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- The Philippines (named after the infant King Philip II) were claimed as Spanish territory in 1542. From 1589 until the revolution in 1898 they were ruled by a Spanish viceroy. The Constitution drafted at the Malolos Congress created a form of government that was representative of, responsible for and elected by the Filipino people. It was divided into three distinct powers: legislative, executive and judicial, and no person or organization was permitted to hold office in more than one area of government.
- Aguinaldo was committed to educating the people of the Philippines to ensure that after years of servitude to Spain, they would be capable of governing themselves. The Malolos Congress gave all citizens the advantage of a free education. It set up schools, a military academy and the Literary University of the Philippines. Article 23 of the constitution reads "Education shall be obligatory and gratuitous in the schools of the nation."
- The Malolos Congress established the first democratic constitution in Southeast Asia. The most popular religions in the Philippines were Islam and Catholicism. To avoid religious intrusion on political affairs church and state were separated and all religions declared equal. Article 3 of the constitution reads "Sovereignty lies exclusively with the people". Every Filipino was given the advantage of full civil and political rights and the freedom to exercise those rights without hindrance no matter what their religion.
- For a people that had been for centuries under the Spanish yoke, freedom of speech was an enormous advantage. The new constitution gave Filipinos the freedom to express any opinion they wanted "by word or by writing" and they could use any media to do so. Another advantage of the congress gave Filipinos the right to initiate or belong to any club or association, as long as its interests were not contrary to "public morals."
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Education
Democracy
Freedom of Speech
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