The Spanish introduced the concept of European civilization,
including European style politics, to the Philippines when they
began expanding into the nation. Prior to the Spanish, the
Philippines were not a unified country and had a well developed
process of politics and war among the various states that
controlled the islands.
The particular style of politics and government now seen in the
Philippines is derived from US style government and politics. The
US controlled the Philippines from about 1903 and imposed many
elements of the US Constitution and governmental style on the
country. Prior to WW2 a date for Philippine independence had been
set and a Commonwealth government established with increasing local
control of all governmental functions.