READINGS IN PH HISTORY

GE 2 MIDYEAR – MR. BIONAT - MODULE 4: POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Biak-na-Bato, was signed between the

Spanish and the Philippine Revolutionary
L2A: POLITICAL HISTORY Army.

●​ TRUCE OF BIAK NA BATO

A POLITICAL HISTORY
○​ Signed on December 15, 1897 in San
Miguel, Bulacan, in the house of
POLITICAL HISTORY Pablo Tecson (Brig. Gen. Gregorio Del
●​ Political history focuses on the narrative and Pilar).
survey of political events, ideas, movements,
organs of government, elections, voters, ○​ Signatories:
parties, and leaders. ■​ Governor-General Fernando
Primo de Rivera and Emilio
Aguinaldo.
B EVOLUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
●​ Revolutionaries were given amnesty and
monetary indemnity by the Spanish
➔​ The constitution is a set of fundamental Government, in return for an exile in Hong
principles or established precedents Kong.
according to which a state or organization is
governed. ●​ Money was used to purchase advanced
➔​ These principles define the nature and extent firearms and ammunition later on return to
of government. the archipelago.
●​ Filipino revolutionaries went to Hong Kong.

B1 THE CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-BATO

●​ Upon the defeat of the Spanish to the United
States in the Battle of Manila Bay on 1 May
THE CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-BATO 1898, the U.S. Navy transported Aguinaldo
●​ A provisional constitution of the Philippine back to the Philippines.
Republic during the Philippine Revolution
and was promulgated by the Philippine PHILIPPINE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Revolutionary Government on 1 November ●​ The newly reformed Philippine revolutionary
1897. forces reverted to the control of Aguinaldo
●​ Written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer and the Philippine Declaration of
in Spanish. Independence was issued on June 12 1898,
●​ Inspired by Cuba. together with several decrees that formed the
First Philippine Republic.

C ORGANS OF THE GOVERNMENT THE MALOLOS CONGRESS

●​ The Malolos Congress was elected, which
THE SUPREME COUNCIL selected an elite-dominated commission to
●​ Supreme Council of Grace and Justice. draw a draft constitution on 17 September
1898.
ASSEMBLY OF REPRESENTATIVES
●​ Which was to be convened after the C1 THE MALOLOS CONSTITUTION OF 1899
revolution to create a new Constitution.

●​ The Constitution was never fully THE MALOLOS CONSTITUTION OF 1899

implemented, since truce, the Pact of ●​ Approved by Congress on 29 November 1898.

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●​ Patterned after the Spanish Constitution of ●​ Bicameral Legislature:

1812. ○​ Philippine Commission
○​ Philippine Assembly
●​ FELIPE CALDERON
○​ Principal author of the THE PHILIPPINE AUTONOMY ACT OF 1916 “JONES
Constitution…popular, representative LAW”
government. ●​ August 29, 1916
○​ Senate
●​ UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE ○​ House of Representatives
○​ Assembly of Representatives… elected ●​ It was the first formal and official declaration
for terms of four years. of the United States commitment to grant
independence to the Philippines.
●​ The right to impeach the president, cabinet ●​ Jones Law of 1916 provides that the grant of
members, the chief justice of the Supreme independence would come only "as soon as a
Court, and the solicitor-general. stable government can be established"
●​ Executive power was vested in the president ●​ gave the United States Government the
and elected by a constituent assembly of the power to determine when this "stable
Assembly of Representatives and special government" has been achieved.
representatives.
●​ Serve a term of four years without re-election. Salient provisions of the Autonomy Act/Jones Law
●​ No vice president, and in case of a vacancy, a of 1916
president was to be selected by the 1.​ Creation of Philippine Senate (formerly
constituent assembly Philippine Commission-upper house) –
●​ The 1899 Malolos Constitution was never composed of all Filipinos
enforced due to the ongoing war.
●​ Jones Law replaced the Philippine Organic
●​ TREATY OF PARIS Act of 1902 (Philippine Bill of July 1, 1902) that
○​ Was signed on December 10, 1898 served as the de facto initial constitution of
the Philippine Islands after it was ceded by
Spain to the United States by virtue of the
D THE 1935 CONSTITUTION — THE
Treaty of Paris.
COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION

●​ 1932 OS-ROX MISSION

THE COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION ○​ US Congress passed the Hare-Hawes
●​ After the Treaty of Paris, the Philippines was Cutting Act with the promise of
subject to the power of the United States, granting Filipinos independence
effectively the new colonizers of the country.
●​ From 1898 to 1901, the Philippines was placed ●​ Opposed by Manuel Luis Quezon, President of
under a military government until a civil the Senate.
government replaced it.
●​ 1934 US CONGRESS
○​ passed the Tydings-McDuffie Law,
D1 TWO ACTS OF THE U.S CONGRESS
also known as the Philippine
Independence Act
Philippine Organic Act of 1902
●​ Provided authority and defined mechanisms
●​ The first organic law for the Philippine islands
for the establishment of a formal constitution
that provided for the creation of a popularly
by a constitutional convention.
elected Philippine Assembly.

