Chapter 23

The Third Philippine Republic

THE PHILIPPINES became the first country to win its independence after the Second World War. Other
countries admired us. We were the light of Asia. The Third Philippine Republic lasted from July 4, 1946 to
September 21, 1972.
Birth of the Republic. A new postwar government was organized. This was the Third Philippine
Republic. The First Republic was headed by General Aguinaldo from 1899 to 1901. The Second Republic was
headed by President Laurel during the Japanese occupation in 1942 to 1945.
In the morning of July 4, 1946, the new republic was inaugurated at impressive ceremonies in Luneta.
It was the first really independent government in the Philippines with foreign recognition by other countries.
Although Aguinaldo's First Republic was independent, it was not recognized by other countries. And Laurel's
Second Republic was not free and was recognized only during the war by Japan and by other Axis powers but
not by the Western Allies.
This historic event was attended by guests from 27 nations. The American flag was hauled down, and
the Filipino flag was raised up. It was a beautiful and historic day. Church bells pealed, people cheered and
Clapped, and soldiers saluted our tricolor flag.
The proclamation of independence was read. It was declared that: "A nation is born! Long live the
Philippines! May God bless and prosper the Filipino people and keep them safe and free!" We were at last free
from foreign rule. Proudly, we took our place as a new member of the family of nations. Other colonies looked
up to our country as the leader.

Inauguration of the Third Philippine Republic at Luneta , July 4, 1946.

Problems of the New Republic. The Third Philippine Republic was born after the worst war in history.
It faced serious problems. These problems of the nation were:
 (1) Reconstruction. The government buildings and records were destroyed. The factories, schools, and
roads were ruined by the war. Many private houses and property were also burned.
(2) Poor government and poor people. The government and the people were broke. There was no
money in the national treasury. Millions of people were jobless and homeless. Prices of basic needs like food
and clothes were very high, and people had very little money.
(3) Peace and order. Manila and other cities were full of criminals and rebels. Communists led by the
Hukbalahap or Huks terrorized the countryside.
(4) Moral and spiritual decline. Our people had poor moral and spiritual values. Many Filipinos forgot
about God and were very selfish. They wanted to get rich quickly by hook or by crook. Some got rich by buying
and selling illegally. Many jobless and homeless poor turned to crime and vices like drinking and prostitution.
Young people turned into juvenile delinquents. There were many murders, hold-ups, and robberies.

Presidents of the Third Republic. The Third Philippine Republic had six presidents: (1) Manuel A. Roxas
(1946-48); (2) Elpidio Quirino (1948-53); (3) Ramon Magsaysay (1954-57); (4) Carlos P. Garcia (1958-61); (5)
Diosdado Macapagal (1962-65); and (6) Ferdinand E. Marcos (1966-86).
Their presidency is also sometimes called their administration. For example, the Roxas presidency is
also called the Roxas administration, the Quirino presidency is also called the Quirino administration, etc.
Each president faced very serious national problems. But the people voted them into office because
they promised to solve these national problems. All of them tried their best to solve these problems by
adopting plans called policies. When they were only candidates before they became president, these plans
were called platforms of their political party. After they got elected and became president, the party plat- form
became the policies of their administration.
During elections for presidents, the candidate with the best party platform and popularity wins.
Usually, his vice-presidential candidate also wins in the election. But sometimes, as we shall see, the president
and the vice-president come from different political parties. This happened once in our history, during the
term of President Garcia. He came from the Nacionalista Party. But his vice-president Diosdado Macapagal,
came from the Liberal Party. Later on, Macapagal became president and beat Garcia in the 1961 elections.
Roxas Administration. Roxas was the first president of the Third Republic. He took office on May 26,
1946. But he worked so hard on the serious problems of our country that he died early. He died of a heart
attack on April 15, 1948, while he was visiting Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
President Roxas had a very pro-American policy. He had no choice because the United States was the
only country which could help us with the terrible problems then. He made many treaties (agreements) with
the United States on special relations, on military bases, and on economic aid.
The Americans agreed to help the Filipinos. But there were strings attached to the American aid. The
Filipinos agreed to ratify (approve) the Parity Amendment to the 1935 Constitution. This was approved on
March 11, 1947. The Parity Amendment gave Americans the right to develop our natural resources and run
public utilities. So, for many years, the Americans (and the Chinese) controlled the Philippine economy.
Americans owned the telephone company, the electric company, the mining companies, and so on. The
Filipinos just worked for the American bosses. The American parity rights were ended in the 1973
Constitution.
On the military bases, the Americans continued to own the land and the buildings of these bases. In
short, the U.S. military bases like Clark Air Base, Subic Naval Base, Camp John Hay in Baguio, and others, were
American property on Philippine soil. They did not belong to the Philippine government then.
President Roxas had good plans for the poor. He asked Congress to pass the law giving tenant farmers
70% of the rice harvest. The landlord got 30%. This law helped to improve the conditions of poor farmers in
the provinces.
Quirino Administration. After Roxas died, Vice-President Elpidio Quirino became the president on April
17, 1948. He completed the four-year term of Roxas and won the 1949 election. So Quirino was president until
December 30, 1953. His vice-president was Fernando Lopez.
President Quirino continued the policies of President Roxas. He gave special radio talks to the people,
like President Quezon. He also helped the poor by starting rural banks in the provinces.
However, the Huks or Red communist nearly brought down the government. The Red communists took
over some parts of the coun- tryside. They taxed and terrorized the people. There were many clashes between
them and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. On April 28, 1949, the Huks killed Mrs. Aurora Quezon, beloved
widow of President Quezon, and her party on their way to Baler. The nation was shocked by the communist
brutality.
Magsaysay Administration. Ramon Magsaysay was the defense secretary under President Quirino. He
stopped the communist Red peril and became very popular with the people. He became the 7th President of
the Philippines after winning the 1953 presidential election. He became known as the “Champion of the
Masses” because of his strong connection with ordinary Filipino citizens.

