Readings in Philippine History: The Contextual Analysis of the Malolos Constitution

Sir JM Vlogs

14 Apr 202210:31

Summary

TLDRIn this educational video, Jun explores the Malolos Republic and the 1899 Malolos Constitution in Philippine history. The script discusses the constitution's drafting after Spanish defeat, its declaration of independence, and the establishment of a revolutionary government. It highlights the constitution's principles like separation of church and state and the three branches of government. Despite its progressive ideas, the constitution was not fully implemented due to the ongoing Philippine-American War and the Philippines' transition from Spanish to American control, raising questions about the country's true independence at the time.

Takeaways

📜 The video discusses the social, economic, political, and cultural context of the Malolos Republic and its 1899 constitution in Philippine history.
🇵🇭 Emilio Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines after the defeat of the Spanish at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898.
🗓️ The Philippine independence was declared on June 12, 1898, leading to the establishment of the first Philippine Republic.
🖋️ The Malolos Congress, composed of wealthy and educated men, was elected on September 17, 1898, and drafted the 1899 Malolos Constitution.
📜 The preamble of the 1899 constitution emphasized justice, common defense, general welfare, and liberty, guided by the 'Sovereign Legislator of the Universe.'
⛪ The constitution introduced the separation of church and state, a significant shift from Spanish rule where religious leaders influenced government decisions.
⚖️ The Malolos Constitution established three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, a structure followed in later Philippine constitutions.
🚫 The constitution was never fully implemented due to the ongoing war and the Treaty of Paris, which transferred control of the Philippines to the United States.
🇺🇸 The Philippines became a territory of the United States after being sold by Spain for $20 million, and American occupation hindered the country's sovereignty.
🎨 The colors of the Philippine flag were inspired by the American flag, symbolizing the gratitude of Aguinaldo's government towards the U.S., though this relationship later soured.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 1899 Malolos Constitution in Philippine history?
-The 1899 Malolos Constitution is significant because it established the framework for the first Philippine Republic and represented the Filipino people's attempt at self-governance following the defeat of the Spanish colonizers.
When was the Philippine independence declared and what were the immediate actions taken afterward?
-Philippine independence was declared on June 12, 1898, after the defeat of the Spanish forces. Soon after, several decrees were issued, leading to the formation of the first Philippine Republic.
What was the role of the Malolos Congress in the creation of the Malolos Constitution?
-The Malolos Congress, elected on September 17, 1898, was composed of wealthy and educated men who were tasked with drafting the Malolos Constitution. They approved the constitution on November 29, 1898, which was later promulgated by Emilio Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899.
How did the Malolos Constitution address the issue of the separation of church and state?
-The Malolos Constitution explicitly provided for the separation of church and state, a significant departure from the Spanish colonial era, where the church heavily influenced state decisions.
What form of government was established under the Malolos Constitution?
-The Malolos Constitution established a republican form of government with three distinct branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, which laid the foundation for future Philippine constitutions.
Why was the Malolos Constitution never fully implemented?
-The Malolos Constitution was never fully implemented due to the ongoing Philippine-American War and the Treaty of Paris, where the Philippines was sold to the United States for 20 million US dollars. This transferred control of the Philippines from Spain to the US.
What was the Filipino reaction to American intervention after the defeat of Spain?
-Initially, Filipinos, including Aguinaldo’s government, were grateful to the Americans for their help in defeating the Spanish. However, they soon realized that the Americans had no intention of granting true independence and instead occupied the Philippines.
How did the design of the Philippine flag reflect the relationship with the United States at the time of independence?
-The design of the Philippine flag, particularly its colors, imitated the flag of the United States as a gesture of gratitude for the Americans' assistance in driving out the Spanish from the Philippines.
What was the outcome of the Philippines’ struggle for independence after the Malolos Constitution was established?
-Despite the establishment of the Malolos Constitution and the Philippine Republic, the Filipinos did not achieve real independence due to the continued American occupation and the subsequent Philippine-American War.
What were the broader consequences of the American occupation for the Philippines after the defeat of Spain?
-The American occupation led to the establishment of a US military government in the Philippines, which had full control over the land, people, and natural resources, ultimately delaying the realization of Filipino independence.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Malolos Republic and 1899 Constitution

This paragraph discusses the historical context and content of the Malolos Republic and the 1899 Malolos Constitution. It was drafted after Emilio Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines following the Spanish defeat at the Battle of Manila Bay. The Philippine Revolutionary Forces were under Aguinaldo's control, and the Declaration of Philippine Independence was issued on June 12, 1898. The Malolos Congress, elected on September 17, 1898, was composed of wealthy and educated men who drafted the constitution. It was promulgated by Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899. The constitution was written in Spanish and aimed to establish justice, provide for common defense, promote general welfare, and ensure liberty. It emphasized the separation of church and state, a response to the Spanish occupation where they were united. The constitution outlined a presidential republic with three distinct branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

05:03

🏳️‍🌈 The Non-implementation of the Malolos Constitution

The paragraph delves into the reasons why the Malolos Constitution was not fully implemented. It highlights that the Philippines was considered a territory of the United States post-Treaty of Paris, where the country was sold for 20 million US dollars, transferring sovereignty from the Spanish to the Americans. The paragraph discusses the continuous American occupation and the lack of true independence and sovereignty for the Philippines during this period. It also touches on the initial gratitude of the Filipino government towards the Americans for helping to remove the Spanish, symbolized by the colors of the Philippine flag resembling that of the United States. However, this sentiment turned to a feeling of deception as the Americans did not grant the freedom they promised and instead established military control and exploited the country's natural resources.

