MIDTERM

A THEMATIC SURVEY
ON PHILIPPINE HISTORY
LORD IVAN A. PANCHO
09266462905| FB: Vanito Swabe
Email: pancho_lordivan@fbc.ph.education

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 MODULE 5
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES
I. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:
 Describe the history of Philippine Politics from pre-colonial era up to the present;
 Investigate the remnants of history through material and non-material artifacts; and
 Collaborate in groups and share what they have learned to the public.

II. CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”

-Lord Acton

III. INTRODUCTION
It has been a very hard time for me thinking on the real status of the Philippine’s
Barangay system. I know that it was established in order to devolve power into various social
segments rather than concentrating it to the national and local government units. However, there
has been a growing concern on the situational essence of the Barangay. In the recent years, the
smallest government unit of the country has been tainted with corruption and injustice. It seems
that the Barangay, including the Sangguniang Kabataan, becomes the state’s training ground for
future corrupt officials in the government.
Fortunately, this situation is completely different from the type of government that pre-
colonial Filipinos used to have, under the leadership of their Datu. While monarchy was its form,
the Datu was not necessarily an abusive monarch. According to evidences gathered by historians,
the Datu used to consult the people, especially his fellow Datu and elders, in making tough
decisions. This was the earliest trace of democracy in the country. As the Barangay system
continues to be tainted with controversies today, may our leaders take time to ponder on the real
situation of our Barangays nowadays. We need to reform and not totally destroy it. I just hope
that the next Senators of the country will be competent and brave enough to include this in their
legislative agenda.

IV. LESSON INPUTS

Pre-Colonial Era
Before the arrival of Spaniards, the Philippines was split into numerous barangays which were
small states that were linked through regional trade routes.  The name "barangay" is thought to come
from the word balangay, which refers to boats used by the Austronesian people to reach the
Philippines. These societies had three classes: the nobility, freemen, and serfs and slaves.  They were
led by powerful individuals now called datus, although different cultures used different terms. The
arrival of Hindu influence increased the power of Indianized
datus. The first large state was Sulu, which adopted Islam in the
There was a union of church 15th century. This system then spread to the nearby Sultanate of
and state during the Spanish Maguindanao and the Kingdom of Tondo. Ferdinand Magellan's
death in 1521 can be partly attributed to a dispute between Lapu-
Era. Lapu and Rajah Humabon for control of Cebu. Spanish Captain-

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General Miguel López de Legazpi established a settlement in Cebu in 1565. Maynila was conquered in
1571, and Manila subsequently became the center of Spanish administration. Spain gradually
conquered the majority of the modern Philippines, although full control was never established over
some Muslim areas in the south and in the Cordillera highlands.

Spanish Era
To administer the Philippines, the Spaniards extended their royal government to the Filipinos. This
highly centralized governmental system was theocratic. There was a union of Church and State. The
Roman Catholic Church was equal to and coterminous with the State. Therefore, the cross as well as
the scepter held sway over the archipelago. While the State took care of temporal matters, the Church
took care of spiritual matters and hence preoccupied itself with the evangelization and the conversion
of the Filipino inhabitants from their primal religion to Roman Catholicism. The Spanish friars wanted
the Philippines to become the "arsenal of the Faith" in Asia. In the process, the Spanish Catholic
missionaries helped in the implantation of Castilian
Distinguish “Separation of Church and State” from
culture and civilization on Philippine soil. This is
“Checks and Balances”.
because being Spaniard was equated with
Catholicism. The two terms were virtually
synonymous with one another. One was not a genuine Spaniard if he was not a faithful Roman
Catholic believer.

