16 others have been taken
to hospital when supporters of Joseph Estrada tried to storm the gates of Malacanang.
Riot police managed to clear the area after a few hours, but not before more protesters
were injured.

Arroyo declared a state of rebellion within Metro Manila, to try to quell the
demonstrations and restore peace and order. The police identified the opposition
leaders believed to have encourage the crowds to attack the presedential palace.
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These included Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan and Miriam Defensor-
Santiago and former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda and former PNP Chief Panfilo
Lacson. All are seeking a senate seat in the May 14, electios.

The government ordered their arrest but only Enrile and Maceda were apprehended but
they were able to post bail and were thereafter released from detention.

The Oakwood Rebellion

In the early hours of July 27, 2003 the Glorieta shopping complex and the
Oakwood Premier hotel in Makati City were taken over by a group of young rebel
soldiers and officers who organized themselves into the Magdalo group. Their
spokesman, Lt. SG. Antonio Trillanes of the Philippine Navy, accused the government
of staging bombings in Davao City and pinning the blame on the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front in order to label the group a terrorist organization and secure military aid from
United States.

The rebels also demanded the resignation of Col. Victor Corpus, the chief of Intelligence
Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and AFP Chief of Staff General
Narcisco Abaya. After a 24-hour standoff, the Makati siege was lifted with the rebel
troops peacefully returning to their barracks. The rebel troops agreed to go back to the
barrack after marathon meeting with former AFP Chief of Staff Roy Cimatu and middle
lever officers from the Navy and the Scout Rangers.

2004 National Elections

On May 14, 2004, the Filipinos trooped to the polling precincts once more to
choose their leaders from the president down to the municipal councilors. Arroyo won
the presidential derby by 12,905,808 votes over movie actor and Estrada’s friend
Fernando Poe, Jr., Senator Panfilo Lacson, Raul Roco and Evangelist Eduardo
Villanueva, amidst charges of massive fraud, vote buying and violence especially in the
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rural areas, while Arroyo’s running mate, newscaster turned senator Manuel “Noli” De
Castro won the vice presidential race over Loren Legarda and Herminio Aquino.

On June 30, 2004, Gloria Arroyo took her oath of office as president of the Republic of
the Philippines for the second time but this time in her own right as duly elected by the
Filipino people. She was inaugurated on the island of Cebu, the first Philippine
President to be inaugurated there.

This was done in gratitude for the support given to her by the people of Cebu during the
election. Fernando Poe, Jr. filed an electoral protest against Arroyo before the
Presidential Electoral Tribunal of the Supreme Court, but during the pendency of his
protest, Poe died early in the morning of December 14, 2004 after he was rushed to St.
Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City the night before.

Poe, fell into a coma after a massive stroke over the weekend and never recovered.
Poe’s lawters filed a petition before the Supreme Court to substitute Susan Roces,
Poe’s wife and continue the protest; however, the Highest Tribunal dismissed on March
29, 2005 the petition and the lectoral protest lodged by the deceased actor. Scandals
and corruption rocked the arroyo government.

These include the “Garci recordings”, various human right violations which prompted the
United Nations to send Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur on
extrajudicial killings who reported that there are compelling reasons supported by
evidence that human rights violations including extra judicial killings were done by the
military, the National Broadband Network –ZTE scandals among others.

These led to the filing of three impeachment cases in the three consecutive years
against Gloria Arroyo. However, the impeachment cases did not prosper due to the fact
that majority of the members of the House of Representatives were faithful allies of
Gloria Arroyo.
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Estrada was Convicted and Pardoned

On Septemver 12, 2007, Joseph Estrada was convicted of Plunder by the

Sandiganbayan and was sentenced to reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 20years
and one day to forty years). However, even before he could serve his first day of
imprisonment, Gloria Arroyo granted former president Joseph Estrada’s application for
pardon on October 25, 2007.

