Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Issues in Philippine History PDF

Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Issues in Philippine History Rosabella E. Austria-Mendez Faculty, Social Sciences Department Objectives 1. To analyze social, political, economic and cultural issues in the Philippines using the viewpoint of history. 2. To recognize t...

Social, Political, Economic, and Cultural Issues in Philippine History Rosabella E. Austria-Mendez Faculty, Social Sciences Department Objectives 1. To analyze social, political, economic and cultural issues in the Philippines using the viewpoint of history. 2. To recognize that the current problems are consequences of decisions and events that happened in the past. 3. To understand several enduring issues in Philippine society through history. 4. To propose recommendations and solutions to present- day problems based on the understanding of the past and anticipation of the future through the study of history. I. Evolution of the Philippine Constitution 1. 1897 Biak-na-Bato Constitution - Borrowed from Cuba - Promulgated on Nov. 1, 1897 - Translated in Spanish and Tagalog by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer - Structure of the government: >> a. executive >> b. legislative- Assemblea de Representantes >>c. judicial - Was never fully implemented due to the signing of the Truce of the Biak-na-Bato 2. Malolos Constitution - Signing of Truce of Biak-na-Bato led to the exile of Aguinaldo and members of the Revolutionary Government - While in exile, Aguinaldo and American representatives talked about the resumption of war against Spain - May 1, 1898 Battle of Manila Bay (destruction of Spanish fleet) - As a result, Aguinaldo continued the war with the support of the Americans - Declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 - Inauguration of the First Philippine Republic - Convening of the Malolos Congress to draft constitution on September 17, 1898 - The constitution was approved on November 29, 1898 and promulgated on January 21, 1899 - August 13, 1898- Mock Battle of Manila- led to the Spanish surrender to America which culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 -influences in the writing of the Malolos Constitution Kartilya and Sangguniang Hukuman of the KKK Baiak-na-Bato Constitution of 1897 Mabini draft Provincial constitution of Mariano Ponce of 1898 - Form of government as envisioned by the constitution Popular Representative Alternative Responsible - It had an executive, legislative and judicial branches 3. 1935 Constitution - 1898-1901- American military government - Philippine Organic Act of 1902- created the Philippine Assembly (lower house)-vested with legislative power along with the Philippine Commission (Upper House) - Philippine Commission- composed of the Taft Commission - Key points of the Act: Bill of rights Appointment of 2 non-voting resident commissioner in the US Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916- Jones Law - Modified the structure of Philippine government by abolishing the Philippine Commission replacing it with a Senate that served as the upper house - Explicit declaration of US desire to grant independence as soon as stable form of government can be established - By 1932, the Os-Rox Mission secured the Hare Hawes Cutting Act passed by US Congress and was proposed by Manuel L. Quezon was rejected by the Philippine Senate - The same year, the Tydings-McDuffie Act or known as Phil. Independence Act was approved and provided the formal establishment of a transitional government and a constitution Creation of the constitutional convention -headed by Claro M. Recto tasked to draft the constitution - Approved through a plebiscite and paved the way for the election of the president of the Commonwealth Government - Key points of the 1935 Constitution: Unicameral legislature (amended in 1940)- bicameral Right to suffrage originally afforded to males aged 21 years and above and can read and write was eventually extended to women within two years of the constitutions adoption (1937) 3. 1973 Constitutional Authoritarianism - 1965-1969- Marcos’ first term - In his second term, he initiated calls for change in the 1935 constitution - November 20, 1970- creation of a const. convention but did not pursue due to declaration of Martial Law - The constitution was supposed to introduce parliamentary form of govt - Governmental set-up under the parliamentary govt legislature- unicameral (National Assembly) The president will just become a symbolic head of state The Prime Minister will have executive powers, will become head of the govt and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces -PD No. 73- set the date of the plebiscite to ratify the proposed constitution but was postponed due to Marcos’ fears that it will not be approved -instead, he resorted to conducting Citizens Assemblies wherein instead of secret voting, the approval was done viva voce - What were approved during the Citizens’ Assemblies? Ratification of the constitution Suspension of the Interim National Assembly Continuation of Martial Law Place moratorium on elections for several months -all the changes contained in the 1973 Constitution was meant to keep all the executive powers to the president -with the closing of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, Marcos ruled by decrees and letters of intent (PD/ LOI) 4. 1987 Constitution -with the ouster of Ferdinand Marcos from power after 21 years of martial rule, he and his family and some cronies were ousted from the country via the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution - As a first move by Corazon Aquino, a transitional constitution (Freedom Constitution) for at least a year was in place while the Constitutional Commission was drafting the new constitution - Restoration of the old set-up abolished by Marcos - The new constitution was officially adopted on February 2, 1987 - The constitution was crafted with the “sovereignty of the people” as the prime consideration - Establishment of 3 co-equal branches namely: legislative, executive and judicial - Checks and balances Veto power of the president Overriding power of Congress Impeachment that can be initiated by Congress - establishment of 3 independent Constitutional Commissions namely: CSC, COMELEC, COA - Establishment of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan (special court)