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JULY 30, 1934 Philippine Independent Church Bishop

●​ First Meeting of the members of the Gregorio Aglipay of the Republican Party.
convention.
●​ CLARO M. RECTO THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT OF THE
○​ was unanimously elected president of PHILIPPINES
the convention ●​ Was inaugurated on November 15, 1935,
paving the way for the statement of Quezon:
1935 CONSTITUTION "I would rather have a government run like
●​ Created the Commonwealth of the hell by Filipinos than a government run like
Philippines, an administrative body that heaven by Americans."
governed the Philippines from 1935 to 1946. ●​ The Commonwealth government existed
from 1935 to 1946, although it was disrupted
●​ Initially provided for a unicameral National by the Second World War which forced its
Assembly with a President and Vice President leaders to go into exile in the US from 1942 to
elected to a six-year term without re-election. 1944.
●​ Was amended to have a bicameral Congress
composed of a Senate and a House of
E THE 1943 CONSTITUTION UNDER JAPAN
Representatives, as well as the creation of an
independent electoral commission.
1943 CONSTITUTION UNDER JAPAN
●​ Limited the term of office of the president ●​ Nullified the 1935 Constitution.
and vice president to four years, with one ●​ Appointed the Preparatory Committee on
re-election. Philippine Independence to replace it.
●​ Right to suffrage was initially afforded to male ●​ The 1943 Constitution was used by the
citizens 21 years of age or over and were able Second Republic with Jose P. Laurel as
to read and write. President.

1937 AUGUST 1, 1944

●​ Right to suffrage was extended to women in ●​ When Manuel L. Quezon died in New York on
1937. August 1, 1944, he was succeeded by Sergio
Osmeña, Sr.
FEBRUARY 8, 1935
●​ A draft of the constitution was approved by APRIL 23, 1946
the constitutional convention on 8 February ●​ The last Commonwealth polls were held on
1935 and approved by then US President April 23, 1946.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt on 23 March 1935.
●​ Ratified by the Filipinos in a nationwide MANUEL A. ROXAS
plebiscite on May 4, 1935. ●​ Former Senate President Manuel A.Roxas was
elected as the last Commonwealth President
SEPTEMBER 16, 1935 and first President of the Republic of the
●​ They elect the first set of officials of the Philippines.
Philippine Commonwealth government as ●​ Inaugurated on July 4, 1946.
provided for in the 1935 Constitution.
●​ Upon the liberation of the Philippines in 1945,
●​ President Manuel L. Quezon of the Coalition the 1935 Constitution came back into effect.
(Nacionalista) Party; former Philippine
Revolutionary Government President Emilio COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 733
F. Aguinaldo of the Socialist Party; and ●​ The Constitution remained unaltered until
1947 when the Philippine Congress called for

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its amendment through Commonwealth Act ●​ CARLOS P. GARCIA

No. 733. ○​ Was elected president of the
convention
●​ Manuel Roxas did not finish his term as he ●​ Succeeded by Diosdado Macapagal
died while on a visit to the Clark Air Base in
Pampanga on April 15, 1948. ●​ SEPTEMBER 23, 1972.
●​ He was succeeded by then Vice President ○​ President Marcos declared Martial
Elpidio R. Quirino. Law
(PNA) ●​ …cited a growing communist insurgency as a
reason; provided for in the 1935 Constitution
MARCH 11, 1947
●​ THE PARITY AMENDMENT NOVEMBER 29, 1972
○​ gave United States citizens equal ●​ The convention approved the proposed
rights with Filipino citizens to develop constitution.
natural resources in the country and
operate public utilities. PARLIAMENTARY-STYLE GOVERNMENT.
●​ Legislative power was vested in the
SEPTEMBER 23, 1972. unicameral National Assembly for a six-year
●​ The Constitution, thereafter, remained the term.
same until the declaration of martial law on ●​ The President was to be elected as a symbolic
September 23, 1972. and ceremonial head of state from the
members of the National Assembly.
●​ Term of the President is 6 years and could be
F THE 1973 CONSTITUTION
elected for an unlimited number of terms.

