I.

Historical Background
The party began as the country's vehicle for independence through the building of a modern
nation-state and through the advocacy of efficient self-rule, It dominated the Philippine
Assembly (19071916), the Philippine Legislature (19161935), and the pre-war years of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines (19351941). During the Japanese Occupation, political
parties were replaced by the Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (KALIBAPI). By
the second half of the century, the party was one of the main political contenders for leadership
in the country, in competition with the Liberals and the Progressives, during the decades between
the devastation of World War II and the violent suppression of partisan politics of the Marcos
dictatorship. In 1978, in a throwback to the Japanese Occupation, political parties were asked to
merge into the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan although the Nacionalistas preferred to go into
hibernation. Eventually, the party was revived during the late 1980s and early 1990s by the
Laurel family which has dominated the Party since the 1950s. The Nacionalista Party is now
being led by party president Manuel Villar, former Senator, and has fielded three candidates
(Cayetano, Marcos and Trillanes) in the upcoming 2016 Philippine Elections. Two of the other
present parties, the Liberal Party and the Nationalist People's Coalition are breakaways from the
Nacionalista Party.
II. Branches of the Nacionalista Party

III. Officers of the Nacionalista Party

A. Leader: Manny Villar
B. President: Manny Villar
C. Secretary-General: Alan Peter Cayetano
IV. Members of the Nacionalista Party
A. Past Members
Throughout their careers, many of the country's greatest politicians, statesmen, and leaders
were, in whole or in part, Nacionalistas. Notable names include:
1. Presidents:
a. Manuel L. Quezon (2nd President of the Philippines)
b. Jos P. Laurel (3rd President of the Philippines)
c. Sergio Osmea (4th President of the Philippines)
d. Manuel Roxas (5th President of the Philippines)
e. ElpidioQuirino (6th President of the Philippines)
f. Ramon Magsaysay (7th President of the Philippines)
g. Carlos P. Garcia (8th President of the Philippines)
h. Ferdinand Marcos (10th President of the Philippines)
i. Joseph Estrada (13th President of the Philippines)
2. Vice-Presidents:

a. Fernando Lopez (4th and 8th Vice-President of the Philippines; under

ElpidioQuirino, Ferdinand E. Marcos)
b. Emmanuel Pelaez (7th Vice-President of the Philippines; under
DiosdadoMacapagal)
c. Salvador Laurel (10th Vice-President of the Philippines, 5th and last Prime
Minister; under President Corazon C. Aquino)
3. Senators:
a. Claro M. Recto
b. Jose W. Diokno
c. Blas Ople
d. CiprianoPrimicias, Sr.
e. Eulogio Rodriguez
f. Francisco TongioLiongson
g. Manuel Briones
h. Jose Fuentebella
Most of these individuals embody solid political traditions of economic and political
nationalism is pertinent today, even with the party's subsequent decline.
B. Current Members
Some members of the House of Representatives and Senate include, but are not limited to,
the following:
1. Manuel Villar (former Senator and Nacionalista president), Party Chairman
2. Pia Cayetano (Senator)
3. Miriam Defensor Santiago (Senator)
4. Antonio Trillanes IV (Senator)
5. Justin Marc Chipeco, (Representative from Laguna)
6. Emmylou Talio-Mendoza, (Governor of North Cotabato)
7. Jose "Pingping" Tejada, (Representative from North Cotabato)
8. Yevgyeny Vicente Emano, (Representative from Misamis Oriental)
9. Cynthia Villar, (former Representative from Las Pias City and current Senator)
10. Alan Peter Cayetano, (Senator)
11. LaniCayetano, (former Representative from Taguig City and Mayor of Taguig
City)
12. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., (former Representative from Ilocos Norte and
current Senator)
13. Imelda Marcos, (former First Lady of the Philippines, Ilocos Norte Representative
member of the KilusangBagongLipunan but caucuses with the NP.)
14. Imee Marcos, (former Ilocos Norte Representative and Governor of Ilocos Norte)
15. Rommel Jalosjos, (Governor of Zamboanga Sibugay)
16. Juanito Victor C. Remulla (Governor of Cavite, also a member of Lakas-CMD)
17. Elias K. Bulut, Sr., (former Representative and Governor from Apayao and Mayor
of Calanasan, Apayao)
18. Wenceslao "Peewee" B. Trinidad, (Former Pasay City Mayor)
19. Homer T. Saquilayan (Former Mayor of Imus, Cavite)
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V. Dominant-Minority Status of the Nacionalista Party in the Senate