The Propaganda Movement

Throughout the mid-1800s, the waning control of the Spanish crown over its South American
colonies inspired the ascending principalía, as did the sacrifices of religious and political martyrs. These
individuals boasted enormous wealth, land and influence within the Philippines but were all but ignored
beyond the islands' confines. Their mixed heritage as the mestizo offspring of Chinese, or sometimes
Spanish, merchants and indigenous women barred them from the same international respect granted
to their European counterparts. Despite prejudice and oppression, the principalía's great farming
estates thrived. Though barred from Spanish colonial administration, principales built local political
influence through their commercial activities.
By the end of the nineteenth century, Filipino principales had experienced a great change in their
cultural identity. It was from this elite base that the ilustrados sprang—the highly educated sons of
principalía families. The ambition of these Renaissance men eventually drove them to leave the
Philippines, pressured by the limited opportunities available in the Philippines and lured by the
universities of West. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 accelerated the migration of wealthy
scions to schools throughout Europe. Being of mixed heritage and trained in European universities, the
ilustrados saw themselves as overseas Spaniards rather than abiding by traditional ethnic affiliations.
Though they represented the best minds in the Philippines, they nonetheless faced discrimination from
penisulares (peninsular Spaniards) in both Spain and the Philippines. While the ilustrados saw
themselves as the Crown's subjects, Spaniards saw them as indios (indigenous Filipinos), and thus
beneath them. Despite ilustrado efforts to distance themselves from the rest of Filipino society initially,
racism eventually pressured them to organize with the rest of the Philippines. Bitter after centuries as
second-class citizens and emboldened by their education, the ilustrados petitioned Spain for greater
political rights. The Propaganda Movement began in the 1870s and initially sought complete
assimilation as a full-fledged province—with all male Filipinos as Spanish citizens.

The Rise of Gov. Gen. Carlos Maria dela Torre

Queen Isabela II was overthrown resulting to the rise of liberalism in Spain. Generals Juan
Prim and Francisco Serrano appointed dela Torre as the governor-general in the Philippines (true
democrat). Most liberal governor-general walked the streets in civilian clothes and dismissed his
alabaderos (halberdiers) –the governor’s security guards – and went unescorted.

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 Accomplishments:
1. abolished censorship of the press and allowed unlimited discussions of political
problems and proclaimed freedom of speech
2. abolished flogging as a punishment
3. curtailed abuses particularly the tribute and the polo
4. allowed secular priests to be assigned to vacant parishes or seminaries and
created an office which would prevent abuses by members of the regular religious orders
5. reformed the Royal Audiencia to bring about speedier administration of justice
6. decreed educational reforms, ordered the setting up of medical, pharmacy, and
vocational schools
7. created the Council of the Philippines on December 4, 1870 which was a
consultative body to study Philippine problems and propose solutions to them.

The Rise of Rafael de Isquierdo

When monarchy was restored in Spain, Isquierdo became the governor-general; “with crucifix
in one hand and a sword in the other” restored press censorship (b) prohibited all talk on political
matters and secularization of the parishes (c)
disapproved the establishment of arts and Distinguish Gov. Gen. Dela Torre from Gov. Gen.
trades in Manila (d) dismissed natives and De Isquierdo.
mestizos in the civil and military service.

Cavite Mutiny (January 20, 1872). About 200 Filipino soldiers and workers in Fort San Felipe
mutinied, under the leadership of Sgt La Madrid; caused by Izquierdo’s abolition of the exemption of
the Filipino workers from polo and paying tributes; mutineers were able to kill the fort commander and
some soldiers; mutiny leaders and participants were arrested and shot to death

GomBurZa (fought for the Filipinization of parishes and champions of liberalism and

humanitarianism). They were charged of sedition and rebellion due to the false testimony of
Francisco Zaldua (former Bicolano soldier and was bribed by the Spanish prosecutors to implicate
them as the masterminds of the mutiny). Military Court: three priests guilty and sentenced them to die
by garrote.
Originally, Rizal’s plan was to take up priesthood and become a Jesuit father. When he heard of
the martyrdom of GomBurZa, he changed his mind and swore to dedicate his life to vindicate the
victims of Spanish oppression.

