• One page, or at most 2 pages long.

• Language is grammatically correct.

• Spelling has been checked.
• Formal Style
• Must always be 100% truthful.
• Contains no inappropriate personal information.
• Produced on a computer.
• Data presented in chronological order (unless functional).

Basic Checklist
• No spelling or grammar errors.
• Neat, clean, and professional looking.
• Length should be 1-2 pages.
• Margins at sides and bottom.

• Layout makes reading easy.

• Important titles should be emphasized.
• Information is logically recorded.
• Use Action Verbs for accomplishments & results.
• Bullet points when possible for accomplishments.
• Quantify your results whenever you can.
• Format - chronological

WRITING AN APPLICATION LETTER

- A letter that you write to a company or organization when you are applying for a job.

Importance
- The letter of application is like a personal sales letter because of its task of selling the
personality and qualifications to the applicant’s future employee.

Purpose
• to secure an interview
• eventually to obtain a job

1. HEADING- contains the address of the sender, and the date on which the letter is being
written.
Example: 28 Susano Street Novaliches, Quezon City June 20, 2007

2. INSIDE ADDRESS- contains the name of the employer , his/ her position, company’s name
and the address of the company or organization.

3. SALUTATION- an expression of greeting to the employer that comes immediately before

the body of the letter.

4. BODY OF THE LETTER- it is in this part where you may convey all the messages you want
your reader to understand.
LAND REFORM- Redistribution of piece of land to the farmers from land owners
AGRARIAN REFORM- Rectification of the whole system of agriculture
Pre-Spanish Period- Filipinos lived in villages or barangays ruled by chiefs or datus. The
datus comprised the nobility. Then came the maharlikas (freemen), followed by the aliping
mamamahay (serfs) and aliping saguiguilid (slaves). However, despite the existence of
different classes in the social structure, practically everyone had access to the fruits of the
soil. Money was unknown, and rice served as the medium of exchange.
Spanish Period- the concept of encomienda was introduced. This system grants that
Encomienderos must defend his encomienda fromexternal attack, maintain peace and order
within, and support the missionaries. In turn, the encomiendero acquired the right to collect
tribute from the indios (native).
- The system, however, degenerated into abuse of power by the encomienderos. The tribute
soon became land rents to a few powerful landlords. And the natives who once cultivated
the lands in freedom were transformed into mere share tenants.
- First Philippine Republic-When the First Philippine Republic was established in 1899, Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo declared in the Malolos Constitution his intention to confiscate large
estates, especially the so-called Friar lands. However, as the Republic was short-lived,
Aguinaldo’s plan was never implemented.
American Period- The Torrens system, which the Americans instituted for the registration of
lands, did not solve the problem completely. Either they were not aware of the law or if they
did, they could not pay the survey cost and other fees required in applying for a Torrens
title.
Commonwealth Period- President Manuel L. Quezon espoused the "Social
Justice" program to arrest the increasingsocial unrest in Central Luzon.
Japanese Occupation-The Second World War II started in Europe in 1939 and in the Pacific
in 1941.Hukbalahap controlled whole areas of Central Luzon; landlords who supported the
Japanese lost their lands to peasants while those who supported the Huks earned fixed
rentals in favor of the tenants.
HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon)- the anti- Japanese group.
Philippine Republic- After the establishment of the Philippine Independence in 1946, the
problems of land tenure remained. These became worst in certain areas. Thus, the Congress
of the Philippines revised the tenancy law.
President Manuel A. Roxas (1946-1948)
-Republic Act No. 34 -- Established the 70-30 sharing arrangements and regulating share-
tenancy contracts.
-Republic Act No. 55 -- Provided for a more effective safeguard against arbitrary
ejectment of tenants.
Elpidio R. Quirino (1948-1953) enacted the following law - Executive Order No. 355 issued
on October 23, 1950 -- Replaced the National Land Settlement Administration with Land
Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over the responsibilities of
the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn Production
Administration.
Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957)
- Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954 -- Abolished the LASEDECO and established the National
Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and landless
farmers. It was particularly aimed at rebel returnees providing home lots and farmlands in
Palawan and Mindanao.
-Republic Act No. 1199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954)
- Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955)
- Republic Act No. 821 (Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration)
President Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)- Continued the program of President Ramon
Magsaysay. No new legislation passed.
President Diosdado P. Macapagal (1961-1965)
-Republic Act No. 3844 of August 8, 1963 (Agricultural Land Reform Code). The RA was
hailed as one that would emancipate Filipino farmers from the bondage of tenancy.
President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986)
-Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972 ushered the Period of the New Society. Five
days after the proclamation of Martial Law, the entire country was proclaimed a land reform
area and simultaneously the Agrarian Reform Program was decreed
-Republic Act No. 6389, (Code of Agrarian Reform) and RA No. 6390 of 1971
- Presidential Decree No. 2, September 26, 1972
- Presidential Decree No. 27, October 21, 1972
President Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)- The Constitution ratified by the Filipino people
during the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino provides under Section 21 under
Article II that “The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian
reform.” On June 10, 1988, former President Corazon C. Aquino signed into law Republic Act
No. 6657or otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL). The law
became effective on June 15, 1988.
President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998)- 1992, his administration came face to face with
publics who have lost confidence in the agrarian reform program. His administration
committed to the vision “Fairer, faster and more meaningful implementation of the Agrarian
Reform Program.
President Joseph E. Estrada (1998-2000)- “ERAP PARA SA MAHIRAP’. This was the battle cry
that endeared President Joseph Estrada and made him very popular during the 1998
presidential election. During his administration, President Estrada launched the
Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo or MAGKASAKA.
President Gloria Macapacal-Arroyo (2000-2010)- anchored on the vision “To make the
countryside economically viable for the Filipino family by building partnership and
promoting social equity and new economic opportunities towards lasting peace and
sustainable rural development.”
President Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016)- Aquino vowed during his 2012 State of the
Nation Address that he would complete before the end of his term the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), the centerpiece program of the administration of his
mother, President Corazon Aquino. Distributed their family-owned Hacienda Luisita in
Tarlac. Under his administration, the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and
Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) project was created to contribute to the overall goal
of rural poverty reduction
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016 – present) - pursue an “aggressive” land reform
program that would help alleviate the life of poor Filipino farmers by prioritizing the
provision of support services alongside land distribution. The President directed the DAR to
launch the 2nd phase of agrarian reform where landless farmers would be awarded with
undistributed lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Duterte
plans to place almost all public lands, including military reserves, under agrarian reform DAR
created an anti-corruption task force to investigate and handle reports .
was able to hold on to power for as long as he could. On November 29, 1972,
the convention approved the constitution.
The constitution was supposed to introduce a Parliamentary -style
government where legislative power was vested in the unicameral National
Assembly, with members being elected to a six-year term. The president was
to be elected as the symbolic head of the state chosen from the members of
the National Assembly. The president would serve a six- year term and could
be re- elected to an unlimited number of terms. Executive power was
relegated to the Prime Minister, who was also the head of government and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces who was also to be elected from
the National Assembly.
President Marcos issue Presidential decree No. 73 setting the date of the
plebiscite to ratify or reject the propose constitution on November 30, 1973 .
This plebiscite was postponed later on since Marcos feared that the public
might vote to reject the constitution. Instead of plebiscite, Citizens assemblies
were held, from January 10-15, 1973 , were the citizens coming and voting
by hand . On January 17, 1973, Marcos proclaimed that the proposed
constitution had been ratified.
In 1976, the Citizen Assemblies, once again, decided to allow the continuation
of Martial Law, as well as approved amendments where the president to also
become the Prime Minister and continue to exercise legislative powers until
Martial Law was lifted, and authorize the president to legislate on his own on
an emergency basis.
In 1980, the retirement age of the members of the judiciary was extended to
70 years.
In 1981, the parliamentary system was modified to a semi-presidential system
where executive power was restored to the president. The Executive
Committee was to be created composed of the Prime Minister and 14 others,
that would serve as the president’s Cabinet.
In 1984, the Executive Committee was abolished and the position of the vice
president was restored.
In 1980’s, Marcos amassed power and discontent has also been burgeoning.
On August 21, 1983, Benigno Aquino Jr., opposition leader was assassinated
after his return from exile in the United States. Marcos was forced to hold a
‘snap’ election and were marred by widespread fraud. In February 1986,
EDSA People Power Revolution happened. Under pressure from the United
States of America, the Marcos family fled into exile. Corazon Aquino, the
widow of Benigno Aquino, was installed as president on February 25, 1986.
1987 Constitution After the Martial Law
When democracy was restored in 1986, the 1973 Constitution was replaced
by first the freedom constitution, also known as Proclamation No. 3, s. 1986,
then our current constitution, the 1987 Constitution. This constitution came
into full force and effect on February 11, 1987, after President Corazon C.
Aquino issued Proclamation No. 58, s. 1987. The proclamation issued by
President Aquino included the results of the plebiscite held on February 2,
1987.
The constitution begins with a preamble and has 18 articles. It allocates
governmental powers to executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
Executive Branch
- headed by the President and his cabinet (whom he chooses)
- power is limited by significant checks from the two co-equal branches of
government
- in case of national emergency, the president may declare Martial Law but
not longer than 60 days
- the Congress (through a majority vote) can revoke his decision
- the Supreme Court may review the declaration of Martial Law and decide if
there were sufficient justifying facts for the act
- the president and vice-president are elected at large by a direct vote serving
6-year term

