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Treaty of Paris

American and Spanish government officials

signed the Treaty of Paris six months after
Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the Philippine
independence in Kawit, Cavite
the treaty contained various provisions
which were obviously in favor of American
colonial interests in the Pacific region:
Spain was directed to withdraw their
colonial power and sovereignty from Cuba
Spain was ordered to surrender its two
colonial states (Guam and Puerto Rico) to
the United States
The U.S. Congress had the sole power to
grant the political and civil rights of the
people living in the ceded territory
The United States was ordered to pay 20
million dollars to Spain
The colonial status of the Philippines
continued in the hands of the Americans
when the former was ceded by the latter

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The Malolos Congress

President Emilio Aguinaldo introduced the

democratic principles in the Philippine
political system
Malolos Congress was convened on
September 15, 1898 at the Barasoain
Church
To tackle essential things and problems
that may emerge during the formulation of
the constitution

According to Mabini, the main purpose of

the establishment of such political body
was to assist the President on decisionmaking process

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The Malolos Congress

The entire assembly ruled that the

argument of Apolinario Mabini was out of
order

Accomplishments of the Malolos Congress:

Issues with regard to political governance,
finance, foreign affairs, and education were
finally defined and solved;
Ratification of the Philippine Declaration of
Independence;
Enactment of applicable laws pertaining to
proper disbursement and spending of
government funds;
Establishment of public schools in the
primary, secondary and tertiary levels;
Appropriation of funds;
Appointment of Filipino diplomats to
empower the foreign policy of the
Philippines

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The Malolos Congress

Malolos Constitution
2 months after the convention of the
Malolos Congress, the Malolos Constitution
was finally drafted, reviewed, and approved
The promulgated Constitution was drafted
after the constitutions of European and
Latin American countries
Major provisions of the Malolos Constitution:
Free primary education;
Separation of Church and State;
Protection of the three important human
rights - right to life, right to liberty and right
to property;
Mandatory tax collection;
Definition of judicial and executive powers;
and
Respect for individual rights

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The First Philippine Republic

The promulgation of the constitution was

made on January 21, 1899

2 days after the promulgation of the

charter, the First Philippine Republic was
established

Accomplishments of the defunct

Revolutionary Government:
The people were informed on the latest
updates with regard to government policies
and programs through El Heraldo dela
Revolucion
The government permitted its people to
exercise the freedom of the press
Improvement of the Philippine education
system

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The Fil-Am War

United States colonial policy to the

Philippines: Benevolent Assimilation
Summary of American colonial policy in the
Philippines
The U.S. government will recognize the
private and individual rights of the Filipino
people;
The U.S. government will recognize the
submissive actions exerted by the Filipino
people;
Municipal laws will also be enforced;
Filipinos who will aspire to occupy a public
position shall take an oath of allegiance to
the United States government; and
The cession of the whole archipelago will be
tantamount to the control of all the public
property

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The Fil-Am War

Reasons for the outbreak of FilipinoAmerican war:

The United States did not recognize
Philippine independence
The Filipinos were not permitted to
participate in the Treaty of Paris
San Juan Bridge Incident

Emilio Aguinaldo declared an all out war

against the United States

The Filipino-American War eventually

reached Malolos, Bulacan, wherein the seat
of the political power was located

Equipped with high-powered ammunitions,

the American troops gradually defeated
the Filipino troops of the First Philippine
Republic

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The Fil-Am War

Confident that the Filipino-American war

was successfully concluded by the
American troops, American military
generals and the U.S. President (McKinley)
refused to deploy additional soldiers in the
battlefield

Emilio Aguinaldo regained the

revolutionarys military strength in the
Northern Mountains

Antonio Lunas involvement in the

Philippine revolution against American
troops displayed a notable significance to
the Philippine revolutionary movement

Because of the emergence of Aguinaldos

troops from the rural mountains and
villages, the availability of American troops
in the battlefield decreased in number

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Aguinaldos Oath of Allegiance to the

U.S. Government

The heroic act made by General Gregorio

Del Pilar allowed Emilio Aguinaldo to
escape in Palanan, Isabela

Aguinaldo released his orders to the

scattered field commanders through
couriers
Unfortunately, one of his couriers was
captured by American military officers

March 23, 1901 - the American troops,

headed by Colonel Frederick Fauston,
reached the revolutionary headquarters in
Palanan, Isabela

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Aguinaldos Oath of Allegiance to the

U.S. Government

After several days of his capture in

Palanan, Isabela, Emilio Aguinaldo took his
oath of allegiance to the United States
government
He was forced to issue an order which was
addressed to the Filipino revolutionaries to
submit themselves to the legitimate
authority of U.S. government in the
Philippines

References:
Vivar, T., Viloria, E., Quiray, R. & Dela Cruz, N. (1999). Philippines: History and
Government. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House.
http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/benevolent.html