Election

Number of
votes

Share of
Seats won
votes

Seats
after

Outcome of election

1916

22 / 24

1919

21 / 24

Won

1922

15 / 24

Split into Osmea bloc (12) that won

and Quezon bloc (3) that lost

1925

14 / 24

Won

1928

24 / 24

Won

1931

22 / 24

Won

1934

7 / 24

Lost

1941

24 / 24

Won

1946

7,454,074

41.2%

7 / 16

15 / 24

Lost

1947

10,114,453

45.0%

1/8

8 / 24

Lost

1949

8,900,568

36.6%

0/8

4 / 24

Lost

1951

13,266,643

59.1%

9/9

12 / 24

Won

1953

9,813,166

39.8%

5/8

13 / 24

Won

Election

Number of
votes

Share of
Seats won
votes

Seats
after

Outcome of election

1955

17,319,389

67.6%

9/9

21 / 24

Won

1957

13,273,945

47.2%

6/8

20 / 24

Won

1959

17,160,618

50.1%

5/8

19 / 24

Won

1961

17,834,477

45.1%

2/8

13 / 24

Won

1963

22,983,457

50.2%

4/8

11 / 24

Lost

1965

21,619,502

43.8%

5/8

11 / 24

Won

1967

30,704,100

62.8%

6/8

16 / 24

Won

1969

32,726,305

60.8%

6/8

18 / 24

Won

1971

24,819,175

42.6%

3/8

16 / 24

Won

1987

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Took part as member of GAD.

1992

14,499,923

5.3%

0 / 24

0 / 24

Lost

1995

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Did not take part

Election

Number of
votes

Share of
Seats won
votes

Seats
after

Outcome of election

1998

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Did not take part

2001

770,647

0.3%

0 / 13

0 / 24

Lost

2004

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Did not take part

2007

27,125,724

10.1%

2 / 12

3 / 24

Nacionalista-led coalition

2010

49,585,503

16.7%

3 / 12

4 / 24

Split; 2 supported the PMP-led

coalition, 2 lost

2013

45,100,266

15.3%

3 / 12

5 / 24

Liberal-led coalition

VI. Dominant-Minority Status of the Nacionalista Party in the Congress

Election

Number of votes Share of votes

Seats

Outcome of election

1907

32 / 80

Won

1909

62 / 81

Won

1912

62 / 81

Won

1916

75 / 90

Won

1919

83 / 90

Won

Election

Number of votes Share of votes

Seats

Outcome of election

1922

64 / 93

Split into Quezon bloc (35) that won

and Osmea bloc (29) that lost

1925

64 / 92

Won

1928

71 / 94

Won

1931

66 / 94

Won

1934

89 / 92

Split into Quezon bloc (70) that won

and Osmea bloc (19) that lost

1935

83 / 89

Won

1938

98 / 98

Won

1941

95 / 98

Won

1946

908,740

37.84%

35 / 98

Lost

1949

1,178,402

34.05%

33 / 100

Lost

1953

1,930,367

47.30%

31 / 102

Lost

1957

2,948,409

61.18%

82 / 102

Won

1961

3,923,390

61.02%

74 / 104

Won

Election

Number of votes Share of votes

Seats

Outcome of election

1965

3,028,224

41.76%

38 / 104

Lost

1969

4,590,374

80.00%

88 / 110

Won

1978

688,130

0.33%

0 / 165

Lost

2 / 183

Lost

1984
1987

1,444,399

7.19%

4 / 200

Lakas ng Bansa-led coalition

1992

730,696

3.92%

4 / 199

Lakas-NUCD-UMDP-led coalition

1995

153,088

0.79%

1 / 204

Lakas-NUCD-UMDP-led coalition

1998

4,412

0.02%

0 / 245

Did not take part

2001

N/A

N/A

N/A

Did not take part

2004

2 / 237

Lakas-CMD-led coalition

2007

11 / 271

Lakas-CMD-led coalition

2010

3,872,637

11.35%

25 / 287

Liberal-led coalition

2013

2,340,994

8.49%

17 / 292

Liberal-led coalition

VII.

