PHILIPPINE POLITICS

A research paper submitted in partial fulfilment for the subject of Readings in Philippine History

Blanco, Carlo Miguel

Estrada, John Carlo

Hernandez, Jare Jacques

Sales, Cyril Austin

Ragsac, John Aaron

Zuñiga, Jerico

GED0107-LEC-SEC50

Benita A. Meneses

Subject Adviser
 Politics Development and Issues

The development of politics in our country is not that easy but we can say that from time

to time, it has a lot of improvements when it comes to its structure. From our past political leaders,

we have Rajah’s, Datu’s Sultan and other Barangay Chieftains, now we have President, Vice-

President, etc. From barangays, now we have Malacanang. If we have micro-traditional autocracy

in the early era, now we have a democratic republic with a presidential form of government with

3 branches namely executive, legislative and judicial. In this part, we can also tackle not just the

development of our country but also the issues that our country’s facing during different leaders.

We Filipino’s have our own political systems before the colonization of the other countries

such as Spain, Japan, and America. In the era of pre-colonization, Philippines still does not have

its own country name which is the Philippines because the lack of support of the laws and we need

big government in pre-colonial period. Our political system on this period was not that bad because

it is composed of people who are powerful in the past which are the Datu, Rajah, and the Sultan’s.

These people are powerful not just because of their title but also physical qualifications are also

observed in order to become a leader. Even we only have barangay’s back then based on the

evidences and the things that the leaders have had done back then, they have a quality order to

things such as absolute law which cannot be destroyed by anybody, for example if someone is

sentenced to be exiled from a barangay nobody could do a thing because it is ordered by the higher-

ups. In this type of scenarios we think the laws of our ancestors are more powerful than the present

because today many corrupt politician could easily plunder money inside the government and they

could also do almost all the things they want inside, we could also include controlling who could

win the election in the way of hacking PCOS machine or vote buying. The downside of political

system of our ancestors are inequality because they have social classes on every barangay which
is composed of nobility, freemen, serfs, and slaves. Based on the research we have read, Datu’s

also have had written and unwritten laws. A Datu named Kalantiaw a datu from Panay written the

“Maragtas code” but other people nowadays thought it was a hoax but no one could know these

things if they didn’t even have strong evidence for this code or law.

We could not develop our own government into a government which could support and

serve equality to the people who lives in our country back then. Our country in the past also don’t

have a big amount of power in terms of military army, this concludes the results of colonization

of Spain, Japan, and America. We were ruled by Spain in 333 years, it widely change our

government and political systems. From barangay we became a sub-country of Spain and they

gave us legislatives. From a Chieftain to Gobernadorcillo who rules a barangay. We have many

developments in our government such as having executive, administrative, legislative, and judicial

powers. Here comes the court which judges the people who are guilty. In some times also on the

colonization period churches are more powerful than the government because they have power

when the speak of God and the bible. Abusing power are also common to priests because they

could easy smuggle money from the people. Colonization also influenced us to have our own

armed forces which also contains many leaders who are corrupt such as Captain-General back

then. After many countries ruled the Philippines we are destroyed but also influenced by them that

we could develop on our own. When we became an independent country, we now have our own

leader of our country which is our own President. Our political systems after the colonization are

not that stable but we have had our own leader and the first President of the Philippines is Emilio

Aguinaldo. Then our government was followed by more developments because of the laws that

we make such as having more people to support the president such as having sections to the

government.
 January 2000 was the impeachment trial against Joseph Estrada for accusation for being

corrupt president. Also, the second Edsa revolution was born. It was the four-day political protest

from January 17-21, 2001 against Estrada. He replaced with Vice-President Gloria Arroyo. Then

later on April 2001, Estrada found guilty for stealing more than 80 million dollars funds during his

term as a president. He jailed but later pardoned. During Estrada term, the economic status of the

Philippines was strong but during the latter part, it declined because of his case and it is the time

that the foreign investors lost their interest to our country. A good side of Estrada’s administration

is his program about clean air act which focused on the whole environment and taking care of our

natural resources, that’s why we attract tourist at that time. When Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

replaced Estrada in 2001, the Philippines has a lot of problems when it comes to financial. The

revenues of our country were too low and we have a debt in other country averaging $54.8 billion.