Legislative Branch
- power resides in the Congress which is divided into two houses: The
Senate and House of Representatives
- 24 senators (can serve no more than 2 consecutive six-year terms)
- the House is composed of district representatives (234 legislative districts in
the Philippines, to serve 3-year terms)
- Congress may declare war (through 2/3 vote in upper and lower houses)
- the power of the legislation is also subject to an executive check, as the
president retains the power to veto or stop a bill from becoming a law.
Congress may override this power with a 2/3 vote in both houses
The constitution created a party-list system to provide spaces for the
participation of under-represented community sectors or groups. Party-list
representatives may fill up no more than 20% of the seats in the House
Judiciary
- composed of a Supreme Court and lower courts
- Supreme Court (15 members appointed by the President)
- may hear, on appeal, any cases dealing with the constitutionality of any law,
treaty, or decree of the government, cases where questions of jurisdiction or
judicial error are concerned, or cases where the penalty is sufficiently grave
The Constitution established 3 independent Constitutional Commissions:
1. Civil Service Commission- central agency in charge of government
personnel
2. Commission on Elections- enforce and administer all election laws and
regulations
3. Commission on Audit- examines all funds, transactions, and property
accounts of the government and its agencies
The Office of the Ombudsman was also created to:
- investigate complaints that pertain to public corruption, unlawful behavior of
public officials, and other public misconduct.
- can charge public officials before the Sandiganbayan, a special court
created for this purpose