Creating the Filipino Social Conscience:

Civil Society in the Philippines

Francis Gallardo Enrique, MISP 2010-2011
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In Focus: The Philippines
Location: Southeast Asia
Archipelago: 7.107 islands (3 main island
groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao)
Capital: Manila
Total Area: 300.000 sq.km (slightly larger than
Arizona)
Total Population: 90.500.000 (Freedom
House, 2009)
Colonial Past: Spanish and American
Official Languages: English and Filipino
(Tagalog) with more than 500 dialects
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Political, Economic and Social System
Democratic Republic
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: Chief Executive,
Head of State and Commander in Chief (6-year term)
Legislature: bicameral with Senate and House of
Representatives
Religion: Roman Catholic 85%, Muslim 5%, others 10%
Adult Literacy Rate: 96%
Human Devt Index: 105
th
/182 countries (UN, 2009)
Gross Natl Income per capita: USD 1.030
Gross Domestic Product per capita: USD 3.406
Economy: Agriculture, Fishing, Manufacturing, Mining, Human
Resources (Overseas Filipino Workers), Outsourcing
Currency: Philippine Peso (Php 64,74 = 1 Euro)
Poverty Rate: 43% lives on less than USD 1 per day
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A Brief History of Civil Society in the Philippines
Anthropological Perspective Basis:
- Pakikipagkapwa (holistic interaction with others)
- Kapwa (shared inner self)
Voluntary assistance or charity
connotation is embodied in other terms:
- Damayan (assistance of peers in periods of
crisis)
- Pagtutulungan (mutual self-help)
- Utang na loob (debt of eternal gratitude)
- Bayanihan (spirit of communal unity)
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Classical Epoch (900 1521)
10
th
Century. Pygmies formed as hunter-gatherer tribes,
warrior societies, maritime-oriented harbor principalities which eventually
grew into kingdoms, rajahnates, confederations and sultanates. Early states
were Butuan, Cebu, Maynila, Sulu and Maguindanao.
These states formed the early social organization barangay (little town) and
attained complex political and social orders, as well as enjoyed fabric,
ceramic, gold and spice trade with areas now called China, India, Japan,
Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, long before the Acapulco trade with
Mexico.
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Early Roots: Spanish Times (1521 1898)
1656. Roman Catholic Church established the first welfare
organizations in the country parochial schools, orphanages,
asylums and hospitals and cofradias (brotherhoods).
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Early Roots: Spanish Times
1781. Jose Basco y Vargas established the Economic Society
of Friends, the only secular welfare organization during the Spanish
occupation.
1888. Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar and Mariano Ponce
comprised the main staff of La Solidaridad, official organ of the
Philippine propaganda movement in Barcelona, Spain.
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Early Roots: Spanish Times
1892. Inspired by the Propaganda
movement, Katipunan (gathering) a
secret partisan society was founded by
Andres Bonifacio based on the
principles of Freemasonry to oust the
Spanish colonial rule.
1896. Jose Rizal, doctor, linguist, engineer, writer and the
most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the
Spanish era was executed.
1898. Filipino revolutionists defeated the Spanish army. The
country was ceded to the U.S. in the Treaty of Paris and the
independence from Spain gave birth to Asias first republic.
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American Colonial Rule (1898 1946)
1906. The Philippine Corporation Law explicitly
recognized NGOs. Government subsidized
operations.
American Red Cross, Anti-Tuberculosis Society,
American Methodist and Protestant Churches.
Domestic Association: Asociacion de Damas
Filipinas and Catholic Womens Federation Welfare
Service
1917. Associated Charities of Manila was established.
1920. Farmer credit cooperatives were supported by government.
1946. After WWII, the Americans liberated the Philippines
from the Japanese occupation. No NGOs could operate during
the Puppet Government.
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American Colonial Rule
The Influence of Religion:
Catholic Church: social agenda with charitable institutions
Jesuits: established social organizations
Protestants and non-Catholic churches: rural development services and
agricultural teaching
1952. UP Dean Conrado Benitez founded the
Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM)
The country slowly recovered from the damages of
the wars and a new bourgeoisie began to develop.
Family foundations with missions geared to scientific
research and education also emerged.
