12

PHILIPPINE
POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
The Biak- na- Bato Republic
and American Colonial Period

1st Quarter: Module 8

Jovanny L. Cornelia
Mary Ann C. Doctor
Module Writers

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Content Standard

The learners demonstrate understanding of the historical background of Philippine

Democratic Politics.

Performance Standard

Demonstrate an understanding of the historical background of Philippine democratic

politics.
Most Essential Learning (Week 8)
Analyzed the Evolution of Philippine politics and governance.
Learning Competency

 Describe Philippine politics and governance from American period to

Contemporary period.
 Identify similarities and differences between today’s politics and processes of
politics in the past.

EXPECTATIONS

This module will help you compare the development of the Philippine
government from American period to Contemporary Period. Furthermore, it will
educate you to the development of our political system from Commonwealth
government to Contemporary government.

Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is wrong. Write
your answer on the space provided before the number.

1._______Corazon Aquino was the first women President.

2._______ The first republican government was called as Biak-na-Bato Republic.
3._______Emilio Aguinaldo was the First President of the Commonwealth Republic.
4.______Treaty of Tordesillas was the truce treaty signed by the Spaniards and
Americans that the latter would be the new colonizer of the Philippines.
5.______Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the successor of Pres.Joseph Estrada.
6.______ The Jones Law Act of 1916 became the fundamental law for the Philippines
vested for the legislative power in all-Filipino.
7.______ The Tydings-Mc Duffie Law established the Commonwealth government in
preparation for the self-governance and total independence of the Philippines.
8.______Joseph Estrada finish his term as president and was elected for his second
term.
9.______Rodrigo Roa Duterte was the 13th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
10._____ Ramon Magsaysay was the seventh President of the Philippines and referred
as the “Idol of the Masses.”

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 LOOKING BACK

Fill of the Venn diagram the necessary information needed.

Compare the objectives of Propaganda to KKK movement. Write at least three
comparisons.
Text Support All statemet are 3
suppoted by the
text.
Placement All the 4
statements in
Propaganda KKK the circle are
not similar
within the two
outside circle.
No.of Quality Make at least 3- 3
Statement 5 statements for
comparison in
(https://www.template.net/design- each circle.
templates/print/blank-venn-diagram)
Total 10pts.

https://www.google.com/search?q=rubric+for+venn+diagra
m+compare+and+contrast&safe=active&rlz=1C1RLNS

Lesson 8-The Biak- na- Bato Republic and American Colonial Period
Right after Bonifacio’s death, the Spanish forces was strengthened. Aguinaldo and his
men retreated northward reaching Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan. There he established, a
republican government which he called Biak-na-Bato Republic. The Spaniards and
the revolutionaries signed the Pact of the Biak-na-Bato.
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December 15, 1897, created a truce between
Spanish Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera and the revolutionary leader
Emilio Aguinaldo to end the Philippine Revolution. Aguinaldo and his fellow
revolutionaries were given amnesty and monetary indemnity by the Spanish
Government, in return for which the revolutionary government would go into exile in
Hong Kong. The truce however, fell through because one of the Filipino leaders,
General Francisco Makabulos of Tarlac, established a central executive committee
which was an independent government. Armed clashes between the revolutionaries
and the Spaniards. Both sides violated the agreement, that gave advantage to the
Americans. The US at that time was very eager to spread its wings to Asia and
become a new world power.
US admiral George Dewey lead his squadron to Manila Bay, defeating the Spanish
Navy. Aguinaldo returned from his exile, the Filipino revolutionists rallied to his cause
and negotiated with the Americans.
In 1898, Americans defeated Spaniards in the mock battle in Manila, and took control
of the city. Aguinaldo then proclaimed the Independence of the Philippines on June

JOVANNY L. CORNELIA 3
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December 10,1898, the American bought the Philippines from Spain through the
Treaty of Paris, on to the sum of $20,000,000 on payment for the improvement made
by Spain in the Philippines. The US also granted the Spain the right to export
commodities in the Philippines for ten years on the same terms as those of the US. The
treaty was not immediately ratified because majority in the US believed that it was
unfair to Filipinos. February 4, 1899, the Philippine-American War erupted because of
the suspicion of the Filipinos to the true motive of Americans in coming to the
Philippines.
The Mock Battle in Manila revealed that the Americans did not want the Spaniards to
surrender to the Filipinos but to them. The United States also expressed its decision to
keep Philippines as his colony through Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation. The
Filipinos lost the battle, after many battles, Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan,
Isabela. The Philippines was administered by the President of the US through military
governor which has the following authority: executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
One of his duties is to pacify the provinces that do not recognized the authority of the
US.

