CHAPTER VIII: SOCIAL, POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC & CULTURAL ISSUES IN THE
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
TOPIC I: EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
BRIEF CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY:
1. 1897: CONSTITUTION OF BIAK NA BATO
 The Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was the
Provisionary Constitution of the
Philippine Republic during the Philippine
2. 1899: MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
Revolution.
 Promulgated by the Philippine
revolutionary Government on November
1, 1897.
 The Constitution, borrowed from Cuba,
was written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix
Ferrer in Spanish, and later on translated
into Tagalog
 The organs of the government under the
Constitution were:
a) The Supreme Council, which was
vested with the power of the
Republic, headed by the President
and four (4) department Secretaries;
i. The Interior;
ii. Foreign Affairs;
iii. Treasury; and
iv. War.
b) The Consejo Supremo de Gracia Y
Justicia (Supreme Council of Grace
and Justice) - which was given the
authority to make decisions and
affirm or disprove the sentences
rendered by other courts and to
dictate rules for the administration of
justice.
c) The Asamblea de Representantes
(Assembly of Representatives) -
which was to be convened after the
Revolution to create a new
Constitution and to elect a new
Council of Government and
Representatives of the People.
 The Constitution of Biak-na-Bato was
never fully implemented, since a
truce, the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, was
signed between the Spanish and the
Philippine Revolutionary Army.
 The Philippine Revolution of 1896.
 The proclamation of Philippine
Independence at Kawit, Cavite on
June 12, 1898.
 Revolutionary Congress convened at
Barasoain Church Malolos, Bulacan
on September 15, 1898. Three (3)
drafts were submitted: namely: The
drafts of Pedro Paterno, Apolinario
Mabini and Felipe Calderon.
 The Calderon proposal was reported
to the Congress on October 8, 1898,
and the Congress approved the
proposed Constitution on November
29, 1898.
 President Emilio Aguinaldo approve
the same on December 23, 1898.
Congress ratified it on January 20,
1899.
 Aguinaldo promulgated the
Constitution the following day, along
with the establishment of the
Philippine Republic on January 21,
1899.
 This was the first Republican
Constitution in Asia, framed by
revolutionary convention which
 included 40 lawyers, 16 physicians, 5
pharmacists, 2 engineers and 1 priest.
The Constitution recognized that
sovereign power was vested in the
people, provided for a Parliamentary
government, acknowledge separation
of powers, and contained a bill of
rights.
3. 1935: THE COMMONWEALTH
CONSTITUTION
 Act No. 4125 (May 26, 1934) of the
Philippine Legislature, calling for the
election of delegates to the
Constitutional Convention.
 Election of delegates: July 10, 1934;
Constitutional Convention inaugural:
July 30, 1934.
 The draft of the Constitution approved
by the Constitutional Convention on
February 8, 1935; brought to
Washington on March 18, 1935, and on
March 23, 1935, U.S President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt certified that the
draft Constitution conformed
substantially with the Tydings-McDuffie
Law.
 The Constitution was ratified in a
Plebiscite held on May 14, 1935.
 The Philippine Commonwealth
inaugurated on November 15, 1935; full
5. THE FREEDOM CONSTITUTION
Independence was attained with the
inauguration of the (third) Philippine
republic on July 4, 1946.
4. 1973: CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITARIANISM
 Resolution of both houses (RBH) No. 1,
March 16, 1967, increasing the
membership of the House of
Representatives form 120 to 180.
 RBH No. 2, March 16, 1967 calling for a
Constitutional Convention to revise the
1935 Constitution.
 Election of delegates: November 10,
1970, Constitutional Convention was
inaugurated June 1, 1971.
 Declaration of martial Law: September
21, 1972, under Presidential
Proclamation 1081.
 Constitutional Convention approve the
draft Constitution on November 29,
1972.
 On December 31, 1972, Marcos issued
Presidential Decree No. 86, organizing
the Citizen Assemblies to be consulted
on certain public issues.
 On January 5, 1973, issued Presidential
Decree No. 86-A calling the Citizens
Assemblies to meet on January 10 - 15.
1973 to vote on certain questions,
among them: "Do you approve of the
New Constitution?" and Do you still
want a Plebiscite to be called to ratify
the New Constitution?
 On January 17, 1973, President Marcos
issued Presidential Proclamation No.
1102, declaring the New Constitution
had been ratified by the Citizens
assemblies, and “has been thereby
come into force and effect."
 Proclamation No. 1 February 25, 1986,
announcing that President Corazon C.
Aquino and Vice-President Salvador
Laurel were assuming power.
 Executive Order No. 1 (February 28,
1986).
 Proclamation No. 3, March 25, 1986
announced the promulgation of the
Provisional (Freedom) Constitution,
 pending the drafting and ratification of
New Constitution. It adopted certain
provision of the 1973 Constitution,
contained additional articles on the
executive department, on government
organization and existing laws. It also
provided to the calling of the
Constitutional Commission to be
composed of 30 - 50 members, to draft
New Constitution.

6. THE PRESENT (1987) PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION

 Adoption of the Constitution:

a) Proclamation No. 9, creating the
Constitutional Commission of 50
members.
b) Approval of draft Constitution by
the Constitutional Commission on
October 15, 1986.
c) Plebiscite held on February 2,
1987.
d) Proclamation No. 58, Proclaiming
the ratification of the Constitution.
e) Effectivity of the Constitution:
February 2, 1987, the date of the
Plebiscite when the people ratified
the Constitution.