American Era
Like the Philippines, the island of Cuba suffered from Spanish misrule. Cubans also have initiated
their own revolts against Spanish abusers. On the 5th of March 1895, they finally liberated under the
leadership of Jose Marti - Cuba’s national hero. The United States, which was also a colony of various
European countries sympathized with the Cubans. Also they have an investment of $50 million on the
island. These factors triggered the US to engage in the conflict.
At the harbor of Havana, on the night of February 15, 1898, Maine, a US battleship was blown up
causing the death of 260 officers and men. Until today, there is no proven culprit of the said crime but
only suspicions that it was none other than the Spanish forces - which caused the US government to
stir up its own war spirit.
The Spanish government first declared war against United States on April 24, 1898. The US
congress then accepted the challenge.

Battle of Manila Bay: May 1, 1898

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 On April 30, Dewey’s lookouts caught sight of Luzon, the main Philippine island. That night,
under cover of darkness and with the lights aboard the U.S. warships extinguished, the squadron
slipped by the defensive guns of Corregidor Island and into Manila Bay.
After dawn, the Americans located the Spanish fleet, a group of out-of-date warships anchored
off the Cavite naval station. The U.S. fleet, in
comparison, was well-armed and well-staffed, largely
The Battle of Manila Bay, also
due to the efforts of the energetic assistant secretary of
known as the Battle of Cavite, took the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), who had
place on 1 May 1898, during the also selected Dewey for the command of the Asiatic
Spanish–American War. squadron.
At around 5:40 a.m., Dewey turned to the captain of
his flagship, the Olympia, and said, “You may fire when
ready, Gridley.” Two hours later, the Spanish fleet was decimated, and Dewey ordered a pause in
the fighting. He met with his captains and ordered the crews a second breakfast. The surviving
Spanish vessels, trapped in the little harbor at Cavite, refused to surrender, and late that morning
fighting resumed. Early that afternoon, a signal was sent from the gunboat USS Petrel to Dewey’s
flagship announcing that the enemy has surrendered.
Spanish losses were estimated at more than 370 troops, while American casualties were
fewer than 10.

The Mock Battle of Manila: August 13, 1898

The Spanish-American War ended with a fantastic performance. It starred an American hero,
a veteran commander taking control of a crew of both fresh-faced and veteran sailors in a corner
of the Pacific few back home had heard about. His opponent: a Spaniard at the helm of his
empire’s last stand in a far-flung colony. Both were aided by an efficient Belgian consul who
brokered a plan to save Spanish honor, guarantee a bloodless victory, and, most important, keep a
revolutionary Filipino general in the dark about the entire
operation. But before we get to the main attraction, the
The Mock Battle of Manila was a fanfare.
land engagement which took place The Spanish were not about to surrender to their
in Manila on August 13, 1898, at colonial charges. The Americans, on the other hand,
the end of the Spanish–American were new to the Philippines. The U.S. military’s treatment
of native Filipinos echoed the longer histories of
War, four months after the decisive
Americans’ attitudes toward African Americans and
victory by Commodore Dewey's Native Americans back home.
Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of On the morning of August 13, the mock battle for
Manila Bay. Manila began. The band on board the British armored
cruiser HMS Immortalité serenaded the Americans with
"patriotic aires." At 9 a.m., the "attack" commenced with
Dewey’s flagship, the protected cruiser Olympia, lobbing a few shells into the old fort at Malate
while the Spanish guns on the coast provided no response. Recently arrived land-based U.S.
forces held back Filipinos outside the central city. The historian Teodoro Agoncillo understood the
theatrical nature of the event when he wrote: "The few casualties on both sides in the phony attack
were due to some ‘actors’ bungling their ‘lines,’ or possibly to the fact that very few officers were let
in on the charade."
According to plan, Dewey’s staff transmitted the code for surrender to Jáudenes, and the
Spanish obliged by raising the white flag at 11:20 a.m., just in time for lunch. To bring the
morning’s shock and awe to a close, the crew of the British armored cruiser HMS Immortalité fired
a twenty-one-gun salute in honor of the U.S. flag that was hoisted atop Fort Santiago.

