Democracy in the Philippines: A Brief Overview

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country located in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is a democratic republic, which means that it is a country ruled by the people through their elected representatives. 

The Philippines has a long and complex history of democracy. The country was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, and it was only in the late 19th century that an independence movement began to emerge. In 1898, the Philippines declared its independence from Spain, and the following year, the United States acquired the Philippines as a territory.

Under American rule, the Philippines underwent a period of political and economic modernization. The American government introduced a new constitution in 1935, which established a representative democracy with a bicameral legislature and an independent judiciary.

The Philippines gained its full independence in 1946, and since then, the country has gone through several periods of democratic and authoritarian rule. In the 1950s and 1960s, the country experienced a period of political stability and economic growth, but this was followed by a period of political instability and economic decline in the 1970s.

In the 1980s, the Philippines underwent a period of authoritarian rule under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos was overthrown in a popular uprising known as the "People Power Revolution" in 1986. The new Philippine Constitution, which was adopted in 1987 after the revolution, establishes the country's democratic system of government and the country's return to democratic rule.

Under the Philippine Constitution, the government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The executive branch is headed by the President of the Philippines, who is elected by the people through a popular vote. The legislative branch is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which are responsible for making laws. The judiciary is the branch of government that interprets laws and resolves disputes.

The Philippine democratic system is based on the principle of checks and balances, which ensures that no branch of government becomes too powerful. This is important because it helps to prevent corruption and abuse of power.

Despite its long history of democracy, the Philippines has faced many challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges is the presence of political dynasties, which are families that have been in power for generations. These political dynasties often have a stranglehold on the government, making it difficult for new and independent voices to be heard.

Another challenge to democracy in the Philippines is corruption. Corruption is the abuse of public office for private gain, and it is a widespread problem in the country. This can take many forms, from bribery and embezzlement to nepotism and cronyism. Corruption undermines the rule of law and hinders economic development, making it a major challenge to democracy in the Philippines.

Despite these challenges, the people of the Philippines remain committed to democracy. They continue to exercise their right to vote and participate in the political process. They also hold their elected officials accountable through protests, elections, and other means.

In conclusion, democracy in the Philippines has a long and complex history. The country has faced many challenges and opportunities in its journey toward a more inclusive and democratic society. While there is still much work to be done, the Philippines has made significant strides in strengthening its democratic institutions and protecting the rights of its citizens. It is up to the Filipino people to continue to defend and strengthen their democracy.

Just Saying 01: House Speaker Arroyo

Isa sa mga natutunan ko noong ako ay nasa kolehiyo ay ang pag galaw ng ekonomiya at politika sa bansa. Bago pa man mahalal si PNoy na bilang pangulo ay saludo na talaga ako kay #PGMA sa mga economic reforms na ginawa nya.
There was a financial crisis on 2008 pero hindi ito masyadong naramdaman ng ating bansa. Ang paglago ng  ekonomiya during the time of #PNoy ay resulta ng mga economic policies and reforms na ipininatubad nya habang siya ay pangulo. Dumami ang mga dayuhang namumuhunan sa ating bansa sa pagkalipas ng 9 years ng kanyang adminiatrasyon, malayo sa lagay ng ating bansa noong 1997-2001 kung saan ang ating bansa ay umiinda sa naganap na Asian Financial crisis... Sa panahon ni #PDu30, ang mga nararanasan ng ating ekonomiya ay maiuugnay natin sa pamumuno ng mga nakaraang administrasyon. Ang pagbabago sa mga polisiyang ito ay hindi agad nararanasan, kung hindi ang mga serbisyo at benipisyong ipinangako ng mga pagbabagong ito ay mararanasan natin sa paglipas ng panahon... Walang instant solution sa mga problema... Kaya kung gusto mo ng pagbabago, don't be a part of the problem, be one of the solutions for it.

There are no perfect leaders. Marcos might be great, but he committed many crimes.  C. Aquino, brought back democracy but she brought crisis. Ramos was great, but Asian Financial Crisis hit so hard to our country. Erap, was just Erap. LOL. Arroyo fixed the economy but was accused of so many crimes and was imprisoned.  N. Aquino fought for West Philippine Sea, eradicate the use of Wangwang but failed in many aspects of good governance and leadership.  And now, Duterte with his economic reforms, war against illegal drugs, build^3 programs, eradication of Endo we still look for his wrong doings.  Our leaders are not perfect.  We are not perfect.  They do damn things just like the rest of us.  Is it be okay to support them for all the good things that they are doing right now instead of complaining for the things that we want that they are failing to give us?

The button line is PGMA is perfect for the position of Lower House Speaker.

Just saying.

