The Commonwealth Govt

• Before 1934 – independent missions sent to the US went home empty handed.

• Japan invaded Manchuria; 1920s economic depression

• The Great Depression• The Philippines becomes a risk and

encumbrance to American prosperity and national security.

The Commonwealth Govt, 1935

• OS-ROX mission – Payne-Aldricht Act• Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act – lead to the

independence of the Philippines

• Establishment of the Commonwealth• Launched amid social unrest• Less than two weeks, we drafted the 1935

Philippine Constitution

Kinds of Constitution

• As to the history or origin: a.) Enacted or Conventional; b.) Evolved or Cumulative

• As to their form: a.) written ; b.) unwritten• As to the amendment: a.) Rigid or inelastic or

b.) Flexible or elastic

• Amendment - change

Constitution of the Phils

• Malolos Constitution• 1935 Commonwealth constitution• 1973 Constitution• Freedom Constitution• 1987 Constitution - present

The Commonwealth Govt

• Sakdalistas rose in revolt (San Ildefonso, Bulacan and other towns in Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.)

• Peasants protested the oppressive hacienda system, intolerable land taxes, graft and corruption in the government and the subservient leadership of the US.

Manuel Quezon

• Homestead law – not more than 24 acres of land.

• - it lacks financial support from the Quezon administration

• - the peasants’ uprisings were crushed by the poorly organized constabulary forces of the Phils (AFP)

More economic problems• Security or national defence program

(Constabulary)• Nation Building• 1937 High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt• P94 million• A. Renovations and repair of Malacanang Palace• B. He bought a very expensive presidential yacht• C. Pork Barrel and allowances (dole out)

Japanese Occupation

• 1935 + 10 = 1945• 1940

• 1941 start of Japanese invasion• December 7, 1941 – Attack of Pearl Harbor,

Hawaii• December 8 and 9, 1941 – Japan bombed the

Phils

• Jan 1942 – Philippines was colonized by the Japanese

• Greater Economic Co-Prosperity Sphere

• “America is for the Americans”• Asia is for Asians• Jose P. Laurel – puppet president

• Allied vs Axis

• August 6, 1945 – Hiroshima was bombed.August 9, 1945 – Nagasaki was bomed

• July 4, 1946 – Philippine Independence from America