We had a landslide economy because investors doubted to invest in our country because of our

political crisis. Arroyo’s term was 2001 to 2010. She focused on restoring political stability and

building new politics. She also established partnerships with civil society by involving people in

governance. Building high standards of morality and performance, making a new Anti-Graft

Commission which will promote integrity among the officials and presidential appointees, the

battle of the budget, which means monitoring local government remittances, strengthening audit

and tax reform programs by computerization to improve tax collections. Although Arroyo

contributed a lot of programs, during his term many people blame her because of the “Hello Garci”

scandal, which means that she cheated in the 2004 presidential elections. Noynoy Aquino’s

administration began in June 2010. The remarkable during Aquino’s term was the typhoon

Yolanda in 2013. Our economic growth accelerated to 7.2% which we support by the other

countries in terms of our needs to recover our country. Also, Aquino implemented the “No wang-
wang policy” which means the horns, sirens of other vehicles is prohibited because it's designated

only to those public servants. He also passed the law about Reproductive Health Bill which

focused on funding the contraceptives for poor individuals to prevent the growth of our population.

To sum it all up. We can say that a lot of changes happened in our country when it comes

to politics. In the past era, we were ruled by the Rajah’s, Datu’s, and Sultans. They are the leaders

who execute the legislative, Executive, Judicial and their power is limited only within their

territory. But now were ruling by the President and the President’s power is not limited for specific

territory but the whole country. We can also say that the structure is changed. From its form and

its style of their leadership. Time to time different leadership has different agendas that focused on

different issues of our nation. That’s why we can say that a lot of development happens when there

are also issues. Development and issues are not contradicting each other because issues are the key

to development.

Even before we are colonized by other county, we have already established our structure

of politics which is now very evident in the government today. From the laws, legislation,

legislation process, to trial ordeal has been different because civilization before is small and not

influence yet to modernize living yet. The way of living and the hierarchy before is simple so the

establishment of government has not been complicated before. But simple laws at a government

might not be equivalent to equal rights and justice.

The unit of government before was the barangay which roughly consisted of 30 to 100

families. Barangay derived from balangay which means boat. Barangay were headed by chieftains

called datu. In this era, there is already application of tax which is “buwis” wherein, people are

subjected to give to the chieftain as a sign of paying tribute. People serve the chieftain during wars,

voyages, in planting and harvesting. And when there is a house need to be built or repaired.
According to Mabahague, the chief or datu was the not only the chief executive, but also the

legislator, and the judge. He is the supreme commander in times of war. Before, settling a conflict

between or among barangays were through the means of violence. Those who win by force is

considered right. Alliances among barangays were common that there is a formalized ritual of it

called sangduguan. When it comes to laws, it is either customary or written which can handed

down from generation to generation orally or promulgated from time to time. Justice is severe in

pre-colonial because those who found guilty is subjected in either fine or death and even torture

by modern standards. In legislation before making a law, chiefs are consulted with council of elders

who will approved of the said law. Until the new legislation is announce to the village by

umalohokan who explains the law to everyone, laws are not immediately enforced.

When it comes to judicial process, the process of government is most likely similar to what

is the government today. Disputes were settled by individuals headed by the village chief and

council of leaders who will act as an arbiter wherein there are faced to each other together with

their respective witnesses. Both individuals are required to take an oath to tell the truth. But as it

may seems, it is logically unfair because the party with most witnesses tends to wins the case. In

determining the innocence of an accused, he/she must go through a number of ordeals that needs

to be passed in order to be claimed as innocent such as dipping one’s hand in boiling water, holding

a lighted candle that must not be extinguished, etc.

Philippines practice an efficient and all around organized political framework which is

adjusted by its law based republic, agent and presidential components. In nutshell, the legislature

of Philippines can be viewed as sacred vote based system headed by the President of the nation.

According to the HiearchyStructure (2018), In the Philippines political chain of importance, the

President is both the leader of the state and the leader of the administration and the nation
grandstands a Pluriform multi-party framework. The political progressive system of Philippines

can't be viewed as a vertical chain of command however rather the nation's political framework

features an even pecking order with three dimensions – Executive, Legislative and legal which

further are subdivided in a vertical various leveled group. The political chain of command begins

with national dimension political figures and authorities which are isolated into independent

segments for powerful execution, which are then pursued common, city and town level progressive

system.

The official dimension in the Philippines political chain of importance involves the

President and the Vice – President. The official dimension holds the obligation and expert forthe

everyday organization of the nation. This dimension is in charge of executing the law. The

President goes about as the leader of the state and is helped by the Vice President in his obligations.

The President is in charge of heading the legislature, regulating the nation's organization,

administration the executives, remote strategy organization and the executives and for ordering the

guard powers of the nation. The bureau individuals and the secretary division likewise gone under

official dimension of government and these are additionally headed by the President.

This is the second dimension in the Philippines political chain of command and includes

two houses – House of Senate and the House of delegates. The House of Senate is going by Senate

President and House of delegates by Speaker. These two houses work at the national and state

level and are in charge of passing, altering and revoking laws and guidelines for the general

population of the nation. Aside from creating and changing laws, these two houses are likewise in

charge of expense the executives, charge rates and for spending plan and cash bills.