The Japanese Military Administration

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 On January 3, 1942, for the purpose of supervising the cultural, economic, and political affairs of
the conquered nation, the Japanese Military Administration was established by the Japanese High
Command.
The Constitution of the Japanese-Sponsored Republic
The constitution consisted of a preamble and 12 articles, written in Tagalog and English
languages. It provided for the establishment of the “Republic of the Philippines” with tripartite
powers - executive (President), legislative (National Assembly), and Judicial (Supreme Court and
Lower Courts). It was transitory however in the sense that it was only able to take effect on the
duration of war.

Foreign Relations of the Republic

The new republic was recognized by the Axis bloc of nations - Japan, China, Manchukuo,
Germany, Italy, Burma, Croatia, Spain, Thailand, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.
A Japanese embassy was established in Manila under Ambassador Syozo Murata. In turn, a
Philippine embassy in Tokyo, Japan was under Ambassador Jose B. Vargas.
Shortly after assuming the presidency, Dr. Laurel, accompanied by Ministers Recto and
Paredes and Assemblyman Jose B. Laurel Jr.. attended the Assembly of Greater East Asiatic
Nations which was held in Tokyo from November 5 to 6, 1943. This assembly adopted a Joint
Declaration otherwise known as the “Pacific Charter”, setting forth the principles that were to serve
as basis for the upbuilding of Greater East Asia.

The New Republic

The New Republic (Third Republic) of the Philippines was inaugurated on July 4, 1946. It marked
the culmination of the peaceful campaign for Philippine Independence—the two landmarks of which
were the enactment of the Jones Law in 1916 (in which the U.S. Congress pledged independence for
the Philippines once Filipinos have proven their capability for self-government) and the Philippine
Independence Act of 1934 (popularly known as Tydings-McDuffie) which put in place a ten-year
transition period during which the Philippines had Commonwealth status.
The Third Republic also marked the recognition by the global community of nations, of the
nationhood of the Philippines—a process that began when the Commonwealth of the Philippines joined
the Anti-Axis Alliance known as the United Nations on June 14, 1942, receiving recognition as an Allied
nation even before independence. Thus, the inauguration of the Third Republic marked the fulfillment
of the long struggle for independence that began with the Philippine Revolution on August 23, 1896
(recent scholarship suggests, on August 24) and which was formalized on June 12, 1898 with the
Proclamation of Philippine Independence at Kawit, Cavite.
From 1946 to 1961, Independence Day was celebrated on July 4. On May 12, 1962, President
Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28, s. 1962, which declared June 12 as Independence
Day. In 1964, Congress passed Republic Act No. 4166, which formally designated June 12 of every
year as the date on which we celebrate Philippine independence. July 4 in turn has been observed as
Republic Day since then. President Roxas takes his oath of office during the Independence Ceremony
of July 4, 1946. Administering the oath is Chief Justice Manuel Moran.
Roxas. President Roxas takes his oath of office during the Independence Ceremony of July 4,
1946. Manuel Roxas was a young politician from Capiz when he entered national politics. He was
among the few proteges of then President Manuel L. Quezon. After the war, he and Elpidio
Quirino, an Ilocano politican and educator established the Liberal Party. On April 15, 1948,
following a speech before an audience of assembled airmen at Clark Field Air Base, President
Roxas died of a heart attack. Vice President Elpidio Quirino assumed the presidency on April 17,
1948.
Quirino. President Elpidio Quirino’s goal as chief executive, as stated in his first State of the
Nation Address, revolved around strengthening the people’s confidence in the government and the

