The Philippine

Constitution
•By Christopher Olit
What is a
Constitution?
 Part of a country's sovereignty
 Is the fundamental and supreme law of
the land
 Basis of all the other laws in the land
 Serves as a guide to the government in
making decisions
What are the different
constitutions the
Philippines had?
1897 Constitution
- Philippines’ first constitution
- also called the Biak-na-Bato Constitution
- written by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer
- lasted only until General Aguinaldo and Governor General
Primo de Rivera signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato
- created in accordance with the establishment of the Biak-
na-Bato republic
- almost the same as the Cuban Constitution of Jimaguayu
Malolos Constitution
- written by Felipe Calderon
- ratification and proclamation held at Barasoain Church in
Malolos
- created in accordance with the establishment of the First
Philippine Republic, 1899.
- lasted until the Philippine-American War
1935 Constitution
- written by Claro M. Recto
- created in accordance with the establishment of the
Commonwealth Republic
- Tydings-Mcduffie Law of 1934 caused the drafting of the
1935 constitution
- effectivity was halted during the Japanese occupation but
continued in 1946 until 1972
- constitution had to be approved by Pres. Franklin
Roosevelt
- ratification of constitution included women for the first
time
1943 Constitution
- drafted by the PCPI
- created in accordance with the
establishment of the Second Philippine
Republic or Puppet Republic
- Main purposes are :
1. To make Filipinos believe that they would be given
independence
2. To allow the Japanese to have more influence over
Philippine territory and resources
- lasted until the end of Japanese occupation, 1945
1973 Constitution
• - Main purposes before Martial Law:
1. To reflect genuine Philippine independence and
sovereignty
- Main purposes after Martial Law:
1. To change the present government to parliamentary form
2. To give Marcos more power and postpone the incoming
1973 elections
- ratification was done through citizen’s assembly
- created in accordance with the declaration of Martial Law
and the New Society
- lasted until the People Power Revolution in 1986
 Freedom Constitution
- promulgated on March 25 1896
- created in accordance with the establishment of the
Revolutionary Government of 1896
- only parts about human rights were retained from the
previous constitution
- served as a temporary/transitional constitution
1987 Constitution
- ratified February 2, 1987
- formulated by Constitutional Commission led by Cecilia
Munoz Palma
- pushed for the restoration of the presidential government
and protection of human rights
- Changes from previous constitutions:
1. Longer term but without reelection for president
2. Abolition of capital punishment
3. Party-list representation and creation of Sandigang Bayan
4. Creation of Human Rights Commission
5. Controlled power of president in declaring martial law
What are the different
kinds of laws made by
the government?
National Laws
- implemented throughout the country
- drafted by the congress
- also called as Republic Acts
Examples of National Laws:
1. Tax Laws
2. Local Government Code
 National Laws
- other laws implemented throughout the
country are the ff.:
1. International Laws
2. Laws coming from the President
3. Laws administered by the Supreme Court
Ordinances
- passed by local government bodies in provinces, towns,
cities, etc.
- implemented in LGU’s because they are important to the
communities
Examples of Ordinances:
1. Change in street name
2. Color coding (esp. Metro Manila)
Barangay Orders
- passed by Sangguniang Barangay
- implemented in barangays
- usually related to cleanliness, peace, and order
Examples of Barangay Orders:
1. Prohibiting noisy vehicles
2. Designation of places where trash is thrown
• Sources:
• Tuico, A. and Santos, E. (2005). Awakening
6: The Philippines Through the Years. First
Edition. JFC Publishing Inc.
• Tuico, A. and Santos, E. (2005). Awakening
5: The Philippines Through the Years. First
Edition. JFC Publishing Inc.
• Oliveros, R., Galvez M., Estrelia, Y. and
Andaquig, J. (2007). Philippine History and
Government . Quezon City. Ibon Books, Inc.
 Filipino Traits and
Values

By: Christopher Olit

Theories on the
Origin of the
Philippines
The Ice Age Theory

During the Ice Age, glaciers stored portions of the water on the earth in the
form of ice. This ice formation
caused a drop in the world’s ocean levels. During this period, the Philippine
archipelago was part of the
continental landmass of Asia. Scholars believed that land bridges connected
the Philippines to Asia. When the Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago, the
ice formation melted and the ocean levels rose. The land connections to
Southeast Asia became flooded. The flooding submerged the land bridges and
created the Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos. Since then, these islands
had been populated by migrating people who traveled by boats. The migrants
came mainly from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. However, there were
also migrants from the costs of Indochina and, to a lesser extent, from China
and Taiwan.
The Volcanic Eruption Theory

Another version on the origin of the Philippines is the volcanic eruption

theory. Dr. Bailey Willis, ageologist, concluded that the Philippines was a
result of the eruptions of submarine volcanoes along thewestern side of the
Pacific basin. These eruptions caused magma and lava to pile up, forming the
Philippine isles.

The Lost-Continent Theory

A group of geographers believed that the Philippines constitute the remains

of a lost continent duringprehistoric times. This continent had sunk below the
ocean waters. However, a few portions of land
–which now make up the Philippines
–were left above water
Derivation of
Archipelago’s
Name
The Philippines, How the Archipelago Got Its Name

Back before the Philippines came to have its official name, the Greek
geographer Ptolemy referred to it as Chersonesus Aurea (Golden Peninsula) or
The Golden Chersonese in reference to the Malay Peninsula, the Indians who
traded with the natives called it Suvarnadvipa, and the Malays already had a
name for Manila – Seludong.
It’s pretty amazing to trace back how the Pearl of the Orient got called as such,
and how it had evolved through time to what we call it today. If you’re one of
those history buffs-turned-travelers that can’t resist a good back story, here’s
how the country’s history shaped its different names:
Ma’i
… by the Chinese, who gave the name to several islands around the 2nd
century, including what is now Mindoro.

Islas Del Poniente (Western Islands)

… by the Spanish, upon explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition in 1521,
which traveled west from Europe to the Philippines. He also called it Le Islas
de San Lazaro.

Lihas Do Oriente (Eastern Islands)

… by the Portugese, who traveled there not long after traveling east.

Las Islas Filipinas (The Philippine Islands)

… by the Spanish, bestowed by Ruy López de Villalobos, commander of the
fourth expedition, who named the islands of Samar and Leyte, Felipenas, in
honor of the Prince of the Austrias and heir to the Spanish throne, Philip
II. Las Islas Filipinas later became the name of the entire archipelago.
 Indias Orientales Espanolas (Spanish East Indies)
… by the Spanish under the Vice-royalty of New Spain (a.k.a. Mexico). It encompassed the
country’s colonial territories in Asia-Pacific, including the Philippines.

Perla Del Mar De Oriente (Pearl of the Orient Seas)

… by Spanish Jesuit Missionary Father Juan J. Delgado in 1751, a nickname that was later
immortalized in the national anthem. The Spanish original has since been translated into
Filipino, Perlas ng Silanganan.

República Filipina (Philippine Republic)

… by the people during the first Philippine Revolution in 1896, when Spanish was still the official
language.

Philippine Islands
… by the United States of America during the 1898 Spanish-American War and later during
American colonial rule, when the name Philippines also appeared.

Republika ng Pilipinas (Republic of the Philippines)

… by the people again, this time up on independence and in the Filipino language. The name,
commonly Pilipinas, has endured to this day.
The End