Philippine Revolutionary Government

(1896-1902)

A. Conditions prevailing

1896-1898 : period of revolutionary change

What Pact was signed by the Spanish Gov

Gen and Filipino leaders to stop the
revolutionary outbreaks which started in
1896?
 Phil revo govt

• revolutionary outbreaks which started in

1896 ceased after the Pact of the Biak na
Bato was signed by the Spanish Gov Gen
and Filipino leaders

What were the conditions for the cessation?

Conditions for the cessation
1. Spanish government to
a. pay the revolutionary leaders a
large monetary indemnity, and
b. institute governmental and
civil reforms
2. Filipino leaders to
a. cease insurgent activities, and
b. the voluntary exile of the leaders
 Phil revo govt

Results :

- short-lived

- after the battle of Manila Bay, Admiral

Dewey brought back Filipino leader
Aguinaldo from HK who reorganized
his forces and renewed the revolution
 Phil revo govt

1898 – established the Philippine

Revolutionary Government

What were the objectives of the Revo Govt?

 Phil Revo Govt

B. Objectives of the Revolutionary

Government
1. independence and self-rule
2. prepare the country so that a
true republic may be established
3. establish an administration more
modest, simple and prompt in
performing public service
C. Characteristics of the PAS

- experiences under the Spanish

bureaucracy helped the revolutionaries in
conceptualizing the govt to be established

- closely patterned, esp the structure at least

mechanically, after that of Spanish colonial
govt as it would serve as provisional
arrangements; lack of time for innovations
 Characteristics

But local govt administration were more popularly

based and autonomous

Similarities with Spanish local government system

1. territorial boundaries of the old pueblos were

retained

2. bureaucrats of the pueblos – chief and 3

delegates – were the same
 Characteristics

3. same element of aristocracy –

only the elites can participate in
local elections but should be
sympathetic to revolutionary
cause/political activity limited to
most eminent citizens who were
sympathetic to the revolution
 Characteristics

Differences

1. suffrage was considerably broader – right to elect

given to all, and not just to 13, eminent
townsmen (of good moral character, competent,
21 years of age) who must also be lovers of
independence

2. elections were direct, outside the control of the

parish priest and more definitive but confirmation
still required from the central government
 Characteristics

3. innovations/new provisions for

provincial government – chief
executive to be elected rather
appointed; election of the
members of the provincial council
which became an advisory and
supervisory body
 Characteristics

- revolutionary policy marked by extreme

sensitivity to moral questions

proposals to address corruption

1. strict enforcement of a CS exam system

2. institution of equality in pay and

qualifications between Spaniards and
Filipinos as a condition for the cessation of
hostilities against Spain
 Characteristics

3. Civil service be made a constitutional

body with its own system of
examination as bases for recruiting
people into government service
 Characteristics

- scheme of central administration

organized by Filipino revolutionaries a
radical departure from that of Spanish – it
needed a thorough overhauling, it had to
be discarded – consistent with its concept
of public service

- from a government by decree to a

constitutional republic with the framing of
the 1898 Malolos Constitution
Philippine Revolutionary Government (1896-1900)
from a government by decree (dictatorial)
to a constitutional republic with the framing
of the 1898 Malolos Constitution
 1898 Philippine Constitution

First republican constitution in Asia

• handiwork of a congress made up partly of

delegates elected and partly delegates
who were appointed by Aguinaldo to
represent provinces which would
otherwise be unrepresented because of
distance, war conditions or other reasons
generally recognized that the members were
among the ablest Filipinos of the time : 40 lawyers,
16 physicians, 5 pharmacists, 2 engineers and 1
priest
 Form of govt established under
the 1898 Philippine Constitution
1. Separation of the 3 powers of govt

2. Sovereignty resting upon the people

3. Government to be popular, representative,

alternative and responsible

4. Freedom and equality of religious worship

 1898 Phil Constitution

4. Separation of church and state

5. Ample decentralization and

administrative autonomy for local
governments

6. Public financial administration

 Fate of the
revolutionary government
• Malolos Constitution historical but no
immediate practical significance –
structure never fully implemented,
because by 1899 the republic found itself
fighting for its life almost from the moment
it was born.
• The first experiment in Philippine self-
government was abortive
 Why the revolutionary govt failed

Philippine revolution started by the masses,

supported by the resources of the upper
classes or the elite

Bureaucracy dominated by the conservative

ilustrado class
 Phil revo govt

Marked by pragmatism and opportunism,

the elites promoted laws that excluded the
revolutionary masses

Reforms gave way to old-style corruption

and malpractices (Endriga 1993)