St.

Paul University Philippines

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

LESSON 5:
Social, Political,
Economic, and Cultural
Issues in Philippine
History

PREPARED BY:
Dr. Micko Jay Manuel

http://spup.edu.ph GEC 108: Readings in the Philippine History

 LESSON
OBJECTIVES

0 0 0 0
1 2 3 4
To analyze social, political, To recognize that the To understand several To propose
economic, and cultural problems of today are enduring issues in recommendations or
issues in the Philippines consequences of decisions Philippine society through solutions to present-day
using the lens of history. and events that happened history. problems based on the
in the past. understanding of the past
and anticipation of the
future through the study
of history.
 PART 1:
Evolution of
the Philippine
Constitution
 Evolution of the
Philippine Constitution
The constitution is defined as a set of
fundamental principles or established
precedents according to which a state or other
organization is governed, thus, the word itself
means to be a part of a whole.

The coming together of distinct entities into

one group, with the same principles and
ideals. These principles define the nature
and extent of government..

February 2 every year- Constitution Da

 PART 1:
Evolution of
the Philippine
Constitution
Biak na Bato
Republic
and the
1897
Constitution
1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
Republic
The Constitution of Biak-na-
Bato was the provisionary
Constitution of the Philippine
Republic during the Philippine
Revolution, and was promulgated
by the Philippine Revolutionary
Government on 1 November
1897. The constitution,
borrowed from Cuba, was
written by Isabelo Artacho and
Félix Ferrer in Spanish, and
later on, translated into Tagalog.
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
Republic
The organs of the government under the Constitution were:

The Supreme Council, The Consejo Supremo The Asamblea de

which was vested with the de Gracia Y Justicia Representantes
power of the Republic, (Supreme Council of Grace (Assembly of
headed by the president and Justice), which was given Representatives), which
and four department the authority to make decisions was to be convened after the
secretaries: the interior, and affirm or disprove the revolution to create a new
foreign affairs, treasury, sentences rendered by Constitution and to elect a
and war; other courts and to dictate new Council of
rules for the administration Government and
1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
The initial concept of the republic
began during theRepublic
latter part of
the Philippine Revolution, when the
now-undisputed leader of the
Revolution, Emilio Aguinaldo,
became surrounded by Spanish forces
at his headquarters
in Talisay, Batangas. Aguinaldo
slipped through the Spanish cordon
and, with 500 picked men,
proceeded to Biak-na-Bato, a
wilderness area at the town of San
Miguel, Bulacan (now parts of San
Miguel, San Ildefonso and Doña
1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
Republic
When news of Aguinaldo's arrival
there reached the towns of central
Luzon, men from the Ilocos
Provinces, Nueva
Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac,
and Zambales renewed their armed
resistance against the Spanish.

Unable to persuade the revolutionaries

to give up their arms, Governor-
General Primo de Rivera issued a
decree on July 2, 1897, which
prohibited inhabitants from leaving their
villages and towns. Contrary to his
expectations, they continued fighting.
1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
Republic
Within days, Aguinaldo and
his men planned the
establishment of a Republic.
Aguinaldo issued a
proclamation from his
hideout in Biak-na-Bato
entitled "To the Brave Sons
of the Philippines", in which
he listed his revolutionary
demands as:
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
1 Republic
the expulsion of the Friars
and the return to the
equal treatment and pay for
Peninsular and Insular civil 4
Filipinos of the lands which
servants;
they had appropriated for
themselves;

2 representation in
the Spanish Cortes;
abolition of the power of the
government to banish civil
citizens;
5

3 freedom of the press and

tolerance of all religious
sects;
legal equality of all persons. 6
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
Republic
On November 1, 1897, the provisional constitution
the Biak-na-Bato Republic was signed. The preamble
for

of the constitution included the statement that:

