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CHAPTER 3: ELECTORAL AND PARTY POLITICS IN PREWAR PHILIPPINES

Introduction
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Parties and elections have become an essential feature of the country’s political landscape
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o Essentially tactical entities
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Parties and elections function more as tactical instrumentalities for the attainment of the personal
political success rather than in the doctrinal or ideological pursuit of strategic governance
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In December 1900, a group of upper-class Filipinos led by Trinidad Pardo de Tavera established
the Federal Party
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American authorities made exception to those that were not hostile toward American intentions in
the Philippines
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By gaining the trust of American authorities, the Federal Party was able to acquire a virtual
monopoly in the government appointment of Filipino officials
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The federalistas certainly collaborated with the new colonizer but in a way that it manifested a
different kind of nationalism—one that is guided by strong sense of pragmatism
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In 1901, the Conservative Party was established which conserve the Spanish customs and,
moreover, to praise the superiority of the Spaniards race”
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o Americans refused to grant the Democratic Party due to its call for eventual independence
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o American authorities did not recognize the Republic Party at the time
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Two converging factors have led to the conditions that would account for the emergence of a viable
opposition to the federalist:
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2
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Politicians intending to be elected to the national legislature would have to deal with local networks
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The Federalistas Reinvent Themselves
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The Federal Party changed its platform from one of annexation to one that called for gradual
independence for the Philippines under American sovereignty
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A merger of the two political groups occurred, thus giving birth to the Nationalist Party under the
leadership of notable personalities such as Manuel L
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The Nationalist Party became the single dominant champion of the Philippine independence
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Wright, followed a policy of granting appointments based
on merits rather than political affiliation as what Taft had done previously
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What is the Union, and why incorporating the Philippines into the Union had never been a
popular American option?

The Advent of Two-Party Politics, Philippine-Style
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The electorate was overwhelmingly in favor of the Nationalist Party for members of the first
Philippine Assembly, taking fifty-nine seats, while Progressive Party got only sixteen seats
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However, even the Nationalistas themselves were not that serious about independence but were
more interested in acquiring power using the independence issue as a means to generate voter
support
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Commission -became Senate
Assembly – House of rep
The main electoral issue had started to shift away from calling for independence toward increased
participation in public policy making
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o Who should actually lead the government—is it the party in power or someone popularly
elected by the people?
The power struggle within the party was on between Osmena and Quezon
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The elections of 1922 proved to be a peculiar three-party contest between Nationalist factions, and
the Democratic Parties
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Osmena lost power and prominence to Quezon who was reelected Senate president
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The End of Opposition Parties and the Rise of Hegemonic Party
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By the late 1920s, the system of majority party-led government had become a reality
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The remaining members of the Democratic Party voted for its formal dissolution in January 31,
1932
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Early 1930s, the question of party and government leadership resurfaced within the Nationalist
Party
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o Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 led by Quezon – a negotiation of Quezon with the US for
the new independence bill
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The electoral victory
assured Quezon of the Senate presidency once again
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Interestingly, one of the issues raised in the convention was the question of women’s suffrage
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The program of the party in power during the 1935 elections was comprehensive compared to the
platforms of the other two parties
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The End of Party Politics and the Beginning of “Partyless” Democracy
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In July 1940, Quezon declared that the country that democracy can function without political
parties, thus began the period of so-called ‘partyless democracy’
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Party Politics in the Prewar Legislature
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In the wake of the Jones Law, the commission became the Senate and the assembly was transformed
into the House of Representatives
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However, personality differences and ambitions, combined with the absence of a strong doctrinal
or ideological opposition, led to the party’s weakening internal cohesion
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Under the Americans, the suffrage was eventually extended and broadened by reducing
qualifications for voters as well as increasing the number of public offices
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Political parties in prewar Philippines were invariably eld by the wealthy local elites, to secure
national leadership positions
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Contributed to the growth of the National Parties:
1) The broadening of the right to vote
2) Opening of more local as well as national positions for electoral competition



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