THE 1973 CONSTITUTION ●​ Executive power is relegated to the Prime

●​ Constitutional Authoritarianism Minister, who is also the head of government
and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
●​ 1965 Forces.
○​ Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected ●​ The Prime Minister was to be elected from the
President National Assembly.
●​ 1967
○​ The Philippine Congress passed a DECEMBER 1, 1972
resolution calling for a constitutional ●​ The convention delegates submitted their
convention to amend the 1935 work to President Marcos.
Constitution ●​ President Marcos submitted it for ratification.
●​ 1969
○​ Marcos won re-election in 1969, in a PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 86 s. 1972
bid boosted by campaign ●​ Foreseeing the failure of direct ratification,
overspending and misuse of Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 86, s.
government funds. 1972, creating citizens assemblies to ratify the
newly drafted constitution by means of a Viva
●​ NOVEMBER 20, 1970 Voce vote in place of secret ballots.
○​ Elections of delegates to the
Constitutional convention. NOVEMBER 30, 1973
●​ President Marcos issued Presidential Decree
●​ JUNE 1, 1971 No. 73, setting the date of the plebiscite.
○​ The convention formally began ●​ This plebiscite was postponed since Marcos
feared that the public might vote to reject the

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constitution. Instead of a plebiscite, Citizen

Assemblies were held, from 10 – 15, January
1973, where the citizens, coming together and
voting by hand, to ratify the Constitution.

JANUARY 17, 1973

●​ the President issued a Proclamation
announcing the overwhelming ratification of
the Constitution
●​ … followed by a turbulent situation -
demonstrations, rallies, bombings from both
sides –Martial Law

AUGUST 21, 1983

●​ Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was assassinated
while under military escort immediately after
his return from exile in the United States

FEBRUARY 7, 1986
●​ Snap Presidential and Vice Presidential
election.

●​ Marcos declared himself winner despite

international condemnation and nationwide
protest.
●​ EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986
●​ Under pressure from the United States, who
used to support Marcos and his martial law,
the Marcos family fled into exile.

●​ FEBRUARY 25, 1986

○​ end of the 4-day Revolution Cory
Aquino was installed as President

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

●​ Approved by the 1986 Constitutional
Commission on October 12, 1986.
●​ The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines was presented to President
Corazon C. Aquino on October 15, 1986.
●​ Ratified on February 2, 1987
●​ It was proclaimed in force on February 11,
1987.

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AMBROSIO RIANZARES BAUTISTA

L2B: PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS AND ●​ wrote the Philippine Declaration of
POLITICAL PARTIES Independence

JUNE 18, 1898

A PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ●​ Aguinaldo issued a decree formally
PARTIES establishing his dictatorial government.

PHILIPPINES ●​ PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY

●​ is Asia’s oldest republic and one of its oldest ○​ The elected Filipino civilians at the
democracies. municipal and provincial levels
formed the Provincial Assembly.
SUFFRAGE OR ELECTIONS
●​ The most basic prerequisites of a modern JUNE 23, 1898
democracy ●​ Aguinaldo issued another decree, this time
●​ Election is the only time when the elite is at replacing the dictatorial government with a
the mercy of the masses. It is when the revolutionary government (and naming
people issue their consent to their himself as president).
government and make them legitimate.
●​ The earliest semblance of an election was in ●​ REVOLUTIONARY CONGRESS
1642. ○​ In this government, elected provincial
leaders formed the Revolutionary
ORDINANCE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT OF 1642 Congress
●​ Regulated the selection of gobernadorcillo
and cabeza de barangay BARASOAIN CHURCH, MALOLOS BULACAN (SEPT.
●​ Only the 12 cabeza de barangay, the retiring 15, 1898)
or outgoing gobernadorcillo, and the ●​ The Congress convened for the first time in
barangay priest are involved. Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan, on 15
September 1898.
MAURA LAW OF 1893
●​ Changes the election of the capitan 21 JANUARY 1899
municipal (gobernadorcillo) by expanding the ●​ The constitution was ratified.
composition of the qualified electors
1984 23 JANUARY 1899
●​ The Katipunan held its first recorded election ●​ The republic was inaugurated with General
in 1894: Emilio Aguinaldo taking oath as its first
○​ Pangulo president
○​ Kalihim
○​ Tagausig PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ACT (1901)
○​ Ingat-Yaman ●​ The Second Philippine Commission led by
■​ Voted by all members William Howard Taft passed the Provincial
Government Act, which was the basis of the
JUNE 12, 1898 first gubernatorial election held on 3
●​ Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the February 1902.
independence of the Philippines at his house ●​ Only the governor was elected and the rest of
in Cavite El Viejo (Kawit, Cavite) the provincial government were appointed by
the Philippine Commission

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A1 JAPANESE OCCUPATION
ELECTION LAW OF 1907
●​ Was passed by the Philippine Commission
(composed of the Americans and Filipinos) JOSE P. LAUREL
●​ Provided for the establishment of the ●​ Pursuant to the 1943 constitution, Jose P.
Philippine Assembly, the lower house of the Laurel was unanimously elected president by
legislature. the National Assembly.
●​ The Philippine Commission served as the
upper house of legislature. SECOND PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
●​ The Philippines was divided into 81 districts. ●​ The Second Philippine Republic was
Each district was to elect a representative inaugurated on October 14, 1943, with Jose P.
who would represent them in the assembly. Laurel as President.
●​ It had a different constitution which did not
●​ NACIONALISTA provide for a Philippine Vice President.
○​ Nacionalista advocated for absolute, ●​ The Second Republic was formally dissolved
complete, and immediate on August 17, 1945, with the surrender of the
independence. Japanese to the Americans.

