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PPG12 Q1 Mod5 Historical Background of Phil Democratic Politics
PPG12 Q1 Mod5 Historical Background of Phil Democratic Politics
PHILIPPINE POLITICS
AND GOVERNANCE
Quarter 1- Module 5:
Historical Background of Philippine
Democratic Politics
What I Need To Know
Directions: This will measure your prior knowledge on the evolution of Philippine
politics and governance. Identify in what period of history the statement
belongs. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. In what period of the evolution of Philippine politics and governance the term
“datu” was first used as chief of the barangay?
a. Spanish period b. Precolonial period c. Revolutionary d. Post era
2. The formal establishment of a colonial government took place only during the
conquest of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565. This event belonged to _____.
a. Spanish period b. Precolonial period c. Revolutionary d. Post era
3. The barangay was the Filipino's earliest form of government. This event is
under _____.
a. Spanish period b. Precolonial period c. Revolutionary d. Post era
4. What period did the first term of Ferdinand Marcos happen?
a. Spanish period b. Precolonial period c. Revolutionary d. Post era
5. The signing of the Treaty of Paris signaled the end of the Spanish-American
War. This particular event happened during _____.
a. Revolutionary b. Japanese occupation c. American period d. Post era
6. In 1944, the Commonwealth government was re-established after the return
of Gen. Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines and Japanese forces eventually
defeated. This particular event happened during _____.
a. Revolutionary b. Japanese occupation c. American period d. Post
era
7. Andres Bonifacio and a group of patriots founded the Katipunan in 1892,
which sought independence from Spain and set the 1896 Revolution in
motion. This period belonged to _____.
a. Revolutionary b. Japanese occupation c. American period d. Post
era
8. The 1935 Constitution, provided for a presidential and unitary system, wherein
the president will be directly elected by the people and will serve for four years
with a maximum of two terms. This event happened during _____.
a. Revolutionary b. Japanese occupation c. American period d. Post
era
9. What period did Corazon Aquino serve as the president of the Fifth Republic?
a. Spanish period b. Martial Law era c. Post-EDSA d. Japanese
10. EDSA People Power ended the dictatorial regime of Marcus. This period is
under _____.
a. Spanish period b. Martial Law era c. Post-EDSA d. Japanese
Historical Development of Philippine
Democratic Politics
What’s New
Activity 1. My Presidents!
Directions: Think of three Philippine presidents that you have idolized. Then,
write their names inside the boxes provided, together with what you think their
best contribution in the country.
1Example:
o President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte
o Suspension and
removal of corrupt
government
officials
What Is It
The evolution of the Philippine politics may be presented through the various
historical periods that the country has undergone. The discussion will be provided as
follows:
Periods Events
A system of governance in pre-colonial period already
Precolonial existed before Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in
( before 1565) 1521. Back then, the Philippines was an archipelago
organized into several independent and self-sufficient
political units known as the barangay, which was headed
by a chief known as datu.
The barangay was the Filipino's earliest form of
government. It was an independent settlement
consisting of thirty to one hundred families usually
situated along a river bank or at the mouth of a river
spilling out to the sea. The term barangay was derived
from the Malay word barangay or balangay, which
means sailboat. The barangays were used to transport
the early Filipinos and their cargoes to the various
sections of the Philippine archipelago.
Each barangay was ruled by a datu or village chief who
was also known as raha or rajah. Some datus were
more powerful than others and, consequently, were duly
respected and exercise tremendous influence. The
political development of the archipelago was such that
there was no national or central government yet. In other
words, there was no datu strong enough to consolidate
considerable power and to unite the archipelago into one
nation.
The system of stratification was deemed politically
significant which was present also in precolonial period.
The stratification was based on class, which included the
nobility or maharlika, the freemen or timawa, the serfs or
aliping namamahay, and the slaves or aliping sagigilid.
The datu belonged to the maharlika class. Although this
period was already complex and sophisticated, women
held important positions and foreign relations were
established.
In this period, Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the
Spanish Philippines and this country became the Spanish
period Crown’s basis for the occupation of the archipelago.
( 1565- 1898) Accordingly, a number of expeditions were sent to
formally colonize the Archipelago. The formal
establishment of a colonial government took place only
during the conquest of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565.
Changes in the structure of the government were made
and indirectly governed by the king of Spain through
Mexico through the council of Indies in Spain. The
Mexico gained independence in 1821 and this country
was directly ruled by Spain until 1898.
The government during this period was centralized,
which was led by the governor-general. With his
authority based in Intramuros Manila, the governor-
general was likewise an all-powerful individual. He had
the executive, legislative, judicial, administrative, and
military powers. A Spanish influence was the
centralization of power and the creation of a basic
unitary government.
It was at this period the Spaniards appointed the
chieftains as the cabeza de barangay. The datu’s
traditional powers were limited to collecting taxes. The
unified barangays composed the pueblo or towns, which
were led by the gobernadorcillo (“little governor”). The
consolidated towns then formed into provinces, which
could be categorized into two. Provinces that were fully
subjugated were called alcaldia, headed by the alcalde
mayor; while provinces that were not entirely pacified
under Spanish authority were called corregimiento, led
by the corregidor.
American The signing of the Treaty of Paris signaled the end of the
period Spanish-American War. The Treaty involved United
(1898-1941) States’ payment of $20 million to Spain after the latter
ceded all its imperial possessions, including Puerto Rico,
Guam, and the Philippines. The American occupation of
the Philippines definitely precipitated the Philippine –
American War. The official end of hostilities was
declared in 1902, following the capture of Emilio
Aguinaldo and the defeat of revolutionary forces.
The United States forces established a military
government in the Philippines after America’s capture of
Manila in 1898. Gen. Wesley Merritt (1898), Gen. Elwell
Otis (1898-1900), and Maj. Gen.Arthur McArthur, Jr.
(1900-1901) were the military governors who
administered the Philippines through the authority of the
US president.
William H. Taft (in office 1901-1904) became the first
civil governor of the Philippines, acted as the head of the
executive branch and also exercised legislative powers
as the head of the Philippine Commission, a lawmaking
body, whose members were all appointed.
The Philippine Organic Act (Cooper Act) was enacted in
1902, which provided for the creation of the Philippine
legislature. The legislature would be bicameral, with all
the-appointed Philippine Commission as the upper
house; and the Philippine Assembly, whose the
members were to be elected as the lower house. In
1907, the first nationwide election was held and the
Philippine legislature held its first session. By 1916, the
Philippine Autonomy Act (Jones Law) provided for the
reorganization of the Philippine legislature into a fully
elected and Filipino-controlled bicameral body. The
Philippine Commission became the Senate, while the
Philippine Assembly became the House of
Representatives. At the same time, Filipino statesmen
were already working toward total Philippine
Independence from the United States.
What’s More
2. Revolutionary period
Event:
3. American period
Event:
4. Japanese occupation
Event:
Key Points
What I Can Do
Activity 3: Reflection!
Question: What are the influences of prior stages of the Philippine political
developments on contemporary Philippine politics? Think of five (5) influences
that are visible in the present.