1897 Constitution
The separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their
Preamble
formation into an independent state with its own government called the
Philippine Republic has been the end sought by the Revolution in the
existing war, begun on the 24th of August, 1896; and therefore, in its name
and by the power delegated by the Filipino people, interpreting faithfully their
desires and ambitions, we, the representatives of the Revolution, in a meeting
at Biak-na-bato, Nov. 1st. 1897, unanimously adopt the following articles
for the Constitution of the State.
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
By the end Republic
of 1897, Governor-General
Primo de Rivera accepted the
impossibility of quelling the revolution by
force of arms. In a statement to the Cortes
Generales, he said, "I can take Biak-na-
Bato, any military man can take it, but
I can not answer that I could crush the
rebellion." Desiring to make peace with
Aguinaldo, he sent emissaries to Aguinaldo
seeking a peaceful settlement. Ironically,
nothing was accomplished until Pedro A.
Paterno, a known turncoat and a lawyer
from Manila, volunteered to act as
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
On August Republic
9, 1897, Paterno Paterno's efforts led to a peace
proposed a peace based on agreement called the Pact of
reforms and amnesty to Biak-na-Bato. This consisted of
Aguinaldo. In succeeding three documents, the first two
months, practicing shuttle being signed on December 14,
diplomacy, Paterno travelled 1897, and the third being signed
back and forth between Manila on December 15; effectively
and Biak-na-Bato carrying ending the Republic of Biak-
proposals and counterproposals. na-Bato.
 1897 Constitution:
Biak na Bato
On December 23, Republic
1897, In exchange, Aguinaldo will
Generals Celestino Tejero and receive P800,000
Ricardo Monet of the Spanish (Mexican Pesos) as
army arrived in Biak-na-Bato and remuneration to the
became hostages of the rebels. A revolutionaries and an amnesty.
ceasefire was declared by After receiving a
both camps and an agreement partial payment of P400,000,
between Aguinaldo and the Aguinaldo left for Hong
Spanish forces was made -that Kong on December 27, 1897.
the Spanish government will The constitution of Biak-na-Bato
grant self-rule to the would have been the
Philippines in 3 years if revolutionary government that
Aguinaldo went to exile and followed Bonifacio’s Katipunan.
 1899
Malolos
Constitution
1899: Malolos
Constitution
After the signing of the truce, the
Filipino revolutionary leaders
accepted a payment from Spain and
went to exile in Hong Kong. Upon
the defeat of the Spanish to the
Americans in the Battle of Manila
Bay on 1 May 1898, the United
States Navy transported Aguinaldo
back to the Philippines. The newly
reformed Philippine revolutionary
forces reverted to the control of
Aguinaldo, and the Philippine
Declaration of Independence
was issued on 12 June 1898,
together with several decrees that
formed the First Philippine Republic.
1899: Malolos
Constitution
The Malolos Congress was
elected, which selected a
commission to draw up a draft
constitution on 17 September
1898 (which was composed of
wealthy and educated men.)
The document they came up
with, approved by the Congress
on 29 November 1898, and
promulgated by Aguinaldo on
21 January 1899, was titled
"The Political Constitution of
1899" and written in Spanish.
 MALOLOS CONSTITUTION

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 SALIENT FEATURES

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 1899: Malolos
Constitution
The constitution has 39 articles divided into 14 titles, with
eight articles of transitory provisions, and a final additional article.
The document was patterned after the Spanish Constitution of
1812, with influences from the charters of Belgium, Mexico,
Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, and the
French Constitution of 1793.
According to Felipe Calderon, main author of the constitution, these countries
were studied because they shared similar social, political, ethnological, and
governance conditions with the Philippines. Prior constitutional projects in the
Philippines also influenced the Malolos Constitution, namely, the Kartilya
and the Sanggunian- Hukuman, the charter of laws and morals of the
Katipunan written by Emilio Jacinto in 1896; the Biak-na-Bato
Constitution of 1897 planned by Isabel Artacho; Mabini's Constitutional
Program of the Philippine Republic of 1898; the provisional constitution
of Mariano Ponce in 1898 that followed the Spanish constitutions; and the
 1899 Constitution
Malolos Preamble
We, the Representatives of the Filipino People, lawfully convened, in
order to establish justice, provide for common defense, promote the
general welfare and insure the benefits of liberty, imploring the aid of
the Sovereign Lawgiver of the Universe in order to obtain these
objectives, have voted, decreed, and sanctioned the following political
constitution.

