Today in the Past

Today, December, 23, 1898, President Aguinaldo signs the Malolos Constitution.

The most important legislative achievement of the Revolutionary Congress was the Constitution of the Philippine Republic, commonly known as the Malolos Constitution.

A committee of the leading Filipinos had the document under close study.

Felipe G. Calderon, a lawyer deeply learned in political science, was the author and the member who reported it to Congress.

The Constitution was adopted by Congress on November 29, 1898, after it was debated for more than two months.

The article which would make Catholicism the state religion provoked the longest discussion, the liberal elements led by General Luna and Tomas G. del Rosario bitterly assailing it.

The liberals won with a slight majority.

The principal characteristics of the Malolos Constitution are: Ministerial responsibility of parliament; subordination of the President of the Republic to the National Legislature; the penal responsibility of high ranking officials for crimes committed against the safety of the State; and the designation of extraordinary representatives who, together with the regular members, would form the Constituent Assembly.

As soon as it was adopted by Congress, the Constitution was sent to the President of the Republic for his approval and promulgation, for the representatives hoped that the Constitutional Government of the Republic would have been duly constituted before the Treaty of Paris would be definitely agreed upon.