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Philippines Political Parties
Philippine political parties are essentially nonideological
vehicles for personal and factional political ambition. The party
system in the early 1990s closely resembled that of the premartial law years when the Nacionalista and Liberal parties
alternated in power. Although they lacked coherent political
programs, they generally championed conservative social positions
and avoided taking any position that might divide the electorate.
Each party tried to appeal to all regions, all ethnic groups, and
all social classes and fostered national unity by never
championing one group or region. Neither party had any way to
enforce party discipline, so politicians switched capriciously
back and forth. The parties were essentially pyramids of patronclient relationships stretching from the remotest villages to
Manila. They existed to satisfy particular demands, not to
promote general programs. Because nearly all senators and
representatives were provincial aristocrats, the parties never
tackled the fundamental national problem--the vastly inequitable
distribution of land, power, and wealth.
Ferdinand Marcos mastered that party system, then altered it
by establishing an all-embracing ruling party to be the sole
vehicle for those who wished to engage in political activity. He
called it the New Society Movement (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan). The
New Society Movement sought to extend Marcos's reach to far
corners of the country. Bureaucrats at all levels were welladvised to join. The New Society Movement offered unlimited
patronage. The party won 163 of 178 seats in the National
Assembly in 1978 and easily won the 1980 local elections. In 1981
Marcos actually had to create his own opposition, because no one
was willing to run against him.
Data as of June 1991
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