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PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

Quarter 1 – Module 5

Evolution of Philippine Politics and Governance

✔ MELC: Analyze the evolution of Philippine politics and governance.

K TO 12 BEC:( HUMSS_PG12- Ie-18)

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After reading this module, you will be able to analyze the evolution of Philippine politics and
governance.
Specifically, this module will help you to:

✔ Relate the evolution of Philippine politics and governance;

✔ Describe the different stages in the evolution of Philippine politics and governance;
✔ Analyze the evolution of Philippine politics and governance;

PRE TEST

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answer on the space
provided.

_____1. A Malayan word meaning “boat”.

a. barangay c. balangay
b. balanay d. balagay
_____2. The first country to colonized the Philippines.
a. America c. Japan
b. China d. Spain
_____3. A form of government where the power came from the King who appointed and assigned
colonial officials and also issued royal decrees.
a. democracy c. aristocracy
b. monarchy d. federalism
_____4. What historical event happened on February 25, 1986?
a. Corazon Aquino took oath as president
b. The end of Marco’s government
c. Both A and B
d. Establishment of the 1987 Constitution
_____5. The highest official in the Philippines during Spanish era.
a. governor-general c. alcalde mayor
b. president d. gobernadorcillo
_____6. Who won the first Philippine National Presidential Election?
a. Manuel L. Quezon c. Emilio Aguinaldo
b. Gregorio Aglipay d. Joe P. Laurel
_____7. Joseph "Erap" Estrada faced the impeachment trial for what violation?
a. graft and corruption c. extortion of jueteng money
b. Jose Velarde account d. all of the above
_____8. The 1st Governor-General.
a. Maximo Arellano c. Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
b. Ponzodoro Cayetano d. Diego delos Rios.
_____9. The central leadership of the KKK was the __________.
a. Sangguniang Hukuman c. Sangguniang Bayan
b. Kataastaasang Sangunian d. Sangguniang Barangay
_____10. The First Philippine Republic came to be called as ___________.
a. Malolos Republic c. Sakay Republic
b. Biak na Bato Republic d. Iloko Republic

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 LESSON Evolution of Philippine Politics
5 and Governance

STUDY TIME

The Development of Philippine Government

The evolution of Philippine politics may be presented through the various historical periods that the
country has undergone.
1. Precolonial period (before 1565)
2. Spanish period (1565–1898)
3. Revolutionary period (1868–1898)
4. American period (1898–1941)
5. Japanese occupation (1941–1945)
6. Postwar era or the Third Philippine Republic (1946–1971)
7. Martial Law era (1972–1981) and the Fourth Republic (1981–1986)
8. Post-EDSA or the Fifth Republic (1986–present)

The Government of the Philippines in Transition

The pre-Spanish government.
(1) Unit of government. – Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines was composed settlements
or villages, each called barangay (consisting of more of less 100 families), named after balangay, a Malayan
word meaning “boat” (thereby confirming the theory that the early Filipinos came to the Philippines in boats).

(2) Datu. – Each barangay was ruled by a chief called datu in some places, and rajah, sultan or hadji in
others. He was its chief executive, law-giver, chief judge, and military head. In the performance of his duties,
however, he was assisted usually by a council of elders (maginoos) which served as his advisers. One could
be a datu chiefly by inheritance, wisdom, wealth, or physical prowess.
In form, the barangay was monarchy with the datu as the monarch.

(3) Social classes in barangay. – The people of the barangay were divided into four classes, namely: the
nobility (maharlika), to which the datu belonged, the freemen (timawa), the serfs (aliping namamahay), and
the slaves (aliping sagigilid).

(4) Early laws. – A legal system already existed in the Philippines even in pre-colonial times. The early
Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws.
The written laws were promulgated by the datus. The two known written codes in the pre-Spanish era are
the “Maragtas Code” which was said to have been written about 1250 A.D. by Datu Sumakwel of Panay, and
the “Kalantiaw Code”, also of Panay. The unwritten laws consisted of customs and traditions which had been
passed down from generations to generation.

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 Government during Spanish Period
KING OF
SPAIN

COUNCIL OF MEXICAN
THE INDIES VICEROY

GOVERNOR ROYAL
ARCHBISHOP
-GENERAL AUDENCIA

PROVINCIAL /CITY
BISHOPS
ALCALDE MAYOR

PARISH
GOBERNADORCILLO
PRIESTS

CABEZA DE
BARANGAY
● The system of Government is MONARCHY – the power came from the King who appointed and
assigned colonial officials and also issued royal decrees. At first he was helped by the Council of
Indies then later became Minister of the Colonies.
● Mexican Viceroy – until 1821, the Philippines really was ruled by the Spanish Viceroy in Mexico in the
name of the King. This was because the Philippines were colonized from Mexico. However, after
Mexico got its independence in 1821, the Philippines was ruled directly from Madrid, Spain.
● Governor-General – the highest official in the Philippines. He represents the King of Spain in the
Philippines. He could make laws himself, he could appoint and removed colonial officials, except
those appointed by the King. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the colonial armed forces. He is the
President of the Royal Audiencia like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court today.
● The 1st Governor-General was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the last was Diego delos Rios.
● Audiencia – the highest court of the land during the Spanish era. It was equivalent to the Supreme
Court today. It decided important cases appealed to it from the lower court. It could also make local
ordinances and check upon all financial records. It ruled the country temporarily when the Governor-
General died or was absent.
● Laws – the laws of the Philippines were made by the Spaniards. The major laws were compiled in a
legal code called “Law of the Indies”
● Local Government – Spain formed the origin of our present system of local government.
● The cities had their own government called “ayuntamiento”. The city council, known as “cabildo” was
headed by the mayor (alcalde).
● The provinces (“alcaldias”) were group of towns and barangays. Each province was ruled by a
Spanish official called “alcalde-mayor” He was appointed by the Governor-General.
● The old barangays were grouped together to form towns “called pueblos. Each town was ruled by a
Filipino official called “gobernadorcillo” (little governor). He was elected yearly by prominent citizens
of the town. At the head of every barangay was a Filipino official called “cabeza de barangay”. At first,
he was the hereditary head of the area but later, his position was also elected. His main duty was to
collect taxes.
REVOLUTIONARY ERA
- Katipunan Government (KKK): Andres Bonifacio- a secret society
Ranks/membership:
1. Katipon- associates;black; Anak ng Bayan
2. Kawal - soldier; green; Gomburza
3. Bayani- patriot; red; Rizal
- Supreme Council (Central Government): Kataastaasang Sangunian
- Provincial Council (Provinces): Sanguniang Balangay
- Popular Council (Towns): Sangguniang Bayan
- Judicial Council: Sangguniang Hukuman