COLORING SHADOWS (ver. 2)

by Yuehnd Familara

On the day that gods conquered our land
Our freedom, wealth, and soul devoured by guns.
The color of Red flooded the earth
That drifts beneath our raging Sun.

People fought and died for IT;
Against the monstrous tyranny from the EAST
Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat were offered
To regain the stolen freedom of our past.

With the aim for freedom, a Flag was weaved
With the sun and three stars that made us amalgamated;
The color of red that conveys strength for those who tussled
With a shade of blue that tells us that we are united.

Then a hymn was sung on 12th of June 1898
Uttering meaningful words that declare sovereignty
An anthem that was sung on that historical balcony
And a flag that symbolizes that we are now FREE!

From FEAR to GLADNESS people celebrated
For that short-lived freedom that was never accepted
Months later a gun fire was heard
Commencing another threat coming from the buyer.

Once again we, the natives were conquered;
By new gods that promised education for everyone
Ships started to arrive with TOMMIES inside
That trained us to bark like BOW-WOW-WOW

 Years have passed, the Brown was covered by white
And started to live in the shadows of our New Gods
We now to hate for the things that we have
Even the brown color of the skin we possess

Hundreds of Years under the colonizers
We now lost our identity that came from our forefathers
A shade of GREY was left from our vibrant rainbow,
That once shined from our clear blue sky.


Hope from the Orient once again renewed
That on few years’ time their land will be liberated
From those who made us thinking
That WHITES are superior human being

Then a plane from the sky flew over the Capitol
A bomb was dropped on a lovely harbor
Armies of gods from our neighbor
Forcibly took the control from our buyers

Women were raped, Children were bayoneted
By the monsters from the land where the Sun Rises
Killing innocent lives to those who blocked
Making GARDENs grew to like how the mushrooms bloom

For the next THREE years people suffered;
FEAR once again ruled over those grieved
HANDS that once was FREE were now knotted
By the gods came from the north of the Earth.

Then A-Bombs were dropped to the land of the occupiers,
That forced them to left on the land that writhed
Leaving the ROSES on the lonely hills
That WEPT on the GARDENS that the gods have created

A PROMISE that was made by a man from the EAST
The ORIENT was freed, granting freedom at least
On the Day they called independence of the WEST
The SONG of the BROWNS was sung on its best.

Five Basic Rights of a State

The right of existence and self-defense

A right of a state to be recognized by other states and a right to protect itself from the aggressors.

The right of sovereignty and independence

A right wherein a state could practice its power to rule its own independent government.

The right of equality

A right to that acknowledges that every state is equal and no one is superior to the other. 

The right of property and jurisdiction

A right of the state to own a property inside and outside the states’ territory and exercise its power within its properties.

The right of legation or diplomatic intercourse

A right of every state to send and appoint a diplomatic personnel to other states that would ensure the diplomatic ties through agreements and treaties. 

13 Points of SONA 2016

July 25, 2016 | Manila – President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address also known as SONA in Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City. His first SONA marks as the first unorthodox address that does not dwell on the past as what the known commentators said.

Here are the thirteen important highlights of his address consolidated by ABS-CBN News.

1. The War on Drugs

“We will not stop, until the last drug lord, the last financer, and the last pusher, have surrendered and put behind bars… or below the ground, they so wish. Do not do drugs."

2. Human Rights

“Human Rights… must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as an excuse or shield to destroy the country.

3. West Philippine Sea Disputes

“We strongly affirm and respect the outcome of the case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration as an important on the ongoing efforts to pursue the peaceful resolution and management of our disputes.”

4. Ceasefire with the Rebels

“I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CCP, NPA, NBF.”

5. Taxation Reform

“We will lower personal and corporate income tax...”

6. Reproductive Health

“The implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law must be put into full force and in effect.”

7. Traffic in Metro Manila

“The revival of the Pasig River Ferry Service System is a viable option… For the LRT, the operating hours shall be extended from 9:30PM to 10:30PM… So marami pang mga batang uuwi n’yan (Because many students are still going home at that time).”

8. Airport Decongestion

“Different approaches are being considered to decongest NAIA including the possible transfer of the general aviation… I’m offering Sangley Point… kasi kaiihihan ko ang isang runway (because I can’t hold my pee on a traffic runway), I can make a brand new runway there. I assure you.”

9. THIS WILL BE A CLEAN GOVERNMENT

10. Cutting the Red Tape

“Processing time in issuing permits and licenses shall be reduced to the barest minimum. In my City (Davao City), it is only three days for the local government.”

