The Commonwealth
Government
SOCIAL STUDIES 6
pp. 132 - 138
LEARNING GOALS
● Identify the different programs and projects of the
Commonwealth government in the Philippines.
● Discuss the different social movements and the
response of the government to the problem raised.
● Conclude the results of the American colonization of
the Philippines.
● Examine the importance of women’s suffrage in the
country.
Picture
Analysis
Describe what you see on the picture.
Describe what you see on the picture.
Describe what you see on the picture.
How important was the
Commonwealth
Government in the
preparation for the
Philippine
Independence?
The Jews in the Philippines
One of the lasting and
remarkable contributions of
the Philippines to the
brotherhood of nations
when the Commonwealth
government welcomed
Jews into the country.
The Jews in the Philippines
During the onset of the
second World War in Europe,
the Jews were persecuted,
tortured, and murdered by
the Nazis headed Adolf Hitler.
This prompted them to
escape to different parts of
the world. However, only a
few countries welcomed them.
The Jews in the Philippines
The action of President
Quezon and the
Commonwealth government
saved many lives. The Jewish
people and the rest of the
world will never forget the
goodness and brotherhood
shown by the Filipinos.
The Commonwealth
The government was
inaugurated on November
15, 1935, under the
leadership of Manuel L.
Quezon as president and
Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña as vice
president.
The Commonwealth
Programs were set up to
address the three main
problems of the government:
the need for national security
and political stability, and the
improvement of the country's
economy.
The Commonwealth
Thus, several programs and
projects were launched by the
Commonwealth government.
National Security
Due to the unstable political conditions in
neighboring Asian countries, the
government strengthened the country's
national defense. Thus, the first law to
be passed by the legislative body was
the National Defense Act on December
21, 1935.
National Security
This law established the Armed Forces
of the Philippines, which will take charge
of the training, organization, and
maintenance of military services.
National Security
President Quezon appointed
General Douglas MacArthur,
who was the chief of the
United States Military Mission
to the Philippines, as his
military adviser. General
MacArthur's plan was the
recruitment and training of
physically fit Filipinos to be
part of the citizen arm
Women's Suffrage
One significant
change in Philippine
society during the
time of President
Quezon was giving
women the right to
vote.
Women's Suffrage
According to the 1935
Constitution, women should be
allowed to vote if at least
300,000 of them would favor the
right to vote. On April 30, 1937, a
total of 447,725 women gave a
favorable response to the right
to vote. Together with the voting
right was the right to run for
public office.
National Language
President Manuel Quezon
initiated efforts to have a
national language through the
establishment of the Institute of
National Language.
National Language
The institute was tasked to
study the different languages
and dialects in the Philippines. It
recommended Tagalog as the
basis of the national language
due to the following reasons:
Tagalog was the most widely
used language and it was
used in the government and
most reading materials.
Religion
The 1935 Constitution
mandated the
separation of the
Church and State.
Religion
It also provided that
the people have the
right to practice the
religion of their choice.
Changes in Education
Different educational reforms
were implemented during the
Commonwealth period. The
National Council on Education
served as the advisory board of
the government on matters
concerning educational reforms
and development.
Public Schools
Include the study of the lives and
deeds of Filipino heroes and
well-known Filipinos, as well as
the use of books authored and
printed by Filipinos.
Private Education
More private schools were
established. They helped a lot in
the government's efforts to
educate the citizens. The Office
of the Superintendent of Private
School was established to
supervise private schools.
Private education offered
preschool, primary, intermediate,
high school, vocational, and
tutorial services.
Economy
Stabilizing the
economy was a big
problem for the
Commonwealth
government.
Economy
During this time, our economy
was highly dependent upon
the United States. Thus, it was
necessary to take steps to
free the country's economy
from American and foreign
control.
Economy
Looking for potential buyers
for Philippine products was
difficult because other
countries produced their own
products.