Ideology of the Nacionalista Party

7

A. Filipino Nationalism
Filipino nationalism began with an upsurge of patriotic sentiments and nationalistic ideals in
the 1800s Philippines that came as a consequence of more than three centuries of Spanish rule.
This served as the backbone of the first nationalist revolution in Asia, the Philippine Revolution
of 1896, and continues up to this day. These nationalistic sentiments have led to a wide-ranging
campaign for political, social, and economic freedom in the Philippines.
B. Conservatism
Conservatism is a political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and
practices. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and
continuity, while others, called reactionaries, oppose modernism and seek a return to "the way
things were". The term, historically associated with right-wing politics, has since been used to
describe a wide range of views. There is no single set of policies that are universally regarded as
conservative, because the meaning of conservatism depends on what is considered traditional in
a given place and time.
C. Social Conservatism
Social conservatism is a group of political ideologies centered on preserving traditional
beliefs, attitudes and philosophy, in the face of social progressivism. The aims of social
conservatism vary from organisation to organisation, and from country to country. Thus, there
are really no policies or positions that could be considered universal among social conservatives.
There are, however, a number of general principles to which at least a majority of social
conservatives adhere.
D. Economic Liberalism
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in organizing the economy on individualist and
voluntarist lines, meaning that the greatest possible number of economic decisions is made by
individuals and not by collective institutions or organizations. It includes a spectrum of different
economic policies, such as freedom of movement, but it is always based on strong support for a
market economy and private property in the means of production.
VIII.

Platforms and Programs of the Nacionalista Party

The Nacionalista Party of the Philippines tries to ensure that the Filipino People Comes first.
One of the most notable motto of the Nacionalistas is Ang Bayan Higit sa Lahat, which is the
members guiding principle of its leaders.
IX.

Nacionalista Party in the Political Spectrum

No traditional politician nowadays will profess to be part of the Left or the Right. Instead,
when asked about ideology, they often claim to hew to the so-called "center," which means
basically whatever they want it to mean. Just because a politician claims to be centrist or nonideological doesn't mean he's not ideological though. That just means he prefers to mask his
ideology, which is arguably worse for our democracy.

More often though, there is no talk of ideology at all, since politicians just run on the strength
of their political machines, personalities, and direct appeals to the masses.
The old party system of 1946-1972 claimed to model itself after the two-party system of the
United States, with the Liberal Party as the Democrats (Left) and the Nacionalistas as the
Republicans (Right). But in practice, the ideological differences between the two were
indistinguishable, and the parties were more accurately described as rival factions of elites who
basically shared the same economic interests and agreed to share power amongst themselves.
This political order was disrupted by the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. The old elites
were either forced to align with Marcos or to fight him, often with strange bedfellows. AntiMarcos forces formed a broad church, with avowed capitalists joining hardcore communists and
everyone else in between. Ninoy Aquino, most famously, sheltered the New People's Army in
Hacienda Luisita in resistance to the Marcos regime.
The return of democracy in 1986 resumed the old inter-elite rivalries, and people once allied
in opposition to Marcos began fighting amongst themselves for power and influence. (See:
Roxas and Binay, for example, with their respective histories of anti-Marcos sentiment.) The
two-party system however could not stand these factions' increasingly diversified and conflicting
interests, so rival elite factions started forming their own parties. That's how we ended up with
the hodgepodge of parties we have today (LP, NP, Lakas, PDP, ad nauseam). These parties, like
the LP and NP of old, are basically indistinguishable from each other though they claim
ideological lineage from some place. (Example: Lakas is a self-professed Christian Democratic
Party modeled on the CDU of Germany.)
The Nacionalitstas of today claim that they are in the center of the spectrum. Independence
has been a value held dear by the Nacionalistas. Now, the focus is on achieving economic
independence. They aim to free the people of poverty.
The Nacionalistas now need to contend with the perils and opportunities of globalization.
Nation-building no longer just means harnessing the talents of the Filipino people and the
resources of the Mother Land but also involves caring for its sizeable expatriate population. They
believe that the production and exchange should mainly be owned by private owners while the
government maintains control over the production and exchange to ensure that resources are
equally allocated among the people.
Today, the continuing struggle for independence center on freeing its people from the
oppressive manacles of poverty. It is a vision that will require fresh ideas, courage, and selfsacrifice; a supply of which is never lacking among the current crop of Nacionalistas.
X. Affiliated Party Lists
There is no party list affiliated with the Nacionalista Party.
XI. Affiliated Political Parties
A. AsensoManileo Movement

