Democratic Party (Philippines)

Political party founded by Carlos P. Romulo merged with Nacionalista Party

Not to be confused with Democratic Party of the Philippines or Democrata Party.

Democratic Party

Founders|

* Carlos P. Romulo
* Fernando Lopez

Founded| May 29, 1953
Dissolved| 1957
Split from| Liberal
Merged into| Nacionalista

* Politics of the Philippines
* Political parties
* Elections

The Democratic Party was a political party in the Philippines in 1953 to 1957. The party was not related to the Democratic Party of the United States, Democrata Party, and Democratic Party of the Philippines.

## History

[edit]

Liberal Party members, led by Carlos P. Romulo quit the party after the failure of getting the nomination against the incumbent President Elpidio Quirino for the 1953 elections.[1] Romulo and his men founded the Democratic Party,[2] on May 29, 1953.[3] Romulo was nominated by the party,[4] with selection of incumbent Vice President Fernando Lopez as his running mate.[5]

The party fielded candidates for the 1953 general election, however, its presidential candidate Romulo withdrew. After he withdrew, his running mate Lopