Did you know that we Filipinos are uniquely distinguished as the only people in the world who have earnestly endeavored to establish a truly God-centered government? Originally, our Constitutional fathers aimed not merely to “invoke” God in our actions, as stated in our preamble, but rather to place God at the very heart of Philippine governance.

Some might dismiss this claim, arguing that over ninety constitutions around the world invoke God in some form. These references, typically appearing in preambles, reflect diverse spiritual values across nations. For instance, the constitutions of countries like Algeria, Argentina, and Brazil include invocations or acknowledgments of God, highlighting the religious or spiritual principles that influenced their framers.

In some instances, such as in Canada, the reference to God in the preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, while present, has not significantly influenced judicial decisions. The courts have described it as a ‘dead letter,’ which might intrigue those interested in legal interpretations and rulings. Conversely, in countries like Ireland, references to God have played a more prominent role in legal interpretations and rulings, showcasing the varying impact of such invocations across different legal systems​ (Oxford Academic)​​ (Wikipedia)​. These invocations, present in diverse countries spanning different continents and cultural contexts, indicate a widespread practice of acknowledging a higher power in national constitutions.

References in the Philippine Constitution
In the Philippine Constitution, references to God can be found in both the Preamble and other sections of the document:

Preamble:
The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines invokes God directly:

“We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.”

While not explicitly mentioning God, other sections reflect moral and ethical values often associated with a belief in a higher power. For instance, Section 6 of Article II states:

“The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.”

This emphasizes respect for religious freedom and acknowledges the influence of religious values in public life. These references highlight the role of faith in the nation’s foundational principles while ensuring the state’s secular nature in governance​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Oxford Academic)​.

Historical Context of God in Philippine Legal Texts

In our history, especially during the formation of our first government, our forefathers aimed not just to invoke God but to put God at the very center of our government.

In the Kartilya of the Katipunan and the Sanggunian Hukuman of Katipunan co-founder Emilio Jacinto, as well as the provisional constitution of Biak-na-Bato, God was not merely invoked; the fear and reverence of God were deeply embedded in these documents. They emphasized the sense of duty of every Filipino towards God, suggesting that moral or “holy” behavior is integral to the revolutionary cause​ (studylib.net)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

These concepts were institutionalized through our Malolos Constitution. According to Malcolm (1921), the Malolos Constitution was based on various documents, including the “cartilla and the Sanggunian-Hukuman” of the Katipunan, drawn up by Emilio Jacinto, and the provisional constitution of Biak-na-Bato, modeled after a revolutionary Cuban constitution​ (Wikipedia)​.

Guerrero (1998) noted that the cartilla consisted of concepts and political ideas not just from the works of Rizal and the propagandists but also from an established Indigenous historiographical narrative among Filipinos before the Propaganda Movement. This underscores that the framers of the first Philippine Constitution believed that the government should place God at the center of any human conduct. This God-centered belief of Bonifacio and the Katipunan diverged from the more secular, anthropomorphic beliefs held by the Western-educated Ilustrados like del Pilar and Rizal​ (Wikipedia)​.

Thus, the vision of a God-centered government has been a profound and distinctive element of our national identity and constitutional history.

References:

Guerrero, Milagros. “Pagtanaw sa Kasaysayan, Paghahanda sa Himagsikan: Mga Ideya ng Katipunan, 1892-1897,” Kasarinlan (Philippine Journal on Third World Studies), Vol 14 No 1 (1998): Philippine Revolution 1.

Malcolm, George A. “The Malolos Constitution.” Political Science Quarterly 36, no. 1 (1921): 91–103. https://doi.org/10.2307/2142663.