B. BagongLakas ng Nueva Ecija

The LapiangBagongLakas ng Nueva Ecija (New Power of Nueva Ecija Party; BALANE) is a
Nueva Ecija regional political party in the Philippines, which was formerly affiliated with the
Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), then the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) and
finally back to NPC when KAMPI merged with Lakas-CMD to become LakasKampi CMD and
the rival party UnangSigaw became its local affiliate.
C. KilusangBagongLipunan
The KilusangBagongLipunan (Filipino for "New Society Movement"), formerly the
KilusangBagongLipunan ng NagkakaisangNacionalista, Liberal, at iba pa, (Filipino for "New
Society Movement of United Nationalists, Liberals, et coetera"), is a political party in the
Philippines. It was formed in 1978, as an umbrella coalition of parties supporting then-President
Ferdinand E. Marcos for the Interim BatasangPambansa (National Assembly), and was his
political vehicle during his rule. In the post-Marcos era, it was reorganised as a political party in
1986.
On November 20, 2009, the KBL forged an alliance with the Nacionalista Party (NP)
between Bongbong Marcos and NP Chairman Senator Manny Villar at the Laurel House in
Mandaluyong City.Bongbong was later on removed as a member by the KBL National Executive
Committee on November 23. As such, the NP broke its alliance with the KBL due to internal
conflicts within the party, though Bongbong remained part of the NP Senatorial line-up.
D. People's Reform Party
Peoples Reform Party is a centre-left political party in the Philippines. It was founded on
April 12, 1991 as the political party of former Agrarian Reform Secretary Miriam Defensor
Santiago for her bid as President in the 1992 Presidential Elections. During the 1992 Elections,
the party nominated Santiago as President and Ramon Magsaysay, Jr. as Vice President
respectively, however both Santiago and Magsaysay lost the elections to former Defense
Secretary Fidel Ramos and Senator Joseph Estrada.
E. PartidoMagdalo
PartidoMagdalo is one of the political parties in the Philippines founded by Former Governor
JuanitoRemulla Sr. and Former Congressman Renato P. Dragon. It is a local political party in
Cavite.The new leaders of this party is Incumbent Cavite Governor Juanito Victor "Jonvic"
Remulla, Jr. and Cavite Congressman Jesus "Boying" Remulla (7th District).
The name derives from the pseudonym of no less than the first President of the Republic
Emilio Aguinaldo as a Katipunan member as well as of its council for town of Kawit during the
Philippine Revolution, Aguinaldo having been born and raised in the town, called Cavite el Viejo
during Spanish times.
F. Nationalist Peoples Coalition
The Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC is a conservative political party in the Philippines,
founded in 1992 by then presidential candidate Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.
10

During the 2010 elections, the Nacionalista and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC)
formed an alliance after it was approved by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on April
12, 2010. The Nacionalistas fielded Senator Manuel Villar, Jr. and running with fellow Senator
Loren Legarda who is a member of the NPC. It became the dominant minority party after a
resolution passed by the COMELEC. On April 21, however it was blocked by the Supreme Court
after a suit filed by the rival Liberal Party. On May 6, 2010, the Supreme Court nullified the
merger and therefore giving the Liberal Party to be the dominant minority party. It was based on
a resolution by the COMELEC giving political parties to be accredited by August 17, 2009.
The coalition was made to help the Nacionalista Party to help boost the presidential
campaign of Senator Villar and have a chance to be the dominant minority party by the
Commission on Elections which give the rights to poll watchers during the canvassing of votes.
However, it is being challenged by the Liberal Party calls the said alliance a "bogus" alliance, the
Liberals are also seeking the same party status by the COMELEC. As well, several local races
are being challenged from both parties therefore causing confusion in those races.

11