Major Programs and Policies are:

 (1.) Fight Against the Huk Rebellion One of Magsaysay’s major achievements was suppressing the
Hukbalahap rebellion, a communist insurgency. Key strategies included: Improving the discipline of the
Philippine military, Winning the support of rural communities, Offering amnesty and resettlement programs to
rebels who surrendered. These actions helped restore peace and stability in many provinces.

(2.) Land Reform and Rural Development, to help farmers and rural communities, Magsaysay
promoted land reform and agricultural development. Important programs: Agricultural Tenancy Act (1954).
This law improved the relationship between landowners and tenant farmers by regulating tenancy
agreements. National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA), This program relocated
landless farmers to new agricultural lands, especially in Mindanao, giving them opportunities for livelihood.

(3.) Government Closer to the People, Magsaysay made the government more accessible to ordinary
citizens. Programs included: Presidential Complaints and Action Committee (PCAC) – allowed citizens to bring
complaints directly to the president, Open-door policy in Malacañang Palace and Regular visits to provinces to
listen to people's concerns.

Foreign Policy. Magsaysay strengthened relations with the United States and supported international
alliances against communism. He also helped establish the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) in 1954
to promote security in Southeast Asia.

Achievements of the Magsaysay Administration: Restored public trust in government, Reduced the
Huk rebellion, Promoted rural development, Strengthened democratic leadership, and Improved the
relationship between government and citizens.

Death of Ramon Magsaysay. On March 17, 1957, President Magsaysay died in a tragic plane crash
involving the aircraft Mount Pinatubo (C-47 aircraft) in Cebu. His death shocked the nation, and he was widely
mourned by the Filipino people. After his death, Vice President Carlos P. Garcia assumed the presidency.

Historical Importance. The presidency of Ramon Magsaysay is remembered as one of the most popular
and people-centered administrations in Philippine history. His leadership showed that honest government and
concern for the poor could strengthen democracy in the Philippines.

Garcia Administration. Carlos P. Garcia became the 8th President of the Philippines after the death of
Ramon Magsaysay in a plane crash in 1957. He later won the presidential election in 1957 and served until
1961. His administration is remembered mainly for promoting economic nationalism and protecting Filipino
businesses.

Major Policies and Programs:

(1.) Filipino First Policy. The most famous program of Garcia's administration was the Filipino First
Policy. The Purpose is to give priority to Filipino citizens and businesses over foreign investors in the Philippine
economy. The Objectives are strengthen Filipino-owned businesses, Reduce foreign economic dominance,
promote national economic independence, and Effects are encouraged growth of local industries, Increased
national pride in economic development and some criticism from foreign investors and traders
 (2.) Austerity Program. Garcia introduced an Austerity Program to address economic problems. Its
goals is to reduce government spending, encourage simple living and prevent economic [Link] ideas
are avoid luxury imports, promote saving and productivity and encourage responsible government spending.

(3.) Promotion of National Culture and Identity. Garcia strongly supported Filipino culture and
nationalism. Programs included: Promoting Filipino language and culture, Encouraging patriotism among
citizens, and Supporting local arts and traditions

Foreign Policy. Garcia maintained strong relations with the United States while also strengthening ties
with Asian countries. He promoted the Asia-First policy, encouraging cooperation among Asian nations.

Achievements of the Garcia Administration: Promotion of economic nationalism, Support for Filipino
entrepreneurs, Strengthening of national identity and Programs encouraging self-reliance

Challenges and Criticisms. Some issues faced during his administration: Economic difficulties and
inflation, Accusations of government corruption, and Growing political opposition. These factors contributed to
his defeat by Diosdado Macapagal in the 1961 presidential election.

Historical [Link] administration of Carlos P. Garcia is remembered for promoting Filipino

economic independence and emphasizing the importance of nationalism in economic policy. His Filipino First
Policy became one of the most significant nationalist economic programs in Philippine history.