●​ PROGRESISTA
B AFTER WORLD WAR 2
○​ Progresistas maintained that the
Filipinos were not yet ready for
self-governance. SERGIO OSMEÑA
●​ The Philippine Commonwealth was
JONES LAW OF 1916 reestablished with Sergio Osmeña as
●​ The 12 districts would each elect two senators President
on a simple plurality vote. It means that the
two candidates with the highest votes would COMMONWEALTH ACT 725
join the senate. ●​ President Osmeña approved Commonwealth
○​ Highest vote = six-year term Act 725 calling for a national election in
○​ Second highest = three-year term accordance with the American Joint
●​ Election every three years thereafter Resolution.
APRIL 23, 1946
TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE ACT OF 1935 ●​ In the April 23, 1946 election, Manuel Roxas
●​ Established the Commonwealth won the Presidency and Elpidio Quirino, the
Government Vice Presidency.
●​ The first national elections during the ●​ Quirino became the Second Vice President of
Commonwealth the Philippines.

SEPTEMBER 16, 1935 1953 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

●​ The Filipino voters went to the polls to elect ●​ The 1953 presidential election resulted into
the first set of officials of the Philippine the defeat of the dominant Liberal party
Commonwealth government as provided for because of several corruption scandal
in the 1935 Constitution ●​ The Huk rebellion was on the rise
●​ Ramon Magsaysay won; bolted from the
30 APRIL 1937 Liberal Party and ran as the standard bearer
●​ Plebiscite on women’s suffrage of the Nacionalista Party.
●​ The first instance of party switching.

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In the succeeding decades, switching parties KILUSANG BAGONG LIPUNAN (KBL)

would be a regular feature in Philippine politics. ●​ was the only legitimate political party.

●​ Reason: Philippine political parties were not FEBRUARY 7, 1986.

formed based on a clear and coherent ●​ When the legitimacy of his power and
political ideology authority plunged in the 1980’s, Marcos was
●​ Instead, parties in the Philippines gained a challenged to call for a Snap Presidential
semblance of an elite clique of traditional election on
politicians who ally themselves for machinery
and convenience in lieu of coalescing into COMELEC TABULATORS
similar principles and objectives. ●​ One of the most popular scenarios of the
●​ Historians dubbed these uncanny similarities anti-Marcos movement
in general programs as COCA-COLA-PEPSI ●​ walking out of the polling center because
POLITICS: they could not stomach the manipulation of
○​ they differ in brand and packaging results any longer.
but are essentially the same.
EDSA PEOPLE POWER 1 ON 25 FEBRUARY 1986.
FERDINAND MARCOS ●​ The protest rally eventually culminated in the
●​ Transferred to the Nacionalsita party when he ouster of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
was not selected as the Liberal Party’s
standard bearer in 1965.
B1 THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY
●​ He won his first term against the incumbent
President Diosdado Macapagal using the
formula employed by his predecessors., a THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY
formula of elite interdependence. ●​ also meant the restoration of the
●​ Other features of Philippine elections were elite-dominated politics. Elections featured
clientelism, nepotism, fraud, and violence candidates coming from long-standing
political dynasties in different localities.
1969
●​ Marcos made history for being the first ●​ The post-EDSA years also witnessed the
post-war president to have won re-election; emergence and popularity of celebrities
it was dubbed as one of the dirtiest elections turned politicians at various levels of
in the country’s electoral history. government – Joseph Ejercito Estrada,
●​ Some appraised that as much as 50 million Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy
dollars of public funds were used to finance Estrada, JV Ejercito, and Robin Padilla.
Marcos’ campaign. The money was used for ●​ The congress, the senate, and the local
vote-buying, bribery, and coercion. government strengthened in the EDSA
republic had actors, actresses, singers,
Philippine elections are dominated by the 3G’s – basketball players, a boxer,
GUNS, GOODS, GOLD. (glitters?) broadcaster/journalists, and their family
members winning elections and at times
SEPTEMBER 23, 1972 dominating state institutions – Tito Sotto,
●​ When Martial Law was declared, all the Grace Poe, Imelda Papin, Vico Sotto, Richard
oppositions were silenced. Gomez, Vilma Santos, Manny Pacquiao,
●​ The 173 Constitution replaced the bicameral Jhong Hilario, Alfred Vargas, and Isko Moreno.
legislature into a unicameral legislature
known as the Batasang Pambansa. ●​ The progressive party-list system,
implemented in 1998 and aimed at providing
proper representation to marginalized sectors

