PHILIPPINE POLITICS
AND GOVERNANCE
RICHARD D. NARCISO
DEMOCRACY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
“If you want to rebel, rebel from
inside the system. That’s much
more powerful than rebelling
outside the system”
- Marie Lu
Learning Objectives
After the discussion, the learners’ will be able to:
Define democracy;
Discuss the development of democracy in the
Philippines;
Describe the effects of colonization process the way
democracy is practiced in the Philippines; and
Enumerate the effects of Martial Law to Philippine
politics and governance.
Democracy has long been exercised in the
ancient Greece and is now known as the rule of
people where the power in government does not
emanate from the divine right or any god but from the
citizens of the state. The power of people in
democratic society is visible through the observation
of freedom of expression, right to equal
representation, right to vote for their representatives
in government, and right to vote for and against a
proposed legislation. Aristotle considered democracy
as the corrupt counterpart of the ideal regime of polity
but it is still a popular model for government
nonetheless.
Democracy was introduced in the Philippines
during the late 19th century following the opening of
the country’s economy to the world in 1834 and the
consequent inflow and outflow of ideas and people
along with trade goods. The success of the French
Revolution that caused the resurgence of democratic
and liberal ideals in Europe reached our shores via
trade with other countries and also by the efforts of
rich Filipino natives (ilustrados) who were able to
study abroad. The ilustrados, through the
propaganda movement of Marcelo H. Del Pilar,
translated liberal ideas for the Philippines in their
hope to achieve reform (Gripaldo et al. 2005).
Democracy had great appeal to the Filipinos that it was
even adopted by the Kataas-taasan Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) of Andres
Bonifacio. The group encouraged popular democracy within
the Katipunan’s rank and it was through this system that the
Katipuneros voted for rebellion against Spanish authorities in
1896 (Gripaldo et al. 2005).
However, it was during the American period that
democracy was used in full extent as a political system. The
defeated Spaniards during the Spanish-American War in
1898 sold the Philippines to America but the Filipinos chose
to be independent rather than be subjected to another
colonialist, thus the Philippine-American War. After three
years of fighting, the Filipino revolutionaries surrendered to
the American forces.
Even during the Philippine-American War, the issue of
what to do with the Philippines had been a debate in the
United States. Some debate for its annexation as a colony or
as a state while there were also some Americans who
preferred the Philippines to be free.
To further investigate on the matter, as well as to
manage the country under the American rule and system, the
United States sent Dr. Jacob Schurman to head the
Schurman Commission in 1899 with the basic objectives of
establishing the civil government in pacified areas, as well as
training and assigning Filipinos in various government
positions, among others. The Taft Commission under Judge
William Howard Taft in 19 hastened the transition of the
government from a revolutionary to a civil and democratic
one.
The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 created the
Philippine Commission. The offices of the Civil
Governor and Vice Governor were created to
exercise powers of the government but would still be
subject to the discretion of the President of the United
States of American. Other government offices were
created to manage the country. Electoral
representation in the Philippines began with the
creation of the Philippine Assembly. Philippine
Assembly acted as the lower house to the Philippine
Commission and held its first election in 1907.
Democracy was further established through the
1935 Constitution. But in 1972, the foundation of
democracy in the country was sidelined upon the
declaration of Martial Law by President Ferdinand
Marcos.
The Constitution was remolded in 1973 and for a
brief period of time, the country experienced a strict
disciplinarian state that controlled the economy,
legislation, and the media.
Democracy was reinstated by the 1987 Constitution
following the success of People Power Revolution that
toppled the Marcos dictatorship. The rights mandated in
a democratic society such as the right to vote and
freedom of expression were also restored.
REVIEW
1. Do you think we have democracy in its full sense in
the country? Why or why not?
2. In what aspect did we fail or succeed as a democratic
country?
3. What adjustment can our leaders do to improve
governance?