Different commissions and bills promulgated by the Americans to prepare the Filipinos
for their independence and self-governance. Some of those were, Schurman and Taft
Commission, Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act and the Jones Law Act.

The Jones Law Act of 1916 became the fundamental law for the Philippines vested the
legislative power in all-Filipino lawmaking body composed of the Philippine Senate and
the House of Representative.
(Additional link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7h2CyUGHbE)
(https://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/power-point-by-elizabeth-angsioco/310157/the-draft-
biak-na-bato-pact.html)

Guide Questions
1. What are the similarities and differences in the system of governance between the
Spaniards and the Americans?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you think that the act of Emilio Aguinaldo signing the “truce of Biak-na-Bato” is
a form of traitor in our country? why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 2: Commonwealth Era and the Republican Period

A. Commonwealth and the Puppet Government
The Tydings-Mc Duffie Law in 1934 established the Commonwealth government. It was
a form of government in transition toward independence.
Tydings-McDuffie Act, also called Philippine Commonwealth and Independence Act,
(1934). The independence of the Philippines will take effect on July 4, 1946, after a 10-
year transitional period of government. The bill was signed by U.S. Pres. Franklin D.
Roosevelt on March 24, 1934, and was sent to the Philippine Senate for approval.
The Commonwealth Government was inaugurated on November 15, 1935. Manuel L.
Quezon was the First President and his Vice-President was Sergio Osmeňa.
For the next 10 years the Philippines remained as U.S. territory. Foreign affairs,
defense, and monetary matters remained under U.S. jurisdiction, but all other internal
matters were in the hands of the Philippine people.
The preparations for independence were stalled when the war in the Pacific broke out
in 1941. This was prompted by the bombing of the American Fleet in Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii by the Japanese. This was also called as the “Pearl Harbor Bombing”, happened
in December 7, 1941. This attack compelled the United
JOVANNY States to enter World War II4as
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Like Americans, Japanese government looking for a new territory. The Japanese wanted
new territories to accommodate it’s increasing population and serve as a market for its
exports, explaining its drive for a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.”

During Japanese occupation, Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio S. Osmeña went into exile in
the U.S., Quezon died of tuberculosis while in exile and Osmeña took over as president.
The Japanese military administrations was established in Manila on January 3, 1942.
A civil government which was called as the Philippine Executive Commission was
established with Jorge B. Vargas as Chairman. It had a legislative and executive powers
but laws enacted though were subject to approval by the Commander-in-Chief of the
Japanese Forces. This government called as “Puppet Government” headed by Jose P.
Laurel as president. It was also known as the Second Philippine Republic.
Manuel L. Quezon declared the Tagalog/Filipino as the National language of the
Philippines.

On October 20, 1944, the Allied forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur landed on the
island of Leyte to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese. Japan formally surrendered
in September 2, 1945.
MacArthur re-established the Commonwealth on October 23, 1944 which himself as the
Military Administrator. On February 27, 1945, he turned over the reins of government to
Sergio Osmeňa who succeeded Quezon upon the latter’s death, restored the
Commonwealth government and became the last president of it.

What Is It
B. Republican Period
The Republican period took place from Presidency of Manuel Roxas (1946) up to the first
term of the Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos (1965-1969).

President Manuel Roxas had two inaugurations, occasions wherein he took his oath of
office. One on May 28, 1946 as third and last president of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines, and another one, on July 4, 1946, as president of the independent Republic of
the Philippines, known as the Third Republic.

The May 28 Inauguration Ceremony and the July 4 Independence Ceremony were held on
two distinct locations. The May 28 event was held in front of the ruins of the Legislative
Building, On the other hand, the July 4 Independence ceremonies was held in Luneta.
During Roxas administration, a general amnesty was granted to those who collaborated
with the Japanese while at the same time the Hukbalahap were declared illegal. A military
assistance pact was signed in 1947 granting United States a 99years lease on designated
military bases in the country.