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in the Philippine society like workers, farmers,

fisherfolks, women, indigenous peoples,
L3: ECONOMIC HISTORY
Muslim Filipinos, and the youth, was hijacked
by political dynasties or powerful political
A AGRARIAN REFORM AND TAXATION
families even if they do not, in any way,
belong to, and thus cannot represent, the
sectors they claimed to represent. INTRODUCTION
●​ Economic history deals with the study of past
JUAN MIGUEL “MIKEY” ARROYO economic events by applying economic
●​ Ang Galing Pinoy claims to represent security theory to historical situations and institutions.
guards, tricycle drivers, farmers and small In Philippine economic history, we see the
businessmen. growth of the nation; the story of how
Filipinos were manipulated by colonizers who
CLAUDINE DIANA BAUTISTA-LIM exploited the country’s national resources for
●​ Drivers United for Mass Progress and Equal their own colonialist and imperialist aims.
Rights – Philippines Taxi Drivers Association ●​ Studying economic history allows us to
(DUMPER PTDA) Party list understand the economic decisions being
made today, decisions that affect not just our
At present, continuous developments are being lives, but also the lives of the rest of Filipino
witnessed in Philippine elections. today and tomorrow.
●​ Populist rhetoric and populist candidates
●​ “Erap para sa mahirap”
THREE CRUCIAL ECONOMIC CRISIS:
●​ The power of social media
●​ Rodrigo Duterte
●​ BBM 1.​ Agrarian Reform
2.​ Taxation
➔​ Despite the novelties that unfold every 3.​ Trade Policies
election, Philippine elections maintain its
fundamental character. It is mostly an affair
run by the moneyed elite, and the Filipino B AGRARIAN REFORM
voters are left with n better choice but the
lesser evil. AGRARIAN REFORM
●​ Agrarian reform is a vital aspect of the
Philippine economy because nearly half of
the population is employed in the agricultural
sector, and most citizens live in rural areas.
●​ Agrarian reform is centered on the
relationship between production and the
distribution of land among farmers.

B1 PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD

●​ Type of land ownership

○​ communal (commonly owned by the
community).

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●​ System of land cultivation ●​ Spanish authorities required native Filipino

○​ “kaingin” system or the slash and farmers to sell their goods to the government.
burn method.
THE ENCOMIENDA
●​ BARTER TRADE ●​ MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGAZPI
○​ Agricultural products with luxury ○​ Divided the archipelago into large
items. parcels and assigned each parcel to a
favored Spaniard for administration
●​ Leasing and selling of lands and care.
○​ Maragtas Code (only recorded ●​ From the encomienda system, the hacienda
transaction of land sale). system developed.
●​ The Philippines became an exporter of raw
●​ CODE OF LUWARAN materials and an importer of goods
○​ Muslim record of the lease of ●​ In the 1860s, Spain enacted a law ordering
cultivated lands; no record as to how landholders to register their land
this lease arrangement was practiced. ●​ Peasant families were driven out or forced to
abandon their claim to those who had their
lands titled
B2 SPANISH ERA
●​ Religious orders, the biggest landowners in
the Philippines, also became a leading source
SPANISH ERA of abuses and exploitation
●​ The Spaniards introduced pueblo agriculture, ●​ By the end of the Philippine Revolution, the
where rural communities were organized into revolutionary government declared all large
pueblo and given land to cultivate. landed estates, especially friar lands, as
●​ No indios owned the land; the King of Spain confiscated and government property.
owned all the lands.
●​ Filipinos were assigned to develop these
B3 THE AMERICAN PERIOD
lands and paid their colonial tributes to the
Spanish authorities in the form of agricultural
products. THE AMERICAN PERIOD
●​ The Americans were aware that the leading
PUEBLO AGRICULTURE cause of social unrest in the Philippines is
●​ A system wherein native rural communities landlessness
were organized into pueblo and each ●​ Several land policies were introduced …
Christianized native family is given four (4) or distribute land ownership to a significant
five (5) hectares of land to cultivate. number of Filipino tenants and farmers.
●​ The native families were merely landholders
and not landowners. By law, the land THE PHILIPPINE ORGANIC LAW OF 1902
assigned to them was the property of the ●​ provided regulations on the ownership of
Spanish King where they paid their colonial public lands
tributes to the Spanish authorities in the form ●​ 16 hectares for public individuals
of agricultural products they produced. ●​ 1,024 hectares for corporate landholders

THE LAW OF THE INDIES ACT NO. 496 OR THE LAND REGISTRATION ACT
●​ The Spanish crown awarded tracts of land to INTRODUCED THE TORRENS SYSTEM (NOVEMBER
religious orders. 6, 1902)
●​ Spanish military as repartimientos or reward ●​ Act No. 496 or the Land Registration Act
for their service bandala introduced the Torrens System.