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 restoration of peace. In order to achieve these, the Chief Executive travelled around the country to
inspect firsthand the condition of the nation.
The Quirino administration came to a close in the presidential elections of 1953. It was a battle
between incumbent Liberal Party of President Elpidio Quirino against the charismatic Nacionalista
candidate Ramon Magsaysay. It was a landslide victory for Ramon Magsaysay, who gained
2,912,992 votes or 68.9% of the electorate.
Magsaysay. To help the rural masses was
the focal point of the populist administration of What made Pres. Magsaysay as the “Champion of
President Ramon Magsaysay. President Masses”?
Magsaysay insisted in meeting and
communicating with his people. In his first
Executive Order, he established the Presidential Complaint and Action Commission, which
investigated various citizen complaints and recommended remedial actions through different
government agencies. The Commission served to boost the nation’s confidence with its
government; it was seen as a fulfilment of President Magsaysay’s promise, stated in his inaugural
address, to become a President for the people.
On March 17, 1957, President Magsaysay and 25 other passengers of the presidential plane
Mt. Pinatubo perished in a crash, at Mt. Manunggal, Cebu. Vice President Carlos P. Garcia
succeeded to the presidency on March 18, 1957.
Garcia. President Carlos P. Garcia, in his inaugural address, sought the help and support of
the masses in accomplishing the tremendous responsibilities of the presidency and in carrying on
the legacy of the Magsaysay administration. President Garcia used the momentum of the previous
administration’s campaign on social welfare and signed the amendment of the Social Security Law
through Republic Act 1792, establishing the Social Security System on September 1, 1957.
The administration campaigned for the citizens’ support in patronizing Filipino products and
services, and implemented import and currency controls favorable for Filipino industries. In
connection with the government’s goal of self-sufficiency was the “Austerity Program,” which
President Garcia described in his first State of the NatIon
Address as “more work, more thrift, more productive
investment, and more efficiency” that aimed to mobilize
The Garcia administration
national savings.
promoted the “Filipino First” President Garcia lost to Vice President Diosdado
policy, whose focal point was to Macapagal in the presidential race of 1961.
regain economic independence; Macapagal. President Diosdado Macapagal, during
a national effort by Filipinos to his inaugural address on December 30, 1961,
“obtain major and dominant emphasized the responsibilities and goals to be attained
in the “new era” that was the Macapagal administration.
participation in their economy.”
He reiterated his resolve to eradicate corruption, and
assured the public that honesty would prevail in his
presidency. President Macapagal, too, aimed at self-
sufficiency and the promotion of every citizen’s welfare, through the partnership of the government
and private sector, and to alleviate poverty by providing solutions for unemployment.
In the field of foreign relations, the Philippines became a founding member of Maphilindo,
through the Manila Accord of 1963. The regional organization of Malay states strove for “Asian
solutions by Asian nations for Asian problems,” and aimed to solve national and regional problems
through regional diplomacy.
The Macapagal administration closed with the presidential elections of 1965. The “Poor boy
from Lubao” was defeated by the Nacionalista candidate Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Marcos. The last president of the Third Republic of the Philippines was President Ferdinand
E. Marcos. Prior to the events of Martial Law, the first term of the Marcos administration, as

Habeas corpus is a centuries-

old legal procedure 7
that protects against unlawful
and indefinite imprisonment.
 emphasized in his inaugural address on December 30, 1965, focused on “the revival of the
greatness of the nation.”
As opposition to President Marcos grew significantly due to corruption in the administration,
the Liberal Party then saw an opportunity in the midterm elections of 1971. The Miting de Avance
of the Liberal Party held at Plaza Miranda on August 21, 1971 was cut short whentwo bombs were
hurled at the opposition candidates, killing nine people and injuring about a hundred. Because of
this incident, President Marcos suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus, leading to the arrest and
incarceration of twenty people.
Opponents of the administration were incarcerated; decree-making powers were asserted by
the President, and when the ongoing Constitutional Convention produced a draft document, a
series of “barangay assemblies” were held to prevent Congress from convening as scheduled in
January, 1973. After claiming approval of a new Constitution, the dictatorship ordered Congress
padlocked. The “ratification” of the 1973 Constitution marked the end of the Third Republic and the
beginning of the Bagong Lipunan—the New Society as the martial law regime was called—under
President Marcos.

V. SUMMARY
 Early politics in the Philippines were small entities known as barangays, although some larger
states were established following the arrival of Hinduism and Islam through regional trade
networks.
 The arrival of Spanish settlers began a period of Spanish expansion which led to the creation
of the Captaincy General of the Philippines, governed out of Manila.
 Through the subsequent Philippine–American War and later actions, the United States
established effective administration over the entire archipelago and introduced political
structures that reflected those of the United States.