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BIAK NA BATO GOVERNMENT
- President: Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
- Magdalo: Aguinaldo; Magdiwang: Bonifacio
- Constitution took effect for 2 years only, December 15, 1897
-
MALOLOS CONSTITUTION
- San Miguel Bulacan
- The first Philippine Republic, Sept. 15, 1898
- Spanish-American War
-
COMMONWEALTH REPUBLIC (UNDER UNITED STATES)
- First military General: Wesley Merritt
- Civil Government- William Howard Taft
- Philippine Independence 10 years: President Manuel L. Quezon but was cut because of the
Japanese Period.=
-
JAPANESE OCCUPATION
- Puppet Government
- Jorge Vargas: chairman
- Second Republic of the Philippines - Jose P. Laurel
-
THIRD REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
- Manuel Roxas, July 4, 1946
- 1935 Constitution
-
FOURTH REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
-Ferdinand E. Marcos
- 1973 Constitution
- Martial Law
- EDSA Revolution
- Freedom Constitution

FIFTH REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

- Corazon C. Aquino
- 1987 Constitution
- Fidel V. Ramos
- Joseph Ejercito Estrada
- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
- Benigno S. Aquino III
- Rodrigo Roa Duterte (16th President of the Philippines)

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 PRACTICE TIME

Activity 1. Who’s the ruler! Direction: Match Column A with Column B.

_____1. Martial Law A. Manuel L. Quezon

_____2. Japanese Government B. Manuel Roxas

_____3. Biak na Bato Government C. Emilio Aguinaldo

_____4. Commonwealth Republic D. Jose P. Laurel

_____5. Third Republic E. Ferdinand E. Marcos

Activity 2. Know Thy President!

Direction: Identify the pictures of the Philippine Presidents and write their names
inside the boxes provided below.

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 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

POST TEST

I. TRUE OR FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is correct, FALSE if the statement is
incorrect

_____1. Prior to the coming of Spaniards, Filipinos had already both written
and unwritten laws.

_____2. A civil government was established during the Japanese occupation

_____3. Martial Law was declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

_____4. Executive in Early Spanish Period is the Governor General.

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_____5. The First Female President of the Philippines was Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo.

_____6. During the World War II, the "Puppet Government" (Second Republic)
was set up in the Philippines during Japan's occupation of the country.
The name of the lawyer-politician appointed by the Japanese was
Sergio Osmeña.

_____7. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's father also served as president

of the Philippines.

_____8. Manuel Roxas became the last Commonwealth President before the
Philippines gained independence from United States.

_____9. Former film actor-politician Joseph "Erap" Estrada was ousted by the
` people, called EDSA people power 1 in 2001.

_____10. The agreement that ended the Spanish-American War of 1898 was
Treaty of Paris.

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 ANSWER KEY

Pre Test ACTIVTY 2 Post Test

1. A 1. Fidel V. Ramos I
2. D Activity 1 1. Manuel M. Quezon 1. True
3. B 1. E 2. False
4. C 2. Joseph E. Estrada
2. D 3. True
5. A 3. Sergio S. Osmeña
6. A 3. C 4. True
4. Ferdinand E. Marcos
7. D 4. A 5. False
5. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
8. C 6. False
9. B 5 B 6. Elpidio R. Aquino
10. A 7. Rodrigo R. Duterte 7. True
8. Manuel A. Roxas 8. True
9. Ramon F. Magsaysay 9. False
10. Benigno C. Aquino III 10. True
11. Carlod P. Garcia
12. Emilio F. Aguinaldo
13. Diosdado P. Macapagal
14. Jose P. Laurel
15. Corazon C. Aquino

II. Post test

9 Diosdado P. Macapagal 5 Manuel L. Roxas
12 Fidel V. Ramos 4 Sergio S. Osmeña, Sr.
15 Benigno Simeon C. Aquino 8 Carlos P. Garcia
10 Ferdinand E. Marcos 16 Rodrigo R. Duterte
7 Ramon F. Magsaysay 11 Corazon C. Aquino
3 Jose P. Laurel 2 Manuel L. Quezon
14 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 6 Elpidio R. Quirino
1 Emilio F. Aguinaldo 13 Joseph E. Estrada

REFERENCES
Pawilen, R.A. and Pawilen, R.M. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Rex Bookstore
Inc.
Tabajen, R. and Pulma, E. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance. JFS Publishing Service

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