FROM MIONG TO DIGONG: THE DYNAMICS OF PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS (1897-2016)

Abstract

Elections have always been a vanguard of procedural democracy in the Philippines. From the time of the first presidential election in the Tejeros Convention in 1897 until the 2016 Presidential derby, the voice of the people has been instrumental in catapulting the chief executive to the seat of power in Malacañang Palace. It is interesting to note that the dynamics of Philippine presidential elections has been written by only a few scholars. This study attempts to provide the mechanism of elections including its results in determining the occupant of the highest position of the land which is held by the Office of the President.

Since the first presidential election in 1897 with Emilio Aguinaldo as president, the outcome has always been marred with influence peddling and electioneering. The maturity of presidential election was further enhanced with the 1935 and 1941 Commonwealth election with Manuel L. Quezon at the helm of power. However, mudslinging and rumour-mongering became pronounced during this democratic exercise. After the death of Quezon, the Philippines witnessed its first presidential succession under Sergio Osmeña Sr. During the outbreak of World War II and the Japanese occupation in 1941, Jose P. Laurel was installed as president by the National Assembly controlled by the imperial government of Japan.

After World War II, the election of Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte provided strength in the procedural aspect of democracy. It is in this context of the process of presidential electoral procedure that the following questions will be answered: what was the context of the presidential election of each chief executive?, what were the political parties involved and how they contend each other?, what were the significant election issues?, how was the presidential election conducted?, and what were the results?