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U.S. Congress and American

Colonization

The American Senate was divided when

the U.S. executive government decided to
cede the Philippines
Imperialists - pro-American colonization
Anti-Imperialists - anti-American
colonization

Approval of the peace treaty (Treaty of

Paris) was delayed because of this issue

Unpopular reasons of U.S. government to

colonize the Philippines:
Economic interest
Military interest
Religious interest

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Establishment of American Military and

Civilian Government

American Military Government

The military government in the Philippines
lasted from August 1898 to July 1901
Historically speaking, the first American
military governor was General Wesley Meritt

The last American military governor was

General Arthur MacArthur

Schurman Commission
It was formed in order to examine the sociopolitical condition of the Philippines after
the defeat of the Spaniards and before the
American colonization
Recommended that the U.S. government
must continue to control (colonize) the
Philippines

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Establishment of American Military and

Civilian Government

American Military Government

Taft Commission
Headed by William Howard Taft
It was formed by President McKinley on
March 16, 1900 in order to introduce the
civilian government into Philippine political
system
Marked the end of American military
government in the Philippines
The commission was granted executive and
legislative powers to be able to form civilian
and municipal governments
It immediately carried out its mission to
civilianize the Philippine government
Laws passed by the Taft Commission:
Formation of the Benguet province
Establishment of local and municipal
governments
Formation of Philippine Constabulary

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Establishment of American Military and

Civilian Government

American Civilian Government

William Howard Taft became the first civil
governor of the Philippines on July 4, 1901 The Philippines is for the Filipinos
Tafts administration was plagued by
various kinds of problems which involved
insufficiency of funds, uncontrollable spread
of communicable diseases and sociopolitical instability
Eligible Filipinos who were appointed in the
executive department:
Gregorio Araneta
Cayetano Arellano
Jose Luzuriaga, Benito Legarda Sr., and
Trinidad H. Pardo De Tavera

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Philippine Bill of 1902

Enabled the Filipinos to pursue their

political involvement in Philippine civilian
government

Associated with the American Bill of Rights

Appointed two American commissioners

who were tasked to represent the Filipinos
to the United States Congress

Provided for the establishment of

Philippine Assembly

Conditions:
Nationwide census;
Two-year moratorium is conducted after the
publication of census
Peace and order are fully restored

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The Philippine Assembly

Inaugurated at the historical Old Manila

Grand Opera House

Party system was also introduced when

Partido Nacionalista and Partido Nacional
Progresista joined the position in the
Assembly

Nine years after the inauguration of

Philippine Assembly, the new Philippine
Legislature was inaugurated on October 16,
1916

Manuel Quezon was elected as the Majority

Floor Leader while Sergio Osmea of
Nacionalista Party was elected as the
Speaker of the House

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The Philippine Assembly

Passage of important laws such as:

Foundation of the University of the
Philippines;
Passage of the Gabaldon Act of 1907
Establishment of the Philippine National
Bank (an agricultural bank)

Tydings-McDuffie Law (1934)

Prescribed for the exact date for the
granting of Philippine independence and
mandating the legislative branch of
government to call for a constitutional
convention for drafting the constitution
The incorporation of provisions should be in
accordance with the democratic principles
of a republican government

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The Philippine Assembly

Tydings-McDuffie Law (1934)

Prescribed for the incorporation of a
number of mandatory provisions in the
constitution such as:
Required acts affecting currency, coinage,
imports, exports, and immigration to be
approved by the United States President
before they become fully legislated laws;
Philippine foreign relations should be under
the direction, supervision, and control of the
United States
The U.S. government had the right to
appoint an American High Commissioner who
was responsible for ensuring the economic
and political interests of the United States to
the Philippines

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The 1935 Constitution

The law was passed to withdraw the

sovereignty of the US over the Philippines
after the ten-year transition period

The US government stated that this

constitution should have a state policy
setting the system of government into a
republican form

Sources of the 1935 Constitution:

US Constitution
Organic laws that were implemented before
the enactment of Tydings-McDuffie Law of
1934 :
Instruction of Pres. William McKinley to the
Second Philippine Commission on April 7,
1900
Philippine Bill of 1902
Jones Law

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The Commonwealth Government

Inaugurated under the leadership of

President Manuel L. Quezon Father of
Social Justice

The inauguration was attended by

American government officials

Achievements of the Commonwealth

Government

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Communication and transportation

Code of Ethics (of government officials)
Religion
Education
National defense

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The Commonwealth Government

Difficulties of the Commonwealth

Government
Uncertain security policies in order to
protect national security
Poverty
Increased level of crime rate

References:
Vivar, T., Viloria, E., Quiray, R. & Dela Cruz, N. (1999). Philippines: History and Government.
Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House.
Instructors Guides (Week 8 Sessions 21-23): Roots of the Political System in the Philippines
and Constitution. Politics and Governance. STI Education Services Group, 2006

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