1899 Malolos
Constitution
As a direct challenge to colonial authorities of the Spanish empire,
the sovereignty was retroverted to the people, a legal principle
underlying the Philippine Revolution. The people delegated
governmental functions to civil servants while they retained actual
sovereignty.
 1899 Constitution
Malolos Republic
The 27 articles of Title IV detail the
natural rights and popular
sovereignty of Filipinos, the
enumeration of which does not imply the
prohibition of any other rights not
expressly stated. Title III, Article V also
declares that the State recognizes the
freedom and equality of all beliefs,
as well as the separation of Church
and State. These are direct reactions to
features of the Spanish government in
the Philippines, where the friars were
 1899 Constitution
Malolos Republic
The form of government, according to Title
Il, Article 4 is to be popular,
representative, alternative, and
responsible, and shall exercise three
distinct powers- legislative, executive,
and judicial. The legislative power was
vested in a unicameral body called the
Assembly of Representatives, members of
which are elected for terms of four years.
Secretaries of the government were given
seats in the assembly, which meet annually
for a period of at least three months
 1899 Constitution
Malolos Republic
Bills could be introduced either by the
president or by a member of the assembly.
Some powers not legislative in nature were also
given to the body, such as the right to
select its own officers, right of censure
and interpellation, and the right of
impeaching the president, cabinet
members, the chief justice of the Supreme
Court, and the solicitor-general. A
permanent commission of seven, elected by
the assembly, and granted specific powers by
the constitution, was to sit during the intervals
 1899 Constitution
Malolos Republic
The 1899 Malolos Constitution
was never enforced due to the It is worth mentioning that after the
ongoing war. The Philippines was Treaty of Paris, the Philippines was
effectively a territory of the subject to the power of the United
United States upon the signing States of America, effectively the
of the Treaty of Paris between new colonizers of the country. From
Spain and the United States, 1898 to 1901, the Philippines
transferring sovereignty of the would be placed under a military
Philippines on 10 December 1898. government until a civil government
would be put be into place.

Treaty of Paris
Two acts of the United States Congress were The act specified that legislative power
passed that may be considered to have would be vested in a bicameral legislature
qualities of constitutionality. First was the composed of the Philippine Commission
Philippine Organic Act of 1902, the first as the upper house and the Philippine
organic law for the Philippine Islands that Assembly as lower house. Key provisions of
provided for the creation of a popularly the act included a bill of rights for
elected Philippine Assembly. Filipinos and the appointment of two
non-voting Filipino Resident
Commissioners of the Philippines as
representative to the United States House
 The second act that functioned as a
constitution was the Philippine Autonomy It was also this Act that explicitly declared
Act of 1916, commonly referred to as the purpose of the United States to
"Jones Law." which modified the structure end their sovereignty over the
of the Philippine government through the Philippines and recognize Philippine
removal of the Philippine Commission, independence as soon as a stable
replacing it with a Senate that served government can be established.
as the upper house and its members
elected by the Filipino voters, the first
truly elected national legislature.
 The constitution was crafted to meet the
approval of the United States government, and to
ensure that the United States would live up to its
promise to grant independence to the Philippines.
 1935
Commonwealt
h Constitution
1935 Commonwealth
Government
The constitution created the
Commonwealth of the
Philippines, an administrative
body that governed the Philippines
from 1935 to 1946. It is a
transitional administration to
prepare the country toward its full
achievement of independence. It
originally provided for a unicameral
National Assembly with a
president and vice president
elected to a six- year term
1935 Commonwealth
Government
It was amended in 1940 to have a
bicameral Congress composed of a
Senate and a House of
Representatives, as well as the
creation of an independent electoral
commission, and limited the term of
office of the president and vice president
to four years, with one re-election.
Rights to suffrage were originally
afforded to male citizens of the
Philippines who are twenty-one years
of age or over and are able to read
and write; this was later on extended
to women within two years after the
1935 Commonwealth
Government
The Filipino people, imploring the
aid of Divine Providence, in order
to establish a government that shall
embody their ideals, conserve
and develop the patrimony of
the nation, promote the
general welfare, and secure to
themselves and their posterity
the blessings of independence
under a regime of justice, liberty,
and democracy, do ordain and
promulgate this constitution.
1935 Commonwealth
Government
While the dominant influence in the
constitution was American, it also bears
traces of the Malolos Constitution, the
German, Spanish, and Mexican
constitutions, constitutions of several
South American countries, and the
unwritten English Constitution.
The draft of the constitution was
approved by the constitutional convention
on 8 February 1935, and ratified by
then U,S. President Franklin B.
Roosevelt on 25 March 1935. Elections
were held in September 1935 and
Manuel L. Quezon was elected
President of the Commonwealth.
1935 Commonwealth
Government
The Commonwealth was
briefly interrupted by the events
of the World War II, with the
Japanese occupying the
Philippines: Afterward, upon
liberation, the Philippines was
declared an independent
republic on 4 July 1946.
 SALIENT FEATURES

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 1943
Constitution
 SALIENT FEATURES

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 1973
Authoritarian
Constitution
 SALIENT FEATURES

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 SALIENT FEATURES

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 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
In 1965, Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected
president, and in 1967, Philippine Congress passed
a resolution calling for a constitutional convention to
change the 1935 Constitution. Marcos won the re-
election in 1969, in a bid boosted by campaign
overspending and use of government funds.