Upon the death of President Roxas in 1948, Vice President Elpidio Quirino assumed the
presidency. As the Liberals fought among themselves, the Nacionalistas were equally in a
quandary with their nominee former President Jose P. Laurel, whose controversial stint as
President of the Japanese-sponsored Second Republic led many to brand him a
collaborator. Quirino won the election capturing all eight seats in the Senate (the second
such administration sweep of the Senate), and a majority in the House. Noted for his two
objectives for his administration; economic reconstruction and restoration of people’s
trust. He created rural banks. He served for four-years term.
Ramon Magsaysay became the seventh President of the Philippines in 1953 and was
credited for restoring law and order during the Philippine crisis of the 1950s. Best known
for successfully defeating the communist-led Hukbalahap (Huk) movement in our country
and his popular appeal. He carried out one of the most effective anti-guerrilla campaigns
in modern history. He enacted agrarian reform, giving some 90,000 acres to 4,500
indigent families for settlement/farming purposes.
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He also set up a process to hear and address citizen grievances, and maintained a
reputation for incorruptibility throughout his presidency. He also the first president
who open Malacaňang for public.
Sadly, Ramon Magsaysay's term came to an abrupt end on March 17, 1957, when his
presidential plane crashed, killing Magsaysay and 24 other passengers. An estimated 5
million people attended Magsaysay's burial on March 31, 1957, and afterward, he was
referred to in the Philippines as the "Idol of the Masses."

In his honor, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered "Asia's Nobel Prize," was
established in 1957. In the spirit of Ramon Magsaysay's leadership, the award
recognizes integrity and courage among individuals and organizations in Asia.
Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961), the 4th President of the Third Republic. When President
Magsaysay was killed in an airplane accident on March 17, 1957, Garcia became his
successor, having been elected vice president in November 1953. In the elections of
1957 Garcia won over three other candidates.
He was noted for the enunciation of the Filipino First Policy, intended to complete and
guarantee Philippine economic independence and sovereignty.

Diosdado P. Macapagal (1910-1997) was the fifth president of the Republic of the
Philippines. He was instrumental in initiating and executing the Land Reform Code,
which was designed to solve the centuries-old land tenancy problem, the principal
cause of the Communist guerrilla movement in central Luzon.
He established the Land Bank of the Philippines and sought closer relations with
co-Asian countries. He also changed the celebration of Independence Day from July 4
to June 12.
Ferdinand Marcos was the president of the Philippines from 1966 to 1986. Sixth and
Last President of the Third Republic. His first presidential term was notable for his
decision to send troops into the fray of the Vietnam War, a move he had previously
opposed as a Liberal Party senator. He also focused on construction projects and
bolstering the country's rice production, which it was called as “Green Revolution”.
Production of rice was increased through promoting the cultivation of IR-8 hybrid rice.
In 1968 the Philippines became self-sufficient in rice, the first time in history since the
American period. It also exported rice worth US$7 million.
He also introduced the “Blue Revolution”. Marine species like prawn, mullet, milkfish,
and golden tilapia were being produced and distributed to farmers at a minimum cost.
Today, milkfish and prawns contribute substantially to foreign exchange income. Aside
from those more than one thousand rural banks spread all over the country resulting to
the accessibility of credit to finance purchase of agricultural inputs, hired labor, and
harvesting expenses at very low interest rate. Marcos was reelected in 1969, the first
Filipino president to win a second term.
Marcos declared martial law, Proclamation No.1081 on September 21, 1972. Imelda
Marcos eventually becoming an official who often appointed her relatives to lucrative
governmental and industrial positions. Marcos lifted martial law on January 17, 1981.
On August 21, 1983, the previously jailed Benigno Aquino Jr. returned from his long
exile to offer the Filipino people a new face of hope, but he was shot and killed as he
stepped off the plane in Manila.
((http://malacanang.gov.ph/category/third-republic/)
Guide Questions:
1. Who among the Republican president do you think has the greatest contributions to
the progress of the Philippines? why?
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Enumerate some of the positive and negative effects on the declaration Martial law in
our country during Marcos regime.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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Lesson 3- Contemporary Period
Under the Contemporary Period (1986 to present), there are three (3) groups of
Presidents as follows;
a. People Power President (1986-1992)- Corazon C. Aquino
b. Centennial Presidents (1992-2010)- Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998), Joseph E. Estrada
(1998-2001), and Gloria M. Arroyo (2001-2010)
c. Electronic Presidents (2010-2022)- Benigno C. Aquino (2010-2016) and Pres. Rodrigo
Roa C. Duterte (2016-2022)
-all the above-mentioned Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines are covered by
the 1987 Constitution which was promulgated by a national referendum.
Corazon Aquino was the 11th president (and first female president) of the Philippines.
She restored democracy after the long dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino was
sworn into office on February 25, 1986 at the same year, she was
named TIME magazine's “Woman of the Year”. During her term, Corazon
Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to its former
position as second to only Japan in the field of science and technology. One of the goals
of her administration was to achieve the status as being an industrialized country by
2000. Aquino oversaw the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution, which limited the
powers of the Presidency and re-established the bicameral Congress. Her
administration provided a strong emphasis on and concern for civil liberties and human
rights and on peace talks to the Communist insurgency and Islamist
secession movements. Aquino was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and died on 1
August 2009.