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●​ TORRENS TITLE
B4 COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT
○​ is a system of land registration and
land transfer that relies on a
state-maintained register of land COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT
holdings.
PRESIDENT MANUEL L. QUEZON
●​ Recorded as the owner of a property in the ●​ laid down a social justice program focused on
register is the absolute owner of that the purchase of haciendas, which were to be
property. divided and sold to tenants
●​ It is considered conclusive and incontestable ●​ Several agencies were created to protect and
proof of ownership and cannot be altered. defend the farmers
●​ The Land Registration Act of 1902 or Act No.
496 placed all private and public lands under PRESIDENT MANUEL ROXAS
Torrens system. ●​ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 34
○​ To establish a 70 – 30 sharing
●​ THE CADASTRAL ACT OR ACT NO. 2259 arrangement between tenant and
○​ speeds up the issuance of Torrens landlord, respectively
titles. This was done by surveying a
municipality and presenting the PRESIDENT ELPIDIO QUIRINO
result to the land registration court. ●​ THE LAND SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
HOMESTEAD PROGRAM (1903) ○​ Was established to accelerate and
●​ It allowed a tenant to enter into agribusiness expand the resettlement program for
by acquiring a farm of at least 16 hectares. peasants.
●​ …unoccupied, unreserved, unappropriated
agricultural public land in the Philippine PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY
Islands ●​ NATIONAL RESETTLEMENT AND
●​ … no limit to the size of landholdings people REHABILITATION ADMINISTRATION
could own (NARRA)
●​ Possession was limited to those who could ○​ Accelerated the government’s
afford to buy, register, and acquire fixed resettlement program and
property titles. distribution of agricultural lands to
●​ Not all friar lands acquired by the Americans landless tenants and farmers. It also
were given to landless peasant farmers, as aims to convince the Huks to resettle
some lands were sold or leased to the in areas where they could restart their
Americans and Filipino business interests. lives as peaceful citizens.
●​ Land reform program introduced by the
Americans was implemented without R.A. 1199 OR THE AGRICULTURAL TENANCY ACT
support mechanisms thus forcing some ●​ It protects the relationship between
farmers to return to tenancy, and wealthy landholders and tenants, protecting the
Filipino hacienderos purchased or forcefully tenurial rights of tenants and enforced
took over lands from farmers who could not tenancy practices.
afford to pay their debts.
○​ Peasant uprisings PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL
○​ Colorum uprising ●​ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3844 (AGRICULTURAL
○​ Sakdal uprising LAND AND REFORM ACT)
○​ Abolished share tenancy in the
Philippines and prescribed a program
to convert tenant-farmers to lessees

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and later on owner-cultivators. (no tenurial arrangements and

funding) commodity produced shall be subject
to agrarian reform.
PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS
●​ PRESIDENTIAL DECREE (P.D.) NO. 2 WHAT IS THE RETENTION LIMIT FOR
○​ Placed the entire Philippines as a LANDOWNERS?
land reform area. ➔​ Landowners are 5 hectares. However, 3
hectares shall be awarded to each child of the
P.D. NO. 27 landowners who is at least 15 years old,
●​ Emancipation of tenants from the actually tilling the land, or directly managing
bondage of the soil, transferring to the land.
them the ownership of the land they ➔​ 3 hectares for each landless tenant farmers
till and providing the instruments and
mechanism therefor
●​ This shall apply to all tenant farmers
C EVOLUTION OF PHILIPPINE TAXATION
of private agricultural lands primarily
devoted to rice and corn under a
system of sharecrop or lease-tenancy. Taxation
●​ The tenant farmer … shall be deemed ●​ Is the lifeblood of the nation.
owner of a portion constituting a ●​ Taxation is the process by which the
family-size farm of five (5) hectares if sovereign, through its lawmaking body, raises
not irrigated and three (3) hectares if income to defray the necessary expenses of
irrigated. the government.
●​ In all cases, the landowner may retain
an area of not more than seven (7)
C1 PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
hectares if such landowner is
cultivating such area or will now
cultivate it. PRE-SPANISH PERIOD
●​ People pay to the barangay contributions
“MASAGANA 99” called “handog”, “buwis” or “alay” (offer).
●​ self-sufficiency program. ●​ It is a customary practice in rendering
●​ Masagana 99 was a program that involvement and support to the government.
offered farmers a package intended ●​ The chieftain’s family members were
to increase how much palay they can exempted from paying taxes.
harvest from their land, which they ●​ Non-payment of taxes was already punishable
would be able to afford through a during this period (Santiago, Garcia, and
credit program with rural banks, David, 2017)
coordinated by the government.