10:03

📅 The 1935 Constitution: Context and Issues

The final paragraph sets the stage for a discussion about the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines. It mentions that the next video will cover the context, circumstances, perspective, and issues related to this constitution. The speaker, Mr. Jun, invites viewers to watch the next part of the discussion, indicating a continuation of the historical analysis.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Malolos Republic

The Malolos Republic was a short-lived government established in the Philippines after the Spanish colonial rule ended. It was significant as it represented the first attempt at self-governance by Filipinos. In the video, the Malolos Republic is discussed in the context of the creation of the 1899 Malolos Constitution, which was a pivotal step towards establishing a sovereign Filipino state.

💡1899 Malolos Constitution

The 1899 Malolos Constitution was a foundational document drafted by the Malolos Congress, which outlined the structure of the new Filipino government. It is a key term in the video as it represents the first attempt to codify a national identity and governance system for the Philippines. The constitution was written in Spanish and included provisions for separation of church and state, which was a significant departure from the Spanish colonial era.

💡Emilio Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo was a key figure in the Philippine Revolution against Spain and later against the United States. He is mentioned in the video as the leader who promulgated the 1899 Malolos Constitution and as the president of the Malolos Republic. His role is central to understanding the struggle for Philippine independence during this period.

💡Separation of Church and State

The concept of separation of church and state was a novel idea introduced in the Malolos Constitution, which aimed to differentiate the new Filipino government from the Spanish colonial rule where the church and state were united. This separation was a response to the influence of religious authorities on state matters during the Spanish occupation, as discussed in the video.

💡Philippine Independence

Philippine Independence refers to the declaration of independence from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. The video discusses the complex nature of this independence, noting that while it was declared, it was not fully realized due to the subsequent American occupation.

💡Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris is referenced in the video as the agreement that ended the Spanish-American War and resulted in the transfer of the Philippines from Spanish to American control. This treaty is significant as it directly impacted the sovereignty of the Malolos Republic and the implementation of the 1899 Malolos Constitution.

💡Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Powers

These three branches of government are mentioned in the video as part of the structure outlined in the Malolos Constitution. The separation of powers was an attempt to create a balanced government, which is a common feature in many modern constitutions. The video explains that these powers were declared but not fully implemented due to ongoing conflicts.

💡Sovereignty

Sovereignty, in the context of the video, refers to the ultimate authority and autonomy of a state. The discussion around the Malolos Republic and the 1899 Constitution highlights the struggle for Philippine sovereignty amidst foreign occupations, first by Spain and then by the United States.

💡American Occupation

The American Occupation is a critical aspect of the video's narrative, as it disrupted the implementation of the Malolos Constitution and the establishment of the Malolos Republic. The video discusses how the Filipino people continued to fight for independence even after the initial declaration of independence from Spain.

💡Preamble

The Preamble of the 1899 Malolos Constitution is highlighted in the video as a primary source that outlines the intentions and principles of the constitution. It includes references to justice, common defense, general welfare, and liberty, which are fundamental concepts in many democratic constitutions.

💡Natural Rights

Natural rights are mentioned in the context of the Preamble of the Malolos Constitution, emphasizing the inherent freedoms that the constitution aimed to protect. The video discusses how these rights were a response to the lack of such protections during the Spanish colonial period.

Highlights

Introduction to the discussion on the social, economic, political, and cultural issues of the Philippines' history.

Focus on the Malolos Republic and the 1899 Malolos Constitution.

Emilio Aguinaldo's return to the Philippines after the defeat of the Spanish colonizers.

Declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898.

Election of the Malolos Congress composed of wealthy and educated men on September 17, 1898.

The Malolos Congress tasked to draft a constitution for the first Philippine Republic.

The Political Constitution of 1899 was promulgated by Emilio Aguinaldo on January 21, 1899.

The constitution was written in Spanish and aimed to establish justice and promote general welfare.

Provision for the separation of church and state in response to the Spanish occupation.

Declaration of three distinct powers: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The Malolos Constitution was not fully implemented due to the ongoing war.

The Philippines was sold to the United States for 20 million US dollars after the Treaty of Paris.

The Malolos Republic was not enforced by the government due to American occupation.

The question of Philippine independence during this time and the answer that it was not truly independent.

Gratitude towards the Americans for helping eliminate the Spanish, reflected in the Philippine flag's colors.

The Filipino people's continued fight against American occupation led by Emilio Aguinaldo.

The discussion will continue in the next video about the 1935 Constitution.

Closing remarks and call to action for likes, subscriptions, and watching the next part of the discussion.