Arroyo invoked “National unity, the rule of law, justice with accountability “as the
guideposts she used in deciding to grant pardon to her ousted predecessor due to
plunderer. The pardon was given a little more than a month after Estrada was convicted
by the Sandiganbayan and sentenced to reclusion perpetua, which carries a jail term of
20 years and a day to 40 years.

Aroyo said that she was aware that her decision would be “debated, welcomed,
criticized and given all sorts of meanings and motives,” but stressed freeing the nation
from bitter political rivalry has been her administration’s agenda sincere she assumed
office. Arroyo also invoked Estrada’s wish to be with his ailing 102-year-old mother,
Mary Ejercito.

The 2010 National Elections

On May 10, 2010, The Filipino people once again went to the polling places to
exercise their right of suffrage and choose their next leaders from the President to the
municipal and city coucilors. The 2010 national elections was the first time when the
counting of the ballots was done by Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines
pursuant to the Election Automation Law (Republic Act No. 9369).

The candidates for president were Benigno Simeon Aquino III, of the Liberal Party,
Manuel VIllar of the Nacionalista Party, Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the Partido ng
Masang Pilipino, Gilberto Teodoro of Lakas – Kampi, Eduardo Villanueva of Bangon
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Pilipinas, Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan Party, John Carlos Delos Reyes of Ang
Kapatiran Party, Nicanor Perlas, an independent candidate and Jamby Madrigal,
another independent candidate.

While the candidates for vice president were Manuel Roxas of the Liberal Party, Loren
Legarda of the Nacionalista Party, Jejomar Binay of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino,
Eduardo Manzano of Lakas- Kampi, Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas, Bayani
Fernando of Bagumbayan Party, Dominador Chipeco of Ang Kapatiran Party and Jose
Sonza of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. After the votes have been counted, Senator
Benigno Simeon Aquino III, emerged as the winner in the presidential race while Makati
MayorJejomar Binay, emerged as the Vice President.

Their term of office will start on June 30, 2010 and will end on June 30, 2016. The 2016
national elections saw the victory of a city mayor into the office of the President.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte bested four other candidates for the highest
office- Manuel Roxas III of the then ruling Liberal Party, Grace Liamanzares Poe,Vice
President Jejomar Binay and Senator Miriam Santiago. While Congresswoman Maria
Leonor Gerona Robredo was elected Vice President but her victory was under election
protest filed by one of the losing candidates for Vice President Senator Ferdinand
Marcos Jr.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Science is the systematic study of the State and government. Politics is a
science because it gives us a basic knowledge and understanding of the state and the
principles and ideals underlying its organization and activities.

Therefore, in political science, we study the affairs of the State and how the system
work. Politics becomes a science because it undergoes scientific methodologies and
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strategies in the process of governmental operations and the relations between men
and the State.

THE STATE AND GOVERNMENT

The State

The state is a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently

occupying a definite portion of territory, independent of external control and possessing
na organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render obedience.

The Elements of the State

The following are the elements of the state:

People – It refers simply to the inhabitants of the State.
Territory – It is the fixed portion of the surface of the earth inhabited by the people of
the State. The national territory of the Philippines is comprised of the following;

1. The Philippine archipelago with all the islands and waters embraced therein.
2. All the other territories over which the Philippines has sovereignty or
jurisdiction, consisting of its terrestrial, fluvial and aerial domains, including its territorial
sea, the seabed, the subsoil and other submarine areas; and
3. The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago,
regardless of their breadth and dimensions, form part of the internal waters of the
Philippines.
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Government – It is the agency or instrumentality through which the will of the

State is Formulated, exressed and realized. The government of the Republic of the
Philippines is composed of the Following:

1. National Government- refers to the entire machinery of the government.

2. Local Governments – refer to the political subdivisions such as provinces,
ceties, municipalities, and barangays.
3. Autonomous Regions – refers to the autonomous governments or regions in
the country.
4. Metropolitan Authority – refers to the special political subdivisions composed
of all local fgovernment units comprising Metro Manila.
Sovereignty – is the supreme power of the state to enforce its will upon the
people and the freedom from external or foreign control.
Origin of the State
There are several theories concerning the origin of the state, among them are:

Divine Right Theory – It holds that the state is of Divine creation and the ruler is
ordained by God to govern the people. Reference has been made to the laws which
Moses received at Mt.Sinai.