PRESIDENT CORAZON AQUINO C2 SPANISH TIME

●​ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6657 (THE
COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM SPANISH TIME
PROGRAM OR CARP) ●​ The Spaniards imposed tributes
○​ Republic Act 6657, otherwise known ●​ to generate resources to finance the
as the Comprehensive Agrarian maintenance of the islands, such as salaries of
Reform Law, was signed on June 10, government officials and expenses of the
1988 and took effect five days later. clergy.
○​ This law states that all public and
private agricultural lands regardless of

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GE 2 MIDYEAR – MR. BIONAT - MODULE 4: POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ISSUES

EXEMPTED FROM PAYMENT OF TRIBUTES THE UNDERWOOD-SIMMONS TARIFF ACT (1913)

➔​ Principales, alcaldes, gobernadores, cabeza de ●​ Was passed resulting in a reduction in the
barangay, soldiers, members of the civil revenue as export taxes levied on sugar,
guard, government officials, and vagrants. tobacco, hemp, and copra were lifted.
●​ New taxes were introduced:
CEDULA PERSONAL ○​ 1914 - Income tax
●​ In 1884, tribute was replaced by a poll tax ○​ 1919 - Inheritance tax
collected through a certificate of
identification called the cedula personal.
C4 THE COMMONWEALTH
●​ Later on, half of the tribute was paid in cash
and the rest with produce.
●​ Unlike the tribute, cedulas were paid per THE COMMONWEALTH
person, not per family ●​ 1937
○​ Cedula tax was abolished
POLO Y SERVICIO OR FORCED LABOR ●​ 1940
●​ Was also a character of taxation. ○​ Residence tax was imposed on every
●​ In public works and construction of services, citizen aged 18 years old and above
while some served as night guards or other and on every corporation
jobs at the municipio. ●​ 1939
●​ falla may exempt from polo ○​ National Revenue Code

C3 AMERICAN PERIOD CORAZON AQUINO

●​ VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT)
○​ Uniform rate of 10 percent on the sale
AMERICAN PERIOD of domestic and imported goods and
●​ Real estate tax was levied on both urban and services and zero percent on exports
rural real estates (land tax) and foreign-currency-denominated
●​ Tax evasion was prevalent, especially among sales
the elites. ○​ It is an indirect tax, which may be
●​ THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAW OF 1904 shifted or passed on to the buyer,
○​ was passed. transferee or lessee of goods,
properties or services.
●​ During the term of the 2nd civil governor
LUKE E. WRIGHT GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO
○​ BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE ●​ EXPANDED VALUE ADDED TAX (E-VAT)
(BIR) was created through the ○​ was introduced during the
passage of REORGANIZATION ACT administration of Gloria
NO. 1189 dated July 2, 1904. Macapagal-Arroyo (2005).
○​ This law expanded the VAT base,
●​ AUGUST 1, 1904 subjecting it to VAT energy products
○​ On August 1, 1904, the BIR was such as coal and petroleum products
formally organized and made and electricity generation,
operational under the Secretary of transmission, and distribution.
Finance, Henry Ide (author of the
Internal Revenue Law of 1904), with PRES. FIDEL V. RAMOS
John S. Hord as the first Collector ●​ TAX COMPUTERIZATION PROJECT (TCP)
(Commissioner). ○​ It was during Commissioner
Liwayway Vinzons- Chato's term that
a five-year Tax Computerization