MacapagalAdministration. Diosdado Macapagal became the 9th President of the Philippines after
defeating Carlos P. Garcia in the 1961 presidential election. He was known as the “Poor Boy from Lubao”
because he came from a humble family in Lubao, Pampanga and rose to the highest office in the country
through education and public service. His administration focused on economic reforms, land reform, and
national identity.

Major Policies and Programs:

(1.) Land Reform Program. One of the major goals of Macapagal was to help tenant farmers and rural
communities. Agricultural Land Reform Code (1963), This law aimed to: Abolish the share tenancy system,
Encourage owner-cultivatorship, Protect the rights of farmers, and Improve agricultural productivity. It
attempted to give farmers greater control over the land they cultivated.

(2.) Economic Liberalization. Macapagal introduced economic reforms to strengthen the Philippine
economy. Key reforms included: Decontrol Program – removed government controls on foreign exchange and
trade. Encouraged free enterprise and private investment. Promoted economic growth through increased
international trade.

(3). Change of Independence Day. One of the most symbolic decisions of Macapagal was changing the
date of Philippine Independence Day. In 1962, he declared June 12 as the official Independence Day of the
Philippines. This date commemorates the declaration of independence from Spain by Emilio Aguinaldo in
1898. Before this change, Independence Day was celebrated on July 4, the date when the Philippines gained
independence from the United States in 1946.

Foreign Policy. Macapagal promoted stronger cooperation among Asian countries. He helped establish
Maphilindo, a regional organization aimed at fostering unity among Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
 Achievements of the Macapagal Administration: Promotion of land reform for farmers, Liberalization
of the Philippine economy, Recognition of June 12 as Independence Day, and Efforts to strengthen regional
cooperation in Southeast Asia

Challenges and Issues. Despite reforms, Macapagal’s administration faced several problems: Economic
difficulties and inflation, Rising poverty and unemployment, and Political opposition. Because of these
challenges, he lost the 1965 presidential election to Ferdinand Marcos.

Historical Importance. The presidency of Diosdado Macapagal is remembered for: Promoting economic
reform and free enterprise, Supporting land reform for farmers and Restoring June 12 as the true Philippine
Independence Day. His policies helped shape the economic and national identity reforms of the Philippines in
the 1960s.

Marcos Administration(First Term: 1965–1969). Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected president in 1965,
defeating incumbent president Diosdado Macapagal. His first term focused on economic development,
infrastructure expansion, and agricultural productivity. During this period, his leadership was generally popular
because of visible development projects.

Major Programs and Policies:

(1.) Infrastructure Development. One of the main priorities of Marcos during his first term was
nationwide infrastructure development. Major projects included: Construction of roads and highways,
Building bridges and irrigation systems, Development of schools, hospitals, and public buildings. Important
projects: San Juanico Bridge connecting Samar and Leyte , Expansion of transportation and communication
systems, Improvement of rural infrastructure. These projects aimed to stimulate economic growth and
improve transportation across the country.

(2.) Agricultural Development. Marcos promoted programs to improve food production and
agricultural modernization. Programs included: Expansion of irrigation projects, Support for farmers and
agricultural productivity, Beginning efforts to increase rice production. These policies attempted to strengthen
the Philippine agricultural economy.

(3.) Economic Development Programs. The Marcos administration promoted industrial growth and
modernization. Goals included: Increasing industrial investment, Encouraging economic expansion and
Improving government efficiency. During the late 1960s, the government spent heavily on development
projects, which later contributed to financial pressures.

(4.) Law and Order Campaign. Marcos emphasized the importance of discipline and national security.
His government strengthened: Police and military forces, Campaigns against crime and insurgency. However,
toward the end of his first term, the country began experiencing student protests and social unrest.

Achievements of the First Marcos Term (1965–1969): Expansion of national infrastructure,

Improvement of agricultural support programs, Economic modernization efforts, and Strengthening of
government administration. Because of these accomplishments, Marcos won re-election in the 1969
presidential election, becoming the first Philippine president re-elected under the 1935 Constitution.
 Historical Significance: The first administration of Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965–1969) marked a period of
rapid infrastructure growth and modernization efforts. However, the large government spending during this
period contributed to economic difficulties later in the 1970s, which became one of the challenges of his
second term.

Historical values: From our study we learn the following lessons from the past:
1. The Philippines became the first country to win independence after the Second World War in 1946. The
other colonies admired our example. Our economy took off ahead of the other Asian nations. We saved our
country from the communist peril and kept our democracy. We were a stable democracy with free elections,
free press, many political parties, and peaceful changes of leaders.
2. We had terrible problems after the Second World War, but we solved these problems with the help of God,
our democratic government, our people's hard work, and foreign investments.
3. We had peaceful changes of government and no dictators. If a president lost election, he accepted defeat
and went to the inauguration of his successor.
4. The Filipino rejected communism the 1950s because we are a Christian nation and we love democracy.