Fidel V. Ramos became the 12th President of the Philippines (1992–1998). He was
known for his program “Philippines 2000”, where he attempted to make Philippines a
“Tiger Economy of Asia”. During his term, capital punishment was re-imposed.
He also created the Presidential Task Force on Pasig River Rehabilitation under
Administrative Order No. 74 dated 29 July 1993 to speed up the rehabilitation of the
Pasig River and to upgrade it water quality by the year 2005 and closed the 20-hectare
Smokey Mountain open dumpsite and disposed about 5 million cubic meters of garbage
to develop it into a port-related, commercial and industrial area with housing units for
its residents.

Joseph Estrada, original name Joseph Ejercito, Filipino actor and politician who served
as President of the Philippines from 1998-2001 and later Mayor of Manila (2013-2019).
He won by the largest margin in Philippine election history. He took 40 percent of the
vote on a ballot with 11 other candidates. Estrada was the first president to deliver his
inaugural address in Tagalog rather than English and the first to dispense with the
traditional inaugural ball to cut costs. He was known for his campaign “Erap para sa
Mahirap”. He was removed from his office on January 20, 2001 by Edsa Revolution 2,
because of the controversial impeachment trial against him. Accused from plunder and
imprisoned for six years.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Presidency, also known as the Arroyo Administration, spanned
nine years from January 20, 2001 to June 30, 2010. She served the remainder of
her predecessor Joseph Estrada's term after he was deposed. She was elected to a full
second term in 2004 which ended pursuant to the provisions of the 1987
Constitution in 2010. As an economist, Macapagal-Arroyo developed a blueprint to lift
the national economy out of its financial crisis. She had her vision which she called
“Sugpuin ang Kahirapan”. Her nine-years term was marred with issues like cheating in
Presidential Elections, Expanded VAT law, Fertilizer scam, ZTE scandal and Jueteng.
Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016) was the 15th President of the Philippines. He was the
son of former Corazon Aquino.
Popularizing the belief that “if no one is corrupt, no one will be poor”, he said his first
priority was to “lift the nation from poverty through
JOVANNYhonest and effective governance.” 7
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To achieve this promise he explained that his government will “have leaders who are
ethical, honest and true public servants.” President Aquino has a solid economic record.
The country is an emerging economy, stated by world economic experts due to the inflow
of foreign direct investments.
The DAP, (Disbursement Acceleration Program) which is a program aimed at speeding
up public spending and boost economic growth, and PDAF, (Priority Development
Assistance Fund) which was created to allow legislators to fund small-scale
infrastructure, are being accused of misusing public funds.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016-2022), won the Philippine presidential election on May 9,
2016 with 39% of the votes, defeating four other candidates. His domestic policy has
focused on combating the illegal drug trade by initiating the Philippine Drug War.
Following criticism from United Nations human rights experts that extrajudicial killings
had increased since his election.
Duterte threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the UN and form a new
organization with China and African nations. He has declared his intention to pursue an
"independent foreign policy", and sought to distance the Philippines from the USA and
European countries and closer relationship to China and Russia.
During his term, he signed the Anti-Terrorism Bill (Republic Act No. 11479). it is a
Philippine law whose stated intent is to prevent, prohibit and penalize terrorism in the
Philippines. The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 3, 2020 and
effectively replaced the Human Security Act of 2007. He also urges the Congress for the
investigation on the franchise application of the giant media ABS-CBN Corp.