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GE 2 MIDYEAR – MR. BIONAT - MODULE 4: POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Project (TCP) was undertaken in 1994. Manila was gradually opened to international
This involved the establishment of a trade in the late 1840s and early 1850s.
modern and computerized Integrated
Tax System and Internal PAYNE-ALDRICH TARIFF ACT (1909)
Administration System. ●​ Allowed free entry of Philippine goods in the
United States subject to the tariff, while U.S.
PRES. BENIGNO “PINOY” AQUINO III imports were exempted from tariffs in the
●​ REPUBLIC ACT 10351, OR THE SIN TAX Philippines
REFORM LAW. ●​ Influx of U.S. manufactured goods in the
○​ It is primarily a health measure with Philippines retarded the growth of Philippine
revenue implications. industries.
○​ The Sin Tax Law helps finance the
Universal Health Care program of the PHILIPPINE TRADE ACT OF 1946 (BELL TRADE ACT)
government, simplified the current ●​ The law effectively tied the Philippine
excise tax system on alcohol and economy to the United States, as it set quotas
tobacco products and fixed long of Philippine exports, pegged the Philippine
standing structural weaknesses, and peso to the U.S. dollar at a rate of 2:1, and
addresses public health issues provided free trade between two countries for
relating to alcohol and tobacco eight years.
consumption. ●​ The act included a controversial parity clause.
It granted U.S. citizens equal economic rights
PRES. RODRIGO ROA-DUTERTE with Filipinos, such as the right to exploit
●​ TAX REFORM FOR ACCELERATION AND natural resources.
INCLUSION (TRAIN) ACT ●​ The payment of war reparations amounting
○​ was passed in December 2017. to 620 million dollars was tied to the
○​ Its prominent feature was lower acceptance of this clause.
income taxes; annual incomes not ●​ In 1955, the Laurel-Langley Agreement was
exceeding 250,000 pesos are signed amending the Bell Trade Act of 1946
tax-exempt. and made it more favorable to Filipino
interests.
●​ This Act abolished the U.S. authority over the
D TRADE POLICIES AND THE PHILIPPINE
exchange rate of the peso, made parity
ECONOMY
privileges reciprocal, extended the sugar
quota, and extended the time period for the
TRADE POLICIES AND THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY reduction of other quotas and for the
progressive application of tariffs on Philippine
GALLEON TRADE (MANILA-ACAPULCO TRADE) goods exported to the United States.
●​ Was institutionalized by the Spaniards from
1565 to 1815. FERDINAND E. MARCOS
●​ Brought porcelain, silk, ivory, spices, and ●​ “This Nation Can Be Great Again”
myriad other exotic goods from China to ●​ In the 1970s, the Philippine economy grew at
Mexico in exchange for New World silver. a higher average annual rate of 6.4 percent,
●​ Manila became the point where these two mainly because Marcos borrowed foreign
interests met currency.
●​ By the 19th century, the focus of trade was ●​ The Philippines was plunged in debt, from 2.3
export agriculture, as the cash crop economy billion to 24.4 billion dollars in 1983.
brought economic development ●​ In the 1980s, the economy was negatively
●​ Abaca, sugar, and tobacco became the three affected by the declining world market for
major cash crop exports of the Philippines as Philippine exports, problems with borrowing

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in the international capital market, and ●​ APEC, OR THE ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC
domestic financial scandal. COOPERATION,
●​ It was then apparent that Marcos had run the ○​ was established in 1989 (Australia was
economy to the ground as he and his family a founding member) by 12 economies
siphoned government funds to their personal (including the Philippines) and
accounts. became a non-binding and voluntary
●​ From 1965 to 1986, it was estimated that the forum where trade, investment and
Marcos family stole a total of five to 10 billion economic cooperation issues are
dollars. discussed. Since its establishment,
●​ The country’s growth rate in 1984 and 1985 APEC now has 21
was negative: -9.27 percent and – 6.94 member-economies.
percent, respectively
PRES. GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO
PRESIDENT CORAZON “CORY” AQUINO ●​ The Philippines started to attract Business
●​ TRADE LIBERALIZATION POLICY Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies
○​ signed the Philippines into the ●​ Remittances from overseas Filipino workers
Association of Southeast Asian soared.
Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade
Agreement (AFTA) in 1992, a trade ●​ JAPAN-PHILIPPINES ECONOMIC
and tariff commitment to the PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (JPEPA).
international community of Southeast ○​ Allows Japan to choose any site in the
Asian member states. country to dump its hazardous
wastes.
PRES. FIDEL VALDEZ-RAMOS
●​ The country cemented Philippine tariff and PRES. RODRIGO DUTERTE
trade commitments in international law ●​ inflation soared in 2019
through participation in international trade ●​ marred by is poor human rights record due to
agreements such as the World Trade its “war on drugs”
Organization (WTO), the AFTA, and the Asia ●​ Duterte’s pivot to China has also been
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). criticized as the government seemed
●​ The momentum of trade liberalization under unwilling to assert Philippine sovereignty in
Ramos shielded the nation from the the West Philippine Sea.
disastrous ●​ The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators
(POGO) increased, which employed and
1997 ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. catered mainly to the Chinese.
●​ THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) ●​ Amid the worldwide pandemic caused by the
○​ created in 1995 is an international COVID 19 during the presidency of Duterte,
institution that oversees the rules for the future of the Philippines especially its
global trade among nations. It trade and economy remains very uncertain.
superseded the 1947 General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) created in the wake of World
War II.
○​ The main function of the organization
is to help producers of goods and
services, as well as exporters and
importers, protect and manage their
businesses.

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