Task Instructions: Using the learning material, create a matrix summarizing
the timeline, key features, and significant events of the Philippine
Constitutions, from the Biak-na-Bato Constitution to the 1987 Philippine
Constitution.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION TIMELINE KEY FEATURES SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
The Constitution Of November 1, 1897 to Outlined the Promulgation of the
Biak-na-Bato December 15, 1897 revolutionary Constitution on
objectives of November 1, 1897
independence from marked a significant
Spanish colonial rule, step towards
establishing a formalizing the
revolutionary revolutionary
government with a government and its
Supreme Council goals.
and an Assembly of
Representatives. Pacts of
Biak-na-Bato
The
Cuban-borrowed First Pact of
constitution, written Biak-na-Bato in
by Isabelo Artacho November 18, 1897
and Felix Ferrer in • Pedro Paterno,
Spanish, was later signed the first
translated into agreement with
Tagalog. Governor-General
Primo de Rivera that
General Emilio acted as a
Aguinaldo wrote the negotiator between
main conditions of the Filipinos and
the Biak-na-Bato Spaniards.
pack based on
Cuban Constitution. Second Pact of
Biak-na-Bato in
The republic was a December 14, 1897
temporary • A second
government agreement was
established during signed, further
the Philippine outlining the terms of
Revolution. the peace
negotiations.
The Supreme
Council was the Third Pact of
highest governing Biak-na-Bato in
authority, led by a December 15, 1897
president and • The final
cabinet members. agreement was
signed, leading to
The Assembly of the exile of Emilio
Representatives was Aguinaldo and other
the legislative body revolutionary leaders
who was responsible to Hong Kong.
for making laws and
policies.
The Malolos January 21, 1899 to also known as the On June 12, 1898, the
Constitution March 23, 1901 First Democratic Philippine Revolution
Constitution ever was launched
promulgated in the against Spain, and
whole Asia. the revolutionaries
declared
Felipe Calderon was independence in
the primary author Kawit, Cavite. The
of the constitution. Malolos Congress
began on
The constitution September 15, 1898,
comprises 39 articles and the first
divided into 14 titles, Philippine
8 transitory Constitution was
provisions articles, approved on
and a final January 20, 1899.
additional article.
Approval of the
Short-lived due to Malolos Constitution
the onset of the on January 20, 1899
Philippine-American • This marked a
War. significant milestone
as it established the
The constitution was First Philippine
founded on Republic, the first
democratic democratic republic
principles such as in Asia.
popular sovereignty,
representative Proclamation of the
government, and Malolos Constitution
separation of on January 21, 1899
powers. • Emilio Aguinaldo
officially proclaimed
It contained a the constitution,
comprehensive Bill of solidifying the
Rights that establishment of the
guaranteed republic.
individual liberties
and civil rights. Inauguration of the
First Philippine
The constitution Republic on January
established a 23, 1899
three-tiered • The inauguration
structure of ceremony took place
government, with at Barasoain Church
executive, legislative, in Malolos, Bulacan.
and judicial
branches. Filipino revolutionary
leaders accepted
The constitution payment from Spain
prioritized social and travelled to
justice and the Hong Kong;
well-being of the nevertheless, after
Filipino people. defeating the
Spanish in Manila
The Malolos Bay, Aguinaldo was
Constitution was brought back to the
influenced by the Philippines.
Kartilya and
Sangguniang-Huku
man, a charter of
laws and morals by
Emilio Jacinto, and
the Biak-na-Bato
Constitution by
Isabelo Artacho.
The Commonwealth November 15, 1935 to The constitution The Philippines was
Constitution July 4, 1946 established a colonized by the
presidential system United States after
of government, with the
a president as the Spanish-American
head of state and War, and under
government. military rule from
1898-1901.
It provided for a
bicameral The United States
legislature, Congress passed
consisting of a two acts, the
Senate and a House Philippine Organic
of Representatives. Act 1902 and the
Philippines
The constitution Autonomy Act 1916,
enshrined a Bill of which established a
Rights, protecting popularly elected
individual liberties Philippine Assembly
and civil rights. and the Philippines,
respectively, and
It included provisions established the
for social justice, Philippines as a
such as labor rights nation.
and agrarian reform.
The
Hare-Hawes-Cutting
Act, passed in 1932
by the US Congress,
promised Philippine
independence but
was rejected by the
Philippine Senate,
despite efforts by the
Filipino
independence
mission led by Sergio
Osmeña and Manuel
Roxas.
The
Tydings-McDuffie
Act, passed in 1934
by Claro M. Recto,
established the basis
for Philippine
independence and
mandated the
creation of a formal
Philippine
constitution through
a constitutional
convention,
providing authority
for the process.