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Ferdinand Marcos (1965 1986)
This nation can be great again. This I have said over and over. It is my faith and
Divine Providence has willed that you and I can now translate this faith into
deeds. - Marcos
- mobilized resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
- Philippine Civil Affairs Assistance Group (PHLCAAG) to aid South Vietnam
- robust economy but was affected with the Cold War
- student/youth (Kabataang Makabayan), labor (Lapiang Manggagawa) and
farmer groups (Malayang Samahan ng Magsasaka) were frustrated with
government and Imeldas overspending
- envisioned Bagong Lipunan (New Society) and declared Martial Law in
1972
- underground movements and their leaders activism led to killings and
exiles
- opposition leader Senator Benigno Aquino was assassinated in 1983
- snap presidential elections in 1986 declared Marcos victory but the military
deflected and People Power revolution overthrew Marcos
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Corazon Aquino (1986 1992)
I don't have any formula for ousting a dictator or
building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about
yourself and just think of your people. It's always the
people who make things happen. - Aquino
- partnered with NGOs in service delivery and public policy
- legislation favored civil society: local government code,
urban and housing code, women in development and nation
building act
- USAID and ILO funded agency-managed community
projects
- Corporate Network for Disaster Response (earthquake 90)
- League of Corporate Foundations (corporate giving and
long-term social investments)
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Beyond Governments
Fidel Ramos (1992-1998)
- promoted multi-stakeholder
mechanisms for peace in
Mindanao
- social reform agenda with
indigenous and poor groups
in policy-making
- college graduates sought
career in the non profit
sector
Joseph Estrada (1998-2001)
- many NGOs campaigned for the
Man of the Masses but
became disenchanted with
mismanaged foreign
investments, cronyism & graft
and corruption
- involved in public funds
malversation
- People Power II revolution
impeached him
Gloria Arroyo (2001-present)
- received strong support from civil
society groups and was appointed
as the new president
- accused with fraud in the 2004
presidential elections but has
continued to champion the role of
NGOs in societal transformation
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Philippine Civil Society Today
By the numbers: Est. 500.000 (3.000 5.000 as development-oriented NGOs)
Actors in Civil Society: Non governmental organizations and
Public Organizations
Functions
- networking and coalition building
- campaigning for policy reforms
- adopting good practice standards
- advancing sustainable development
The Filipino Civil Society performs a great role in delivering social services in local poor
communities and in achieving independence. Synergos Institute
Most developed and most institutionalized civil society sector in the developing world:
- Asia Pacific Alliance for Reproductive Health
- Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities
- SEA Committee for Advocacy
- SEA Coalition for Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
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Legal Framework
Creation of NGOs as stipulated in
the 1987 Constitution
Article II, Section 23
Article XIII, Section 15
Article XIII, Section 16
NGO registration
- Pursuant to the Corporation Code of the Philippines, non-stock, non-profit organizations
(religious, charitable, scientific, athletic, cultural, rehabilitation of veterans, social welfare
purposes) must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission
Taxation
- Exempt from income tax on donations, grants and gifts
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Milestones in the Industry
1991. Caucus of Development NGO Networks
(CODE-NGO), the largest coalition of NGOs
established the Code of Conduct for NGOs. This
was the first in Asia.
1998. PCNC (Philippine Council for NGO
Certification) was established by 6 largest NGO
coalitions. First government-recognized NGO
certification in the world and replicated by NGOs in
other countries.
Primary NGOs in Capacity-building
- Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and Intl Inst of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)
- Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy
- Association of Foundations (AF) and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
- Venture for Fund Raising
- Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP)
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Challenges Up Ahead
Highly dependent on visionary founders
Key leaders departure lead to internal
conflicts
Targeting of the same population by several
NGOs
Existing coalitions that has overlapping
memberships
Heavily dependent on overseas assistance
Notably controlled by the business elite
Mission creep to solicit funding
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Summary
The Philippine Civil Society, then and now:
- considered a young institution but has
experienced storms throughout its existence
and continually evolves with time
- its unwavering spirit to achieve freedom and
political reforms has been described as one of
the third sector champions in developing
countries
- Filipinos are socially-oriented people, deeply
rooted in helping create a conscience for a better
Philippines
- The faith of the people plays a pivotal role in the
countrys development
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Reference and Sources
1987 Philippine National Constitution
Caucus of Development NGO Networks (http://www.code-ngo.org)
Freedom House (http://www.freedomhouse.org)
Philippine Business for Social Progress (http://www.pbsp.org.ph/)
Philippine Council for NGO Certification (http://www.pcnc.com.ph/)
San Beda College Alumni
(http://www.beda7882.com/Philippine_History.htm)
SEA Site (Tagalog), Northern Illinois University
(http://www.seasite.niu.edu)
Synergos Institute (http://www.synergos.org)
United Nations Human Development Index (http://hdr.undp.org/en/)