Activity 1: Whose Who! Name that President! Fill of the chart using the following
information.

Republican President Achievements Controversy

Guide Questions:
1. During Republican years, what are the best things happened on the economic growth
of the Philippines? Cite at least three answers.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the salient features of 1987 constitution? Do these features guarantee that
we are not again experience the possible declaration of Martial Law? Justify your
answer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Are there any similarities on the governance of Ferdinand Marcos to Rodrigo Duterte?
Provide specific examples of such similarities.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_ JOVANNY L. CORNELIA 8
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Activity 2: Classroom Law: Using the chart below, list down all the law/bills passed
from the preparation to total Independence of the Philippines from American
colonization.

(https://www.google.com/search?q=blank+graphic+organizer+template+for+timeline&tbm=isch&ved)

What I Have learned

Fill of the timeline on the necessary information needed. On the line provided, choose
one of which you think is the best president in each period.

List down the name of President

from;
1. Commonwealth Period
1 2. Republican Period
3. Contemporary Period
and their term of office.

(https://www.google.com/search?q=blank+graphic+organizer+template+for+timeline&tbm=isch&ved)

CHECKING ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Definition of Terms. Provide a simple definition on the following terms/ concepts.

1. Jones Law Act___________________________________________________________________

2. Philippine Bill of 1902____________________________________________________________
3. Martial Law______________________________________________________________________
4. Peoples Power___________________________________________________________________
5. Extra Judicial Killings____________________________________________________________
6. DAF______________________________________________________________________________
7.FDAF_____________________________________________________________________________
8. Pork Barrel_______________________________________________________________________
9. Anti-Terrorism Bill________________________________________________________________
10. Impeachment____________________________________________________________________

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 POST TEST

1._____What was the name of the first Republican government established by

Aguinaldo?
a. First Republic b. Biak na Bato
c. Katipunan Government d. Democratic Government
2. ____Awarded by the TIME magazine in 1986 as “Woman of the Year”, because of her
contribution in ousting a dictator through people’s power.
a. Gloria Arroyo b. Corazon Aquino c. Miriam Santiago d. Leni Robred
3.______KKK as to Bonifacio; Propaanda as____________;
a. Gregorio del Pilar b. Jose Rizal c. Jose Abad Santos d. Emilio Jacinto
4.____ He was the 15th President of the Philippines formulated the DAP and FDAF
which cause of so many anomalies among of our legislative body.
a. Gloria Arroyo b. Benigno Aquino III
c. Ferdinand Marcos d. Joseph Estrada
5.____He was the first president to deliver his inaugural address in Tagalog rather than
English.
a. Gloria Arroyo b. Benigno Aquino III
c. Ferdinand Marcos d. Joseph Estrada
6.____ She had her vision which she called “Sugpuin ang Kahirapan”. Her nine-years
term was flawed with issues like cheating in Presidential Elections.
a. Gloria Arroyo b. Corazon C. Aquino
c. Ferdinand Marcos d. Joseph Estrada
7.____He was the fifth president of the Republic of the Philippines and established the
Land Bank of the Philippines.
a. Manuel Roxas b. Elpidio Quirino
c. Diosdado Macapagal d. Ramon Magsaysay
8.____ During Corazon Aquino ascended to the presidency after Edsa Revolution, she
refused to abide the 1973 constitution and proclaimed a provisional constitution. What
was the name of this constitution?
a. Freedom Constitution b. Edsa Constitution
c. Republic Constitution d. Peoples Constitution
9._____ This treaty between Spain and U.S.A allowing the later to be the new colonizer
of the Philippines which they paid the Spain amounting $20,000,000.00 for the
improvement they’ve done to our country.
a. Treaty of Tordesillas b. Treaty of Peace
c. Treaty of Vienna d. Treaty of Paris
10.____ In what Republic that July 4, 1946 was proclaimed as Philippines
Independence Day?
a. First Republic b. Fourth Republic c. Second Republic d. Third Republic

ENRICHMENT

Answer the following questions:

1. What can you say about the approval of Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020? Can we relate it
to the martial law of Pres. Marcos? why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are there any similarities on the governance of Corazon Aquino to his son Benigno
“Noynoy” Aquino III, and to Diosdado Macapagal to her daughter Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo? Provide specific examples of such similarities.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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