11. Media Killings

“This government does not condone violence and repression of media…”

12. Improve Internet Speed

“I have also ordered the newly created DICT, Information and Communication Technology to develop National Broadband Plan to accelerate the deployment of the fiber optics, cables and wires and other technologies to improve internet speed…”

13. Free Wi-Fi Access

"Wi-Fi access shall be provided at no charge in selected public places including parks, plazas, public libraries, schools, government hospitals, train stations, airports, and seaports. ‘Di ba (isn’t it)?"

Pag-alala sa EDSA People Power, Ikatlong Dekada

Ika- 25 ng Pebrero, 1986, tatlong dekada na ang nakararaan nang magtipon-tipon ang maraming Pilipino sa Epifaño de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) upang patalsikin ang noo’y naghaharing diktador, pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na nakilala bilang EDSA People Power Revolution. Sa pangyayaring ito, nangibabaw ang kulay dilaw sa bawat lansangan ng kapuluang nagkakaisa upang wakasan ang diktadoryang naghasik ng karahasan, pangaabuso, at paglalapastangan lalo na sa mga taong lumalaban sa kanyang pamunuan.

Photo by www.inquirer.net

 Ang mga bagay na ito ang ating parating nariring sa bawat telebisyon at radio tuwing sasapit ang anibersaryo ng EDSA People Power. Sa detalyeng ito ang patuloy na tumatatak sa isip ng sambayanang Pilipino lalo na sa mga bagong henerasyon. May mga bagay na hindi nabibigyang pansin tulad ng “ano nga ba ang mga layunin ng pag-aalsa?” Marami ang magsasabi, “para patalsikin sa pwesto si Marcos”. Ngunit, ito nga lang ba ang tunay na hangarin ng rebolusyon o mas may malalim pa itong mga hangarin?

Sa mga nag-aaral ng kasaysayan, kasama sa mga hangarin ng rebolusyon ay mapaalis ang mga “TRAPO” (traditional politicians) sa pwesto, mapaunlad ang ekonomiya ng bansa, maghari muli ang demokrasya, at matigil ang kaguluhan sa bansa. Ang EDSA People Power ay hindi lamang nangyari para patalsikin ang diktador ng bansa, kundi upang baguhin mismo ang bansa.

Hindi natin maikakaila na tunay ngang nabalot ng kaguluhan ang bayan natin nang pamasailalim tayo sa Batas Militar nang siyam na taon sa pamumuno ni dating Pangulong Marcos. Naghatid ito ng takot sa bawat isa, at libo-libong tao ang nakulong, naparusahan at napatay nang walang kongkretong dahilan. Hindi ito maitatanggi, dahil ito ang tunay na nangyari.

Tatlong dekada na ang nakalilipas, balikan natin ang mga pangako ng rebolusyon, ilan nga ba rito ang naisakatuparan? Ikaw na ang bahalang sumagot.

Irrational in Politics

Media is one of the biggest factors why there are many irrational in our politics. In decades, media people always talked about Imelda Marcos, how she dressed, and how elegant she was during the time of the Marcos Era and the late president Cory Aquino especially when the 1st EDSA Revolution celebration is near. Documentaries about the Marcoses and the Aquinos often aired on televisions. We can see the influence of the two in our society there are what we called Imeldific and the color of Yellow that symbolizes unity, courage and democracy. These two people have what we called “Appeal or Charm” which we could not deny that they give great contribution and influence to the people.

Our politics, nowadays, is exhausted of charismatic leaders. We have presidents, senators down to the lowest government position that loved by the people. Erap Estrada for example, an actor, college drop-out was elected as the president of our country and should have won again in the 2010 presidential election if Cory Aquino did not died that resulted to the candidacy of her son Noynoy Aquino. We already known Erap, how he run the government and how he handles issues in our country. Despite of this, still 9,487,837 (according to 2010 election results) people wanted Erap be back in the office. It only means that Erap magic is not dead, magic in the sense that his charismatic appeal to the people is still strong.

As an educated person we don’t only consider the charismatic side of any political candidate. We often demand public debates and political platforms for every candidate in order to ensure that we can choose the right person that we will elect. But we should put in our mind that almost people living in poverty line is much bigger than us. They don’t care about the credentials and the political capability of the person to lead but they usually look into a good looking, charming and already known people they also tend to choose people based on a certain characteristics that respond to their own unrecognized desires. That is the reason why there are many politicians in the country came from the showbiz industry like Erap, and the Revilla clan. The candidates used this charm to win the seat of the office.

In politics, it is not enough to be bright or intelligent, it is also important to have the right faces, faces in terms of personal appeal to others. It is also the reason why the candidates often get celebrities to campaign them for the election, they using the charm or the appeal of the artist to gain popularity. We can’t take away irrational in politics, but we can get along with it and learn how to deal with it so we can still choose a good leader that will serve to their fellowmen seriously and wholehearted.