Necessity or Force Theory – It maintains that the state must have been created
through force, by some great warriors who imposed their will upon the weak.

Paternalistic Theory – It attributes the origin of the state to the enlargement of

the family which remained under the authority of the father or mother. By natural stages,
the family grew into a clan, then developed into a tribe, and then broadened into a
nation, and the nation became a state.
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Social Contract Theory – It asserts that the early states must have been formed
by deliberate and voluntary compact among the people to form a society and organize
government for their common good. This theory justifies the right of the people to revolt
against a bad ruler.

Distinction between a State and a Nation

The state is a political concept while nation is an ethnic concept. A nation is a group
of people bound together by common culture and who believe that they are one and
distinct from other.

A nation may or may not be independent of external control, while a state may consist
of one or more nations and a nation may be made of several states.

Functions of Government

The government has two functions classified as constituent function and ministrant
function.
1. The constituent functions are those which constitute the bond of society, and
are therefore, compulsory in nature, such as:
a. The keeping of order and providing for the protection of person and property
form a violence and robbery;
b. The fixing of legal relations between man and wife and between parents and
children;
c. The regulation of the holding, transmission and interchange of property and
the determination of its liabilities for debt or for crime;
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d. The determination of constractual rights between individuals;

e. The definition and punishment of crimes;
f. The administration of justice in civil cases;
g. The determination of political duties, previleges and relations of citizens;
h. Dealings of the state with foreign powers; the preservation of the State from
external danger of encroachment and the advancement of its international interests.

2. The ministrant functions are those undertaken by way of advancing the general
interests of society, and are therefore, optional, such as public works, public education,
public charity, health and safety regulations and regulations of trade and commerce.

Forms of Government

The Principal forms of government are:

1. Monarchy – one in which the supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single
person without regard to the source of his election or the nature or duration of his
tenure.
Monarchies are classified into:
1. Absolute monarchy – one in which the ruler rules by divine right;
2. Limited monarchy – one in which the ruler rules in accordance with a
constitution.

2. Aristocracy – one in which political power is exercised by a few privileged class

which is known as aristocracy or oligarchy; and
3. Democracy – one in which political power is exercised by a majority of the people.
Democratic governments are furher classified into:
1. Direct or pure democracy – one in which the will of the state is formulated or
expressed directly and immediately through the people in a mass meeting or primary
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assembly rather than through the medium of delegates or representatives chosen to act
for them;
2. Indirect, representative or republican democracy – one in which the will of the
State is formulated and expressed through the agency of a relatively small and select
body of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives.

4. Other forms of government

As to extent of powers exercised by the central or national government:
1. Unitary – one in which the control of national and local affairs is exercised by
the central or national government: and
2. Federal – one in which the power of the government is divided between two
sets of organs, one for national affairs and the other for local affairs, each organ being
supreme within its own sphere.
As to relationship between the legislative and the executive:

1. Parliamentary – one in which the state confers upon the legislature the power to
terminate the tenure of office of the real executive. Under this system, the Cabinet or
Ministry is immediately and legally responsible to the legislature and politically
responsible to the legislature and politically responsible to the electorate, while the
titular or nominal executive – the Chief of State – occupies a position of irresponsibility;
and
2. Presidential – where the executive is independent of the legislative as to tenure,
policies and acts. He is directly elected by the people.

Kinds of Government

1. De Jure – has general support of its people and is founded on existing

constitutional laws of the state.
2. De Facto – is founded not on existing constitutional laws of the state.
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2.1 De facto government by usurpation – gets possession and control of, or

usurps by force, or by voice of the majority, the rightful government and maintains itself
against the will of the latter.
2.2 De facto government by insurrection – established as an independent
government by the inhabitants of a country who rise in insurrection against the parent
state; and
2.3 De facto government by invasion – established and maintained by military
force which invades and occupies a territory of the enemy in the course of war, and
which is dominated by a government of paramount force.