Elections of the delegates to the constitutional

convention were held on 20 November 1970, and the
convention began formally on 1 June 1971, with
former President Carlos P. Garcia being elected as
convention president. Unfortunately, he died, and was
succeeded by another former president, Diosdado
Macapagal.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
Before the convention finished its work, Martial
Law was declared. Marcos cited a growing
communist insurgency as reason for the Martial Law,
which was provided for in the 1935 Constitution.
Some delegates of the ongoing constitutional
convention were placed behind bars and others
went into hiding or were voluntary exiled.
With Marcos as dictator, the direction of the
convention turned, with accounts that the president
himself dictated some provisions of the
constitution, manipulating the document to be
able to hold on to power for as long as he could. On
29 November 1972, the convention approved its
proposed constitution.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
The constitution was supposed to introduce a
parliamentary-style government, where legislative
power was vested in a unicameral National
Assembly, with members being elected to a six-
year term. The president was to be elected as the
symbolic and ceremonial head of state chosen from
the members of the National Assembly
President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No.
73 setting the date of the plebiscite to ratify or
reject the proposed constitution on 30 November
1973. This plebiscite was postponed later on since
Marcos feared that the public might vote to reject the
constitution.
The President, on 17 January
1973, issued a proclamation
announcing that the proposed THE CITIZEN
constitution had been ratified by
an overwhelming vote of the
members of the highly irregular ASSEMBLIES
Citizen Assemblies.

Two days later, on Jan. 17, Marcos issued Proclamation

No. 1104, which claimed that, based on the results of the
referendum in which “15,224,518 voted for the
continuation of martial law as against only 843,051
who voted against it”—meaning an astonishing 90-plus
percent voted yes—he was now declaring “that martial law
shall continue in accordance with the needs of the time and
the desire of the Filipino people.
 When various parties filed suit
against the irregular way the
referendum was conducted, the

THE CITIZEN
Supreme Court issued what
essentially amounted to a white
flag being waved at the

ASSEMBLIES
dictatorship. The majority of the
justices said that while the
approval of the Constitution via
the barangay assemblies was
improper, it was all moot and
academic because the document
was now in place, anyway—a fait
accompli.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
In 1976, Citizen Assemblies, once again, decided to allow the
continuation of Martial Law, as well as approved the amendments: an
Interim Batasang Pambansa to substitute for the Interim National
Assembly, the president to also become the Prime Minister and
continue to exercise legislative powers until Martial Law was lifted and
authorized the President to legislate on his own on an emergency basis.

An overwhelming majority would ratify further amendments

succeedingly. In 1980, the retirement age of members of the
judiciary was extended to 70 years. In 1981, the parliamentary
system was formally modified to a French-style, semi-presidential
system where executive power was restored to the president, who was,
once again, to be directly elected.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
An Executive Committee was to be created, composed of the Prime
Minister and 14 others, that served as the president's Cabinet; and
some electoral reforms were instituted.

In 1984, the Executive Committee was abolished and the position of

the vice president was restored. After all the amendments introduced, the
1973 Constitution was merely a way for the President to keep executive
powers, abolish the Senate, and by any means, never acted as a
parliamentary system, instead functioned as an authoritarian presidential
system, with all the real power concentrated in the hands of the president,
with the backing of the constitution.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
The situation in the 1980s had been very
turbulent. As Marcos amassed power, discontent
has also been burgeoning. The tide turned swiftly
when in August 1983, Benigno Aquino Jr.,
opposition leader, was assassinated while under
military escort immediately after his return
from exile in the United States.

There was widespread suspicion that the

orders to assassinate Aquino came from the
top levels of the government and the
military. This event caused the coming together
of the non-violent opposition against the Marcos
authoritarian regime.
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution
Marcos was then forced to hold "snap"
elections a year early, and said elections were
marred by widespread fraud. Marcos declared
himself winner despite international
condemnation and nationwide protests. A
small group of military rebels attempted to stage
a coup, but failed.