The Constitutional November 29, 1972 to The constitution 1965
Authoritarianism February 25, 1986. established a Ferdinand E. Marcos
unicameral is elected President
legislature, the of the Philippines.
Interim Batasang
Pambansa, with the 1967
Prime Minister as the Philippine Congress
head of government, passes a resolution
and a weakened calling for a
presidential role. constitutional
convention to revise
The President held the 1935 Constitution.
significant
presidential powers, 1969
including appointing Marcos wins
the Prime Minister, re-election as
dissolving the President.
National Assembly,
and declaring 1970
martial law. These Elections for
powers were used to delegates to the
suppress dissent Constitutional
and consolidate Convention are held
power, despite the on November 20.
parliamentary
framework. 1971
The Constitutional
The 1973 Convention formally
Constitution, starts on June
enacted during Former President
martial law, failed to Carlos Garcia dies
adequately protect during the
civil liberties and convention.
human rights
abuses, leading the 1972
government to justify September 21: Martial
its authoritarian rule. Law is declared.
It was never fully November 29: The
implemented as a proposed
parliamentary Constitution is
system and was approved.
primarily used to
maintain the Marcos 1973
regime's power, January 17: President
highlighting the need Marcos proclaims
for improved human the ratification of the
rights protection. new Constitution
based on the results
of the Citizen
Assemblies.
November 30:
Plebiscite is held to
ratify the proposed
Constitution.
1976
Citizen Assemblies
decide to:
1. Allow the
continuation of
Martial Law.
2. Replace the
Interim National
Assembly with the
Interim Batasang
Pambansa.
3. Grant the
President the powers
of Prime Minister.
4. Lift Martial Law on
an emergency basis.
1987: Constitution February 2, 1987 to Preamble and 18 self 1986
After Martial Law Present Date contained articles President Corazon
Begins with a Aquino proclaims a
preamble outlining Transitional
the principles and Constitution.
aspirations of the
Filipino people. A Constitutional
Commission is
Separation of created to draft a
Powers new Constitution.
Executive: Headed
by the President and 1987
the Cabinet. The 1987 Constitution
Legislative: is officially ratified on
Bicameral Congress February 2 1987.
(Senate and House
of Representatives).
Judicial: Supreme
Court and lower
courts.
Independent
Constitutional
Commissions
● Civil Service
Commission
● Commission
on Elections
● Commission
on Audit
Bill of Rights
Guarantees
fundamental human
rights and freedoms.
Local Autonomy
Provides for
decentralization of
power to local
governments.
Con-Ass
proposes
amendments to the
constitution
Con-Con
upon a vote of
two-thirds of all its
members.
PI
through a petition of
at least 12% of the
total number of
registered voters
Cha-Cha" and
"Con-Ass" are
informal terms used
to refer to
constitutional
amendments,
specifically through
a Constitutional
Convention and a
Constituent
Assembly,
respectively.
Attempts to 1987 to 2016 The attempts to The rise of populist
Ammend or Change amend the leaders and their
the 1987 Constitution Constitution have focus on crime and
focused on specific security issues have
issues such as: significantly
influenced the
1. Federalism discourse on
the common constitutional
proposal aimed at change.
decentralizing power
and promoting Presence of
regional Federalism is gaining
development. prominence as a
potential solution to
2. Economic regional inequalities
Provisions and development
Many believe the challenges.
current Constitution
hinders economic The Constitution is
growth and being recognized as
development. a necessary
adaptation to meet
3. Political Reforms the evolving needs
Some advocate for and challenges of
changes to the the 21st century.
electoral system and
the term limits of 1995
elected officials. Jose Almonte's draft
constitution was
The 1987 Constitution proposed but not
provides three pursued.
methods for
amendment: 1997
"PIRMA" movement
● Constituent attempted to gather
Assembly signatures for a
● Constitutional people's initiative to
Convention amend the
● People's Constitution by Sen.
Initiative Miriam Defensor
Santiago
Political will and
public support have President Fidel V.
been crucial factors Ramos formed a
in the success or study commission to
failure of these investigate charter
attempts. change.
Opposition from Succeeding
various sectors, Presidencies:
including civil society
groups and legal Joseph Estrada
experts, has often Endorsed
hindered constitutional
constitutional change through a
change efforts. Constituent
Assembly.
Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo
Also supported
constitutional
change through a
Constituent
Assembly.
Benigno Aquino III
Showed limited
interest in charter
change, with most
initiatives coming
from members of
Congress.
POPULISM
Rodrigo Duterte
Campaigned on a
platform of law and
order, proposing
changes to the
Constitution, though
the focus shifted
more towards
addressing crime
and security issues.