The legal dimension involves the framework and progression of courts and is in charge of

deciphering and applying the law all through the nation. The highest dimensions in the legal
framework are gained by the Supreme Court of the nation and afterward are different courts in the

progression. These courts are – Court of Appeals Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals

Ombudsman and other lower courts of state and locale level. After the national dimension political

course of action lie the Provincial dimension political chain of command. These likewise work

along these lines as national dimension government does. This political chain of importance is

going by Governor, Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members.

The legislative issues of town and urban areas of Philippines is going by Mayor. The Mayor

is trailed by Vice Mayor who is trailed by Sangguniang Bayan Member. These dimensions are

then trailed by Barangay, Barangay Captain and Barangay Kagawad Members.

 Impact to the Society

In comparison with pre-colonial and present structure of the government makes so much

difference when it talks about the justice the chieftain can give to before. Justice is elusive in pre-

colonial because innocence is only achieved once the accused passed the trials of ordeals which is

literally unrealistic and unfair in every way. It is based on illogical beliefs that really don’t

rationalize the issue of underlying problem of one conflict. The structure also is headed by one

person which do most of the job while accompanied by the elders. But as the structure progresses,

there has been more positions arise in the span of pre-colonial period until the present time. As the

three pillars of government remains the same, the structure expanded as the civilization expanded

with it. Change is inevitable and so is the laws that is being part over the different periods. Laws

become more justified as it consulted and researched to further strengthen the foundation of a

certain before it is passed to the President. It had created a big impact because laws attaining

innocence in the past is unjust. In the politics today, everyone has the chance to fight for their right

and prove their side in more systematic and justified ways. In the structure, the expansion and

establishment of position present in the government is vital because it keeps the balance and

different perception to certain problem or improvement plan in order to achieve lasting peace and

order in a country.
 Significance of Politics

Philippine Politics – It is very significant to care about politics because you should be

aware what is going on around you. The political decisions people make will affect many lives.

Many people see politics as the government and the laws being made, and that is true, but it is way

more complicated than that. Every law that is made will impact many. Sometimes the decisions

will affect people in a bad way. Every vote that you make will either break people or make people.

The importance of knowing Philippine Politics is for our own understanding. We are about

to know Philippine politics history to trace why we have this kind of leadership in the present

generation. We are electing people that are leading us for more years. Serving us and making the

Filipinos taxes worthy. Philippine Politics are expected to do its job, provide a work, build

infrastructures, making our economy better. And we Filipinos deserves to have a better leaders,

we may experiencing a chaotic politics in present but it will not be a hindrance to fight what is

right.

In the past of our political history peoples lived in extended relationship groups known as

barangays, each under the leadership of a datu, or chieftain. The barangay, which generally counted

no larger than a few hundred people, was usually the biggest stable economic and political unit.

but nowadays It is very significant to consider regarding our politics because you should

understand something and it is going on around you. And Furthermore, this is very necessary to

have a say in what is working on in our society. The political determinations people make will

change many of our lives. Several people understand politics because these politics including the

laws being made, also that is true, although this is the process more complicated than that. Every

law that is made will impact many lives. Sometimes some decisions will harm people in the wrong

way. Each election that you make directions unless breaking people or make people.
 Politics in our country is one of the factors that molded our identity. Since we are colonized

by three big countries ( Spain, Japan, and America), we inherited some of their great political

system, such as delegating the works of the Datu (leading the barangay, making laws, and giving

judgements and punishments to the law abiders) to other people and this leads us in having three

governing bodies, the Legislative, Executive, and the Judiciary. We also inherited Japan’s

strictness to the laws and America’s openness to its citizen that’s why our country has evolved into

a Republic Government. Politics made us become independent, it made us stand for our self and

for our country. Politics made us more proud of our country, for our national heroes fought for

their lives just to set us free from those who colonized us, and for our past presidents who had lead

us from where we are now. We are still lacking in terms of properly implementing laws and solving

social issues, but that’s our identity as a Filipino, from time to time, we make mistakes and we

learn from it, we are improving and soon our country will be more well-constructed.
 References

E. Mabahague, (2014). Philippine History, Pre-colonial Period. Retrieved from

https://aboutphilippines.org/files/PHILIPPINEHISTORY-Pre-Colonial-Period.pdf

Hiearchy Structure, 2018. Philippines Political Hierarchy. Retrived from

https://www.hierarchystructure.com/philippines-political-hierarchy/

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/jhengrayn/political-development-of-the-philippine-

government

https://www.sendible.com/insights/the-past-present-and-future-of-politics-and-social-media

https://soapboxie.com/world-politics/Presidents-of-the-Philippines-and-their-Achievements-and-

Contributions

https://www.academia.edu/9447159/Philippine_Presidents_Administration_Economy_Program_

National_Issues_and_Transnational_Issues