However, this triggered what came to be

known as the EDSA People Power Revolution
of 1986, as people from all walks of life spilled
onto the streets. Under pressure from the United
States of America, who used to support
Marcos and his Martial Law, the Marcos
 1973 Authoritarian
Constitution

His opponent in the snap elections, Benigno Aquino Jr.'s

widow, Corazon Aquino, was installed as president on 25
February 1986.
 1987
Democratic
Constitution
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
President Corazon Aquino's
government had three options regarding
the constitution; revert to the 1935
Constitution, retain the 1973 Constitution
and be granted the power to make reforms,
or start anew and break from the
"vestiges of a disgraced dictatorship."
In 1986, a constitutional convention was created, composed of
48 members appointed by President Aquino from varied
backgrounds and representations. The convention drew up a permanent
constitution, largely restoring the setup abolished by Marcos in 1972,
but with new ways to keep the president in check, a reaction to the
experience of Marcos's rule. The new constitution was officially
adopted on 2 February 1987.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
The Constitution begins with a
preamble and eighteen self-
contained articles. It established
the Philippines as a "democratic
republican State" where
"sovereignty resides in the
people and all government
authority emanates from them."
It allocates governmental powers
among the executive, legislative,
and judicial branches of the
government. The Executive branch is
headed by the president and his
cabinet, whom he appoints.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
The president is the head of the state and
the chief executive, but his power is
limited by significant checks from the two
other co-equal branches of government,
especially during times of emergency. This is
put in place to safeguard the country from the
experience of martial law despotism during the
presidency of Marcos.

In cases of national emergency, the

president may still declare martial law,
but not longer than a period of sixty days.
Congress, through a majority vote, can
revoke this decision, or extend it for a
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
The Supreme Court may also review the declaration of
martial law and decide if there were sufficient justifying facts for the
act. The president and the vice president are elected at large by
a direct vote, serving a single six-year term.

The legislative power resides in a Congress divided into two

Houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The 24
senators are elected at large by popular vote, and can serve no more
than two consecutive six- year terms. The House is composed of
district representatives representing a particular geographic
area and makes up around 80% of the total number of
representatives. There are 234 legislative districts in the Philippines
that elect their representatives to serve three-year terms.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
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 not more than 20% of the
seats in the House.

Aside from the exclusive power of legislation, Congress may also

declare war, through a two-thirds vote in both upper and lower
houses. The power of legislation, however, 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 only override this power with a
two-thirds vote in both houses.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
The Philippine Court system is vested with the power of the
judiciary, and is composed of a Supreme Court and lower courts as
created by law. The Supreme Court is a 15-member court
appointed by the president without the need to be confirmed
by Congress. The appointment the president makes, however, is
limited to a list of nominees provided by a constitutionally specified
Judicial and Bar Council.
The Supreme Court Justices 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. It may also
exercise original jurisdiction over cases involving government or
international officials.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
The Constitution also established three independent Constitutional Commissions,
namely

1 2 3
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ON COMMISSION ON
COMMISSION ELECTIONS AUDIT
a central mandated to which examines all
agency in enforce and funds, transactions,
charge of administer all and property accounts
government election laws of the government and
personnel and regulations its agencies
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
To further promote the ethical and lawful
conduct of the government, the Office of the
Ombudsman was created to investigate
complaints that pertain to public corruption,
unlawful behavior of public officials, and
other public misconduct. The Ombudsman can Congress (House of
charge public officials before the Representatives and
the Senate) may
Sandiganbayan, a special court created for convene as a
this purpose. Constituent Assembly
(or Con-Ass) to propose
Terms such as "Cha-Cha," "Con-Ass," and amendments to the
Constitution. It is not
"Con-Con" are regularly thrown around. Article clear, however, if
XVII of the 1987 Constitution provides for Congress is to vote as a
three ways by which the Constitution can be single body or separately.
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
Another method is through the
Constitutional Convention (or Con-Con),
where Congress, upon a vote of two-thirds
of all its members, calls for a constitutional
convention. They may also submit to the
electorate the question of calling a convention
through a majority vote of all its members.

