Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1934

Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1934
Constitutional convention
Type
Type
History
FoundedJuly 30, 1934 (1934-07-30)
DisbandedFebruary 19, 1935 (1935-02-19) (adjourned)
Succeeded byPhilippine Constitutional Convention of 1971
Leadership
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Seats202
Elections
Last election
July 10, 1934
Meeting place
Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Legislative Building, Manila

The Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1934, also known as the 1934 Constitutional Convention, was an elected constituent assembly in the Philippine Islands that drafted the Constitution establishing the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Formally styled the Constitutional Convention, it was organized under the Tydings–McDuffie Act and Philippine Act No. 4125.[1][2]

The convention consisted of 202 delegates and met in Manila from July 30, 1934, until February 19, 1935. Claro M. Recto served as its president, with Ruperto Montinola and Teodoro Sandiko as first and second vice presidents, respectively.[3] The convention approved the proposed constitution on February 8, 1935. It was subsequently certified by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt and ratified by Filipino voters in the 1935 Philippine constitutional plebiscite.[4]

Background

The United States Congress enacted the Philippine Independence Act, commonly known as the Tydings–McDuffie Act, on March 24, 1934. The law provided for a transitional commonwealth government followed by recognition of Philippine independence. It authorized Filipinos to draft a constitution, subject to specified requirements and certification by the president of the United States before submission to a popular vote.[5]

The Philippine Legislature enacted Act No. 4125 on May 26, 1934, to provide for the election and meeting of the convention. The statute allotted two delegates to each representative district, with separate arrangements for the special provinces of Mindanao and Sulu, the subprovinces of Mountain Province and the city of Baguio. It prescribed a total membership of 202 and made the office of delegate honorary.[2]

Election and organization

The delegates were elected on July 10, 1934.[6] Most were chosen by plurality vote among registered electors. Under Act No. 4125, however, the delegates representing Mountain Province, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Lanao and Sulu were selected by secret ballot at meetings of municipal and municipal-district officials.[2]

The convention opened on July 30 in the session hall of the House of Representatives in Manila. Senate President Manuel L. Quezon initially called the assembly to order, and the delegates selected José P. Laurel as temporary chair. Recto was then elected permanent president. The convention elected Montinola and Sandiko as vice presidents, Narciso Pimentel as secretary and Narciso Diokno as sergeant-at-arms.[3]

