Good Afternoon to each and everyone

I’m Sittie Shailar M. Hadjie Edres and I would be discussing about the cacique

democracy in the Philippines by Anderson benedict . So in this lesson it cover the

origin of the elite democracy .We are going dive in to this lesson to better

understand the origin of the elite democracy.

First we have to know the meaning of Cacique . Cacique is the derivative term

‘caciquismo’ has been used to describe a democramtic system subverted by the

power of local boses who successfully influence the electoral process in their favor

or in other word A very powerful person also known as a native chief.

After learning the origin of cacique we ae now going to proceed to cacique

democracy.

The term "cacique democracy" was coined by the renowned political scientist

Benedict Anderson. It refers to the enduring influence of powerful local leaders,

known as caciques, who maintain significant control over their respective regions,

often through a combination of patronage, kinship ties, and traditional authority.

This system has its roots in the pre-colonial era, where datus (chieftains) held

sway over their respective territories.

During the Spanish colonial period, the caciques emerged as influential figures,

often collaborating with the Spanish authorities to maintain their power and

influence. This collaboration was further solidified during the American colonial

period, as the US sought to establish a system of governance that relied on local

elites. The US government, aiming to cultivate a loyal indigenous leadership,

expropriated land from the Catholic Church and auctioned it off to landowners and

economic elites, effectively strengthening their position and consolidating their

power.

So before we indulge our self into this lesson lets first talk about the famous

oligarch in the Philippines first here is we have Corazon Cojuangco Aquino she

was known for leading the Edsa revolution or the people power she is a member of

one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties within the Filipino oligarchy. If

we are going to analyze the political background of Corazon Aquino you will

notice that her family have been involve In politics starting with her grand father

down to his son who also became a president of the Philippines. She was married

to Benigno Aquino Jr. who is a senator during the American era and a governor of

tarlac this marriage linked her into another dynasty.

So as you can see that most off the famous families of oligarchies have a -co suffix

because The ‘-co’ suffix is shared by a significant number of other dynasties within

the national oligarchy. It originates from the Hokkienese k’o, a term of respect for
older males; and it shows that her family originated among the Chinese mestizos

who bloomed economically under the Spanish colonial regime and consolidated

their wealth with political power under the Americans. The Chinese mestizos are

called Mestizo de Sangley is a person of mixed Chinese and indigenous Filipino

ancestry.

We are now going to proceed to Spanish colonialism.

As we all know that the Philippines has been colonize by the Spaniard for a long

period of time in fact our country was named after king Felipe II. And throughout

history the Philippines faced different changes like the language, religion and the

way of living of our ancestor. the transformation of Animism to Christianism.

So, in 1560s Manila quickly became the entrepôt for the ‘galleon trade which

Chinese silks and porcelains were exchanged for Mexican silver, to be resold, at

colossal profit, across the Pacific and eventually in Europe. To join this kind of

trade you must be in manila to participate to have connection with Chinese traders.

In the mid-18th century Carlos III and José Basco y Vargas were the pioneers of the

creation of haciendas. The different religious orders lead the commercialization of

agriculture. These used to pass down within the institution.

The church, or spain in general, gave rise and distinction to the mestizos. Mestizos

refer to the person who is an offspring of a Spaniard and a indigenous Filipino.

Spanish power in the Philippines was mediated through the Church. That is the

main reason why most of the people of the Philippines are Christian.

Later, the mestizos took over trade economy and moved into small scale

agriculture.

During 1834 Manila was fully opened to international trade which was followed

by Cebu and other ports. The mestizos took the countryside and worked on total

agricultural commercialization. This meant that for the first time the mestizos

became real hacendados. British and American Trading House saw the possibilities

in full scale commercialization of Philippines agriculture and it provided the

capital and commercial outlets to permit the meztizos to become real hacendados

Due to the internalization of the economy the creation of the steamship the

mestizos not only become wealthy but also educated.

The growth of national sentiment

The next step was to get educated. Those who were from the rich family were

educated and had the privilege to study in Europe. Because the church forbids us to

go to school that is why people from the middle class were able to study in some

university like Dr. Jose rizal he was able to study in some university here in the

Philippines and also in abroad. The Filipino people have gather some courage to

fight against the colonizer the educated and wealthy men called the Illustrados ,in
1880s they created the real intelligentsia and began a cultural assault on benighted

clericalism and Spanish domination. Dr. Jose Rizal was also part of the illustrados,

they feel the sense of nationalism and patriotism we all know how our national

hero fought with the colonizer and we don’t have to discuss all the details . another

important part of history was Andres Bonifacio formed a secret revolutionary

society called Kataastaasang Kagalanggalang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng

Bayan (KKK). Katipuneros mobilized the indio masses to revolt against the

Spaniard.

US Colonization and the National Oligarchy

During the American colonization there are some changes in the country the

Americans unified and changed the country politically, and helped the mestizos to

rise economically, by getting rid of all opposition and auctioning off religious

orders agricultural lands to the rich mestizos and created a new representational

system that started the national oligarchy .

The oligarchies quickly learned how the congressional system could increase their

power. They used their power to acquire funds and other privileges for

improvement of their agricultural interest.

One of the most important features of American regime was the beginning of the

political dynasties. Caciques understood the best way to hold power onto power

and fiefdoms was to bestow local political power to their families and friends.

