The rise and fall of Philippine democracy

Democracy has been a major component of who we are since the 19th century. However, the Philippine democracy of the 19th century was not imposed, granted, instituted or developed by a foreign power. It was internally generated and a testament to the Filipino patriots of the past.

To gain international support for their movement, the Revolutionaries of 1898 understood that a gesture was necessary to prove the Philippines and the Filipinos were ready to stand on the world stage. As Felice Sta. Maria wrote: “The Proclamation of June 12, 1898 is particularly important in world history. The Philippine Revolution was the third major organized armed struggle against imperialism to succeed. It followed in the footsteps of the American and French Revolutions…The Proclamation is evidence that Filipinos wanted to establish a modern nation state…” Democracy was to be their proof.

In October, November and December of 1898 two US Naval sailors (WB Wilcox and LR Sargent) were sent on a mission by Admiral Dewey to inspect Northern Luzon and prepare a report. Of that report James Bradley, in his book The Imperial Cruise, wrote that it “…documented a fully functioning Filipino government that was efficiently administering justice through its courts, keeping the peace, providing police protection, holding elections, and carrying out the consent of the governed.”

On March 13, 2010, the National Democratic Institute, a non-profit organization based in the United States, just issued their report on the upcoming Philippine elections. “At the same time however, suspicions and lack of trust among the political competitors and toward authorities, combined with insufficient inclusiveness and transparency, have inhibited public confidence in the elections and generated anxiety about the automated election system.” Within that report they also laid out a series of measures that the Comelec and the Philippine government must institute to protect the integrity of the upcoming elections. Chief among them are random manual audits, broad participation of third-party civilian poll watchers and of course widespread voter education campaigns – something they identified as still lacking. They did note, however, the belief the Filipinos have in democracy: “The Philippines has a long and distinguished history of citizens voluntarily acting together to exercise oversight and add transparency to the electoral process. Filipino election monitors have been an inspiration to citizens throughout the world and around the globe.” It has been this way since the 19th century. We have a distinguished history when it comes to democratic idealism.

Part of the 19th century development of a Philippine democracy was the development of guidelines and responsibilities of the Filipino as a citizen. Apolinario Mabini on June 24, 1898 would publish the Decalogue; ten guidelines citizens should follow. The seventh states: “Recognize no authority in thy country of any person who may have not been elected by thee and by thy compatriots…” The eighth states: “Secure for they people a republic but never a monarchy: the latter ennobles one or several families and founds a dynasty; the former builds up a people, noble and worthy through reason, great through liberty, prosperous and brilliant through industry.”

Of the Philippines and its nascent democracy US Senator George Hoar on January 9, 1900, in a speech before the US Senate would say: “Is there any American senator whose blood is so cold, whose eyes are so blinded by this wretched glitter and glare of empire…that he is willing to join in an attempt to trample under foot the liberties of a people like that? Have you read the death song of Rizal? It rises to the loftiest strains. Have you read the state papers of these men — these Filipinos? They will compare favorably with the state papers of any nation on earth. Have you read their constitution?”

Democracy is in our blood and on its behalf Filipino blood has been spilled for its creation and in its defense. It is a legacy to be protected, preserved, honored and should never be subverted.