Leadership

President of the Convention
Claro M. Recto

Members

Province/City District Delegates[7]
Abra Lone Julio Borbon
Jesus Paredes
Agusan Lone Apolonio D. Curato
Delfin Gumban
Albay 1st Jose Bonto
Ambrosio Calleja
2nd Saturnino Benito
Toribio P. Perez
3rd Jose Conejero
Francisco Muñoz
4th Braulio Leonardo
Jesus B. Surban
Antique Lone Ramon Maza
Angel Salazar
Bataan Lone Roman Cruz
Miguel Cuaderno Sr.
Batanes Lone Juan Castillejos
Mariano Lizardo
Batangas 1st Antonino Barrion
Conrado V. Sanchez
2nd Eusebio M. Lopez
Eusebio Orense
3rd Jose P. Laurel
Claro M. Recto
Bohol 1st Gaudencio Cloribel
Bernardino Inting
2nd Perfecto Balili
Jose Clarin
3rd Teofilo Buslon
Anastacio Mumar
Bukidnon Lone Pedro Melendez
Jose S. Sanvictores
Bulacan 1st Nicolas Buendia
Teodoro Sandiko
2nd Manuel L. Sevilla
Antonio Villarama
Cagayan 1st Marcelo Adduru
Vicente Nepomuceno
2nd Antonio Guzman
Miguel Pio
Camarines Norte Lone Baldomero Lapak
Wenceslao Vinzons
Camarines Sur 1st Manuel Abella
Gabriel P. Prieto
2nd Severo Cea
Exequiel S. Grageda
Capiz 1st Jose Altavas
Manuel Roxas
2nd Antonio A. Arcenas
Cornelio Villareal
3rd Jose Hontiveros
Teodulfo Suñer
Cavite Lone Demetrio Encarnacion
Vicente Francisco
Cebu 1st Manuel Briones
Antonio Mansueto
2nd Paulino Gullas
Filemon Sotto
3rd Vicente Sotto
Antonio Ybañez
4th Casiano S. Carin
Cesar Kintanar
5th Mariano Jesus Cuenco
Dionisio Niere
6th Nicolas Rafols
Felismeno V. Rivera
7th Juanito T. Maramara
Hilario Moncado
Cotabato Lone Menendang Piang
Blah T. Sinsuat
Davao Lone Rafael Castillo
Pantaleon A. Pelayo
Ilocos Norte 1st Maximino Bueno
Irineo Ranjo
2nd Servando Castro
Francisco Ventura
Ilocos Sur 1st Elpidio Quirino
Vicente Singson Encarnacion
2nd Artemio Abaya
Delfin Joven
Iloilo 1st Mariano Ezpeleta
Sofronio M. Flores
2nd Fermin Caram
Ruperto Montinola
3rd Tomas Confesor
Tiburcio Lutero
4th Tranquilino J. Divinagracia
Matias Yusay
5th Jose Aldeguer
Jose Ganzon
Isabela Lone Manuel B. Binag
Elias Ocampo
La Union 1st Pio Ancheta
Camilo Osias
2nd Alejandro de Guzman
Enrique C. Sobrepeña
Laguna 1st Jose Maria Delgado
Domingo Zavalla
2nd Conrado Benitez
Pedro Guevara
Lanao Lone Alauya Alonto
Tomas Cabili
Leyte 1st Mateo Canonoy
Rafael Martinez
2nd Quiremon Alkuino
Manuel Martinez Corro
3rd Victorino N. Salazar
Francisco Zialcita
4th Ruperto Kapunan
Norberto Romualdez
5th Atilano Cinco
Mamerto S. Ribo
Manila 1st Manuel Lim
Gregorio Perfecto
2nd Salvador Araneta
Rafael Palma
Marinduque Lone Ricardo Nepomuceno
Timoteo P. Ricohermoso
Masbate Lone Amancio Aguilar[a]
Jose Zurbito
Mindoro Lone Cipriano Liboro
Juan Navarro
Misamis Occidental Lone Paulino A. Conol
José Ozámiz
Misamis Oriental Lone Jose Artadi
Manuel C. Fernandez
Mountain Province Apayao Blas Villamor
Jose Fakangan
Baguio Sixto A. Gaerlan
Felipe E. Jose
Benguet Jose O. Cariño
Jose Velasco
Bontoc Clement F. Irving
Jose M. Lorenzana
Ifugao Alberto Crespillo
Miguel Gumangan
Kalinga Max Duguiang
Saturnino Moldero
Negros Occidental 1st Juan Ledesma
Jose Locsin
2nd Pedro Hernaez
Simplicio Lizares
3rd Enrique Montilla
Jesus Y. Perez
Negros Oriental 1st Vicente Lopez
Hermenegildo Villanueva
2nd Sergio G. Jumawan
Jose E. Romero
Nueva Ecija 1st Eugenio Baltao
Florentino O. Chioco
2nd Exequiel Santos
Bonifacio Ysip
Nueva Vizcaya Lone Leon Cabarroguis
Demetrio Quirino
Palawan Lone Gaudencio E. Abordo
Evaristo R. Sandoval
Pampanga 1st Felix Bautista
Juan D. Nepomuceno
2nd Jose Alejandrino
Jose Gutierrez David
Pangasinan 1st Enrique Braganza
Anacleto R. Ramos
2nd Numeriano Tanopo
Juan Ventanilla
3rd Pascual M. Beltran
Jose L. de Guzman
4th Jose M. Aruego
Eusebio Sison
5th Leoncio R. Esliza
Bernabe de Guzman
Rizal 1st Castor P. Cruz
Juan Ortega
2nd Domingo T. Dikit
Mariano Melendres
Romblon Lone Manuel Albero
Antonio Montesa
Samar 1st Agripino P. Escareal
Luciano Ortiz
2nd Pedro R. Arteche
Serafin Marabut
3rd Felipe Abrigo
Juan L. Bocar
Sorsogon 1st Adolfo Grafilo
Jose S. Reyes
2nd Francisco Arellano
Mario Guariña
Sulu Lone Jose Montaño
Arolas Tulawi
Surigao Lone Clementino D. Diez
Montano A. Ortiz
Tarlac 1st Gregorio M. Bañaga
Luis Morales
2nd Alejandro Galang
Enrique Maglanoc
Tayabas 1st Fabian R. Millar
Godofredo Reyes
2nd Romualdo Enriquez
Vicente Salumbides
Zambales Lone Alejo Labrador
Potenciano Lesaca
Zamboanga Lone Pablo Lorenzo
Florentino Saguin
  1. ↑ Amancio Aguilar died on August 17, 1934.

Drafting proceedings

The convention organized committees to consider different parts of the proposed charter. A seven-member subcommittee prepared a consolidated draft from the committee reports. Its members were Filemon Sotto, Manuel Roxas, Vicente Singson Encarnacion, Manuel Briones, Miguel Cuaderno, Norberto Romualdez and Conrado Benitez. The subcommittee submitted its report on October 20, 1934.[8]

The delegates debated the structure of the executive and legislature, the powers of government, citizenship, suffrage, social justice, economic policy, natural resources, civil liberties and the proposed national language. Historian Gonzalo Malihan described consensus building, majority rule and the convention's leadership as important to its decisions, which were also constrained by requirements in the Tydings–McDuffie Act.[1]

The language question produced prolonged disagreement. Proposals to designate Tagalog immediately as the national language were initially defeated. The final text instead directed the future National Assembly to develop and adopt a common national language based on one of the existing native languages, while retaining English and Spanish as official languages until otherwise provided by law.[9]

As completed, the proposed constitution established a republican government with separated legislative, executive and judicial powers. It contained a bill of rights and originally provided for a unicameral National Assembly and a president elected to a six-year term without immediate reelection.[4]