The Japanese colonization

Japan struck the Philippines and the American left the country. The oligarchs

collaborated with the invaders. But this act wasn’t enough to save the hacienda –

base export. The connivance did not help the caciques, as Japan has banned exports

to America. The economic fall was worsened as former tenants and laborers

informally settled on hacienda lands and grew crops that they need for survival.

So instead of punishing the collaborators , America pardoned and elected on of the

caciques. This is due to MacArthur having personal business ties with the

oligarchs.

Actually there was an effort to reestablish agrarian and political order, but this

proved difficult to achieve. One of the reason for this is the fight put up by the

Hukbalahap forces, whose members are mostly peasants.

The heyday of the democracy

The rise of private armies, lorded by haciendados, shook the system .they were

highly fuctional, especially in elections, and terrorized the opposition and the

underprivilege. America quickly damage control. It was the last year of Roxas life

that the Philippine saw conspicuous appearance of the countrys private armies.

Col. Edward Lansdale was dispatched to restore order through the agency of

defense. In 1954, The Huk rebellion had been crushed and thousands of peasant

from Luzon transmigrated to Mindanao and later on Ramon Magsaysay became

the president of the Philippines.

The oligarchy rose once again in what is known as its peak in 1954- 1957. Some of

them branched out in different areas like media, real estate, and the like. The

downfall of cacique democracy became visible in the late 60s. The uncontrolled

plundering of state and private wealth plus, the uncontrollable population and it

resulted in the further indigence of the poor.

Ferdinand Marcos: The Supreme Cacique

Cacique democracy in the independent Philippines also led to secular changes in

the operation of the political system. The dynasties began leaving their haciendas

and moved to palatial new residential complex. They leave their haciendas in the

hands of their son-in-law and bailiffs. Forbes Park was the first, and still the most
celebrated, of these beaux quartiers, which remain sociologically unique in

Southeast Asia. Elsewhere in the region luxurious houses are jumbled together

with the dwellings of the poor. [55] But the golden ghetto of Forbes Park was

policed, as a complex, by armed security guards; access even to its streets required

the production of identification papers.

This partial move to Manila combined with demographic increase and the postwar

expansion of the suffrage to monetarize political life. It was less and less possible

to win elections, even provincial elections, on a forelock-tugging basis.

Marcos' regime was marked by authoritarianism, with him exercising both

executive and legislative powers through his own edicts. Although he allowed the

Judiciary to function, he limited its powers and claimed some of its authority ¹.

Marcos also drew on the country's historic barangay system to legitimize his rule,

seeking to create a hierarchical, centralized power structure with himself at the top.

Marcos exploited the state, rather than hacienda, power in two other instructive

ways. The first was to deal with the Americans, the second with his fellow-

oligarchs.

Ferdinand Marcos' regime transformed the Philippines into a massive prison for

those who opposed him, with Martial Law serving as a tool to eliminate dissent

and opposition.
Marcos' declaration of Martial Law in 1972 was not a response to external threats,

but rather a deliberate move to consolidate his power and crush opposition.

Marcos declares martial law in 1972, suppressing opposition and consolidating his

power. Marcos strengthens the military, centralizing power and consolidating his

control. Marcos utilizes state power for personal and political gain, further

enriching himself.

People Power Revolution

The People Power Revolution took place in 1986 and led to the overthrow of the

Marcos regime. It explores the causes and consequences of the revolution,

including the role of the Catholic Church, the media, and the Filipino people in the

struggle for democracy and human rights. It also examines the legacy of the

Marcos regime and the challenges facing the Philippines in the aftermath of the

revolution.

Coalition Formation A diverse coalition formed against Marcos, led by Corazon

Aquino.

During the new regime’s first year, when the elan of the ‘People Power Revolution’

remained quite strong, the coalition’s junior partners were optimistic. The

restoration of an open-market press greatly expanded freedom for assembly and

organization, and the crumbling of the crony monopolies and monopsonies, filled
the various sectors of the middle class with giddy exhilaration. They could be fully

themselves once again. Business confidence would be restored and the Philippines

rerouted onto the path of progress.

The Americans would provide substantial sums in support of restored

constitutional democracy. And People Power would, through free and honest

elections, create a progressive legislative partner for the President, giving the

middle class its long-dreamed-of chance to lead the country.

The second year of the new regime dashed most of these illusions. The talks with

Muslim and Communist leaders broke down for essentially the same reason: the

Aquino regime found itself in no position to make any attractive concessions.

Haunted by nationalist dreams, even those Muslim leaders who seemed prepared to

accept ‘autonomy’, rather than independence, still demanded a Muslim

autonomous zone remembered from the American colonial era.

The Caciques Claim Their Own

Traditional Political Families labeled as "political dynasties" in the Philippines,

usually have a strong, consolidated support base concentrated around the province

in which they are dominant.

Out of 200 House Representatives, 130 belong to the so-called “traditional political

families”, while another 39 are relatives of these families. Only 31 Congressmen

have no electoral record prior to 1971 and are not related to these old dominant

families. . . . Of the 24 elected senators, there are a few non-traditional figures but

the cast is largely made up of members of prominent pre-1972 political families.

The results were widely interpreted as a triumph for Corazon Aquino in so far as

twenty-three of the twenty-four victorious senatorial candidates ran as her

supporters and as members of various nominal parties in her electoral coalition.