In a Con-Con, delegates will propose

amendments or revisions to the
constitution, not Congress. The 1987
Constitution does not provide for a method by
which delegates to the Con-Con are chosen,
 1987 Democratic
Constitution
Only the House of
The third method is called the "People's Representatives
Initiative" (or PI). In this method, amendments to can initiate the
the Constitution may be proposed by the people upon impeachment of
a petition of at least 12% of the total number of the president,
members of the
registered voters. All legislative districts must be Supreme Court,
represented by at least 12% of the registered votes and other
therein. No amendment is allowed more than once constitutionally
protected public
every five years since a successful PI. officials such as the
Ombudsman. The
The 1987 Constitution directs the Congress to Senate will then try
enact a law to implement provisions of the PI, which the impeachment
case. This is another
has not yet materialized. Amendments or revision to safeguard to
the constitution shall be valid only when ratified by a promote moral and
majority of the votes cast in a national referendum. ethical conduct in
the government.
 Cha-Cha
Article XVII of the 1987 Constitution provides for three ways by
which Constitution can be changed.

1. Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass)- Congress (House of

Representatives and the Senate) may convene to purpose
amendments to the constitution.

2. Constitutional Convention (Con-Con)- Congress, upon a vote of

two-thirds of all its members, forms a body and the delegates will
propose amendments or revisions to the constitution.

3. People’s Initiative (PL)- Amendments to the Constitution may be

proposed by the people upon a petition of atleast 12% of the total
number of registered voters.
 Attempts to Change the
Constitution
FIDEL V. RAMOS
In 1995, then secretary of National Security Council Jose Almonte
drafted a constitution, but it was exposed to the media and it never
prospered.

PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE FOR REFORM, MODERNIZATION AND ACTION

(PIRMA)

A group hoped to gather signatures from voters to change the constitution

through a people’s initiative.
 Attempts to Change the
Constitution
JOSEPH ESTRADA
In May 1998, he was elected as President by direct vote of the
people, winning by the largest margin in the Philippine History.

He formed study commission to investigate the issues surrounding charter

change focusing on the economic and judiciary provisions of the
constitution.

The effort was also blocked by different entities.

 Attempts to Change the
Constitution

GLORIA MACAPAGAL
ARROYO
Estrada was replaced by another People Power and succeeded by his
Vice President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Then House Speaker Jose de Venecia endorsed constitutional change

through a Constituent Assembly.

This initiative was also not successful since the term of President
Arroyo mired in controversy and scandal, including the possibility of
 Attempts to Change the
Constitution

BENIGNO AQUINO III

Speaker of the House, Feliciano Balmonte Jr.,
attempted to introduce amendments to the
constitution that concern economic provisions that
aim toward liberalization.
 Attempts to Change the
Constitution
RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
He is a known advocate of federalism, a compound mode of
government combining a central or federal government with regional
governments in a single political system.

The present centralized government has led to over- concentration

of wealth and government powers. Federalism is deemed to lessen the
dependence to Metro Manila.

A Separate Bangsamoro region could be established for Muslim

Mindanao.
The Shift to
Federalism
 The Shift to
Federalism
There are many pros to a federal
form of government. Each region may
custom fit solutions to problems brought

Is it
about by their distinct geographic,
cultural, social,
Balance
and economic contexts.
Regions
Sheetalso have more power over

better??
their finances, since they handle
majority of their income and only
contributes to a small portion to
the national government. They can
choose to directly fund their own
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development projects without asking for

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the national government's go signal.

 The Shift to
A federal system could also promote
specialization, sinceFederalism
the national government could
focus on nationwide concerns while regional
governments can take care of administrative issues.

A federal
Balance form of government could also solve a
Is it
lot of decade-old
Sheet
problems of the country. It may be

better??
a solution to the conflict in Mindanao, since a
separate Bangsamoro region could be
established for Muslim Mindanao. It could
address the inequality in wealth distribution
and lessen the dependence to Metro Manila,
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since regions can proceed with what they have to do

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without needing to consider the situation in the

 The Shift
There could be issues regarding overlaps in
to
Federalism
jurisdiction, since ambiguities may arise where
national ends and regional begins, or vice versa. As a
proposed solution to the conflict in Mindanao, we
must also remember that the Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has already been
Balance
created,Sheetand the conflict still continues.
Is it
better??
Federalism may not be enough for those who clamor
separation.

Any effort to shift the system of

government also entails costs, and it would
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not
be cheap. It would cost billions to dismantle the
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current system and would take a long time before the

 St. Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

Thank
You!
FOR YOU R
AT TEN TION
PREPARED BY:
Dr. Micko Jay Manuel

http://spup.edu.ph GEC 108: Readings in the Philippine History