Committees

The Constitutional Convention of 1934 had 47 committees:[10]

Committee Chairman
Accounts Fabian R. Millar
Agricultural Development Juan Ledesma
Amendments to the Constitution José Ozámiz
Bill of Rights Jose P. Laurel
Citizenship and Naturalization Gregorio Perfecto
Citizenship Duties Jose S. Reyes
Civil Service Luis Morales
Commerce Salvador Araneta
Comparative Study of Constitutions Jose Hontiveros
Constitutional Guarantees Manuel Lim
Credentials Vicente Nepomuceno
Currency and Banks Miguel Cuaderno Sr.
Declaration of Principles Rafael Palma
Delimitation of Territory Nicolas Buendia
Executive Power Mariano Jesus Cuenco
Finance and Public Accounts Vicente Singson Encarnacion
Franchises Jose M. Aruego
Health and Hygiene Antonio Villarama
Immigration Alejandro de Guzman
Impeachment Jose Gutierrez David
Industry Conrado Benitez
Insular Police Jose Zurbito
Interior Government Mariano Melendres
Judicial Power Vicente Francisco
Labor and Social Welfare Jose Maria Delgado
Legislative Power Manuel Briones
Mandatory Provisions Francisco Ventura
Metropolitan and Foreign Relations Pedro Guevara
Miscellaneous Matters Ambrosio Calleja
National Defense Jose Alejandrino
Nationalization and Conservation of Land and Natural Resources Jose Locsin
Nationalization of the Public Utilities Camilo Osias
Official Language Alejo Labrador
Preamble Norberto Romualdez
Printing Jose Conejero
Privileges Romualdo Enriquez
Provincial and Municipal Governments Hermenegildo Villanueva
Public Instruction Ricardo Nepomuceno
Rules Jose E. Romero
Scientific Research Juan Ortega
Selection of Resident Commissioner under the Commonwealth Fermin Caram
Special Provinces Menendang Piang
Sponsorship Filemon Sotto
Style Vicente Sotto
Suffrage Jose Altavas
Tariff Serafin Marabut
Transitory Provisions Ruperto Kapunan

Approval and ratification

On February 8, 1935, the convention conducted a roll-call vote and approved the proposed constitution. Tomás Cabili of Lanao cast the only negative vote recorded in the convention journal.[11] Delegates signed the document before the convention adjourned on February 19, subject to recall if further action was required.[12]

The proposed constitution was submitted to Roosevelt on March 18. He certified on March 23 that it substantially conformed to the Philippine Independence Act. The Philippine Legislature subsequently enacted Act No. 4200, providing for its submission to the electorate on May 14, 1935.[4][13] Voters ratified the constitution, completing the process required for establishing the Commonwealth government.[4] The Commonwealth was inaugurated on November 15, 1935.[4]

Historical significance

Malihan characterized the convention as a milestone in Philippine constitutional history because it was the first occasion under American rule on which Filipinos were permitted to write the fundamental law intended to govern their transition to autonomy and independence. He also noted that three delegates—Laurel, Roxas and Elpidio Quirino—later became presidents of the Philippines.[1]

The constitution produced by the convention initially governed the Commonwealth and, following independence, the Third Philippine Republic. It was amended in 1940 and, apart from the period of the Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic, remained the country's fundamental law until the adoption of the 1973 Constitution.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Malihan, Gonzalo R. (2016). "The 1934 Constitutional Convention: Significance to Philippine constitutional history". Luz y Saber. 10 (1–2). ISSN 2244-6338. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Act No. 4125". The Lawphil Project. Arellano Law Foundation. May 26, 1934. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Journal No. 1, July 30, 1934". Constitutional Convention Record. Supreme Court E-Library. July 30, 1934. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 People v. Linsañgan, 62 Phil. 646 (Supreme Court of the Philippines December 21, 1935).
  5. ↑ "Philippine Independence Act" (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. March 24, 1934. pp. 456–465. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Did you know: The National Constitutional Convention of 1934". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 10, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ Our Delegates to the Constitutional Assembly. Manila: Benipayo Press. 1935.
  8. ↑ "Committee Report No. 1, October 20, 1934". Constitutional Convention Record. Supreme Court E-Library. October 20, 1934. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ Uchiyama, Fumiko (2000). "The Creation of a Philippine National Language: Discussions during the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1934". Southeast Asia: History and Culture (29): 81–104. doi:10.5512/sea.2000.81. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ Aruego, Jose M. (1936). The Framing of the Philippine Constitution. Manila: University Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 57–71.
  11. ↑ "Journal No. 138, February 8, 1935". Constitutional Convention Record. Supreme Court E-Library. February 8, 1935. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Journal No. 139, February 19, 1935". Constitutional Convention Record. Supreme Court E-Library. February 19, 1935. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Act No. 4200". The Lawphil Project. Arellano Law Foundation. April 8, 1935. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
  14. ↑ Law Library of Congress (1987). The American Constitution: Its Global Heritage (PDF) (Report). Library of Congress. Retrieved August 7, 2026.
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