CONSTITUTION
A constitution is a written instrument by which the fundamental powers of
government are established, limited and defined, and by which the powers are
distributed among several departments for their safe and useful exercise for the benefits
of the body politics.

It is a written charter, enacted and adopted by the people of the state, through a
convention of representatives or in any way the people may choose to act, which a
government for them is ordained or established, and by which the people give organic
and corporate form to that ideal thing – the state.

Types of Constitution
There are several types of a constitution.
1. Written constitution is a kind of a constitution whose provisions are all
contained in a single document. A good example of this constitution is the Philippine
constitution.
2. Unwritten constitution is a kind of constitution where the provisions are not
contained in a single document but rather in different documents which are considered
as part of the fundamental law of the land. A more appropriate term for this kind would
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be un-compiled constitution. The constitution of United Kingdom is fine example of this

type of constitution.
3. Conventional or enacted constitution is a type of constitution that was
formulated by a constitutional convention that is called to draft the constitution.
4. Cumulative or evolved constitution is a constitution which is not drafted by
a positive act of the state but it developed as a part of the history of the nation.
5. Rigid or inelastic constitution is one which cannot be easily amended
unless such amendment is provided for by the constitution itself.

Parts of a Constitution
The Constitution is a fundamental law has three major parts namely:
1. Constitution of Government which refers to those provisions which set up the
government structure specifically, Articles VI,VII,VIII,IX and X of the 1987 Constitution.
2. Constitution of Liberty are the provisions which guarantee indibidual fundamental
liberties against governmental abuse specifically provided in Articles III,IV,V,XII,XIII,XIV
and XV of the 1987 Constitution and
3. Constitution of Sovereignty which refers to those provisions which outline the
process whereby the sovereign people may change the constitution. These are
provided in XVII and Article II Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution.(Duka,2010)

Essential Qualities of a Written Constitution

A desirable written constitution must be broad, brief and definite. It must be
broad in the sense that it provides for the organization and structure of the entire
government. It must embody the political history of the nation, the present realities and
future prospects of the nation’s destiny.

The constitution must be brief for it must limit itself to the basic principles and leave the
implementations o such fundamental principles to the sound judgement of the legislative
department. It must be definite in order to avoid unnecessary ambiguities which would
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later on lead to confusion, brought about by the different interpretations and

constructions of its provisions (Cruz, 2003).

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION

The 1987 Constitution is founded upon certain fundamental principles of
government which have become part and parcel of our cherished democratic heritage
as a people. A knowledge of these principles is, therefore, essential to proper
understanding of our organic law. Among these principles as contained in the new
Constitution are the following:
1. Recognition of the aid of the Almighty God. (See Preamble)
2. Sovereignty of the people (Art. II, Sec 1):
3. Renunciation of war as an instrument of nation policy (Art.II, Sec 2);
4. Supremacy of civilian authority over the military (Art II, Sec 3);
5. Separation of church and state (Art II, Sec 6);
6. Recognition of the importance of the family as a basic social institution and of
vital role of the youth in nation-building (Art. II, Sec. 12,13; Art. XV);
7. Guarantee of Human Rights (Art. III, Sec 1-22)
8. Government through suffrage (Art V, Sec 1);
9. Separation Powers ( Art VI, Sec 1);
10. Independence of the Judiciary (Art VIII, Sec 1);
11. Guarantee of local autonomy ( Art X, Sec 2);
12. High sense of public service morality and accountability of public officers (Art XI,
Sec 1);
13. Nationalization of natural resources and certain private enterprise affected with
public interest (Art XII, Sec 2, 3 ,17 , 18);
14. Non-suability of the State (Art. XVI, Sec. 3);
15. Rule of the majority; and
16. Government of laws and not of men