Economy
To solve these problems, the
following measures were
undertaken:
[Link] of agricultural
products
Economy
To solve these problems, the
following measures were
undertaken:
[Link] of different
agencies that will focus on the
development of the country's
major crops, like the National
Tobacco Corporation, National
Rice Corporation, and National
Abaca and other fibers
corporation
Economy
To solve these problems, the
following measures were
undertaken:
[Link] and expansion of
the country's resources
Economy
To solve these problems, the
following measures were
undertaken:
[Link] and expansion
of the domestic market through
patronage and consumption of
local products
Social Justice and Welfare
President Quezon continued
to support the bills which
assured equal rights to
laborers, social justice,
welfare programs, and
strengthened established
institutions for the poor,
needy, and sick.
Social Justice and Welfare
Among the bills that became
laws were the Minimum Wage
Act, Eight-Hour Labor Act,
Tenancy Act, and Public
Defender's Act.
Social Justice and Welfare
The Minimum Wage Act set
the daily minimum salary of
laborers at one peso. The
Eight-Hour Labor Act provided
the number of hours that
should be rendered by
laborers in certain industries.
Social Justice and Welfare
The Public Defender's Act
provided the poor with
qualified lawyers free of
charge.
Social Justice and Welfare
President Quezon,
considering the plight of the
peasants, passed the Tenancy
Act. It provided that a contract
should formalize the tenancy
of a laborer in a landowner's
hacienda.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements
Different organizations and
groups of workers started to be
formed to protect and promote
their rights. There were groups
that started in the countryside
while the others in the big
cities. They were asking for
social justice and changes in
society.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements
Sakdal Movement
The group had a large
membership in the provinces of
Rizal, Cavite, Batangas,
Tayabas (Quezon), Laguna,
Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.
They used pamphlets and
newsletters to spread their
ideology.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements
Sakdal Movement
The Sakdalistas released
articles against President
Quezon's and other politicians'
programs and projects. They
also condemned the corruption
that is happening in the
country.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements Colorums
They are farmers, workers, and
peasants who attacked officials
such as the Philippine
Constabulary and police force.
There were several colorum
groups in Mindanao particularly
in Agusan and Surigao, and in
other provinces such as Leyte,
Cebu, Rizal, Tarlac, and
Batangas.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements Partido Socialista ng Pilipinas
It aimed to give an alternative
government that was different
from the existing democratic
system. They believed that the
democratic government
existing at that time was not a
true democracy because power
rests only on the oligarchs or a
few powerful families.
The Formation of Different Social
Movements Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas
Established in November 1930 by
Jacinto Manahan and Crisanto
Evangelista. In the speech of
Evangelista on November 7, 1930, he
gave the guiding principles of the party:
to act for complete national
independence, promote communism
among the masses, fight for the
masses against the abuses of
capitalists, and end capitalism.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
The colonization of the United States
to the Philippines has resulted
positively or negatively.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
The use of the English language spread
all over the country. Until now, the
medium of instruction in the different
schools and universities established is
English. In the field of transportation
and communication, various technology
and infrastructure were introduced and
built.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
The Americans also gave importance to
the health of the Filipinos. Hospitals
were built, vaccination and
immunization were prioritized, and
cleanliness was encouraged. They also
introduced democracy as a model of
governance to the Filipinos. The
Commonwealth government prepared
the Filipinos for self-governance.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
Despite the progress and changes
introduced by the Americans to the
Philippines, it also has had negative
results.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
The Philippine economy became highly
dependent on the United States,
having difficulty transacting with other
foreign economies.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
Some laws that violated the rights and
freedom of Filipinos despite the
promotion of democratic ideals.
Injustice and unfair economic practices
between Filipino and American
businesses such as the Payne-Aldrich
Tariff Act (1909) and Underwood-
Simmons Act (1913)were experienced.
Results of American Colonization of the
Philippines
The mindset of Filipinos toward locally
made goods connotes low standards
as compared to American or foreign-
made goods. According to historian
Teodoro Agoncillo, the arrival of
products from the United States
resulted in the dependence of Filipinos
on the United States and later killed
Philippine industries.
Drill
Answer the following pp.
139 (Exercise),
140 – 141 (HOTS),
143 (Summarizing)
COLLABORATIVE WORK
Directions: The class will be divided into 5 groups. Each
group will have to make a promotional poster of the
different programs and projects of the Commonwealth
government. Include in the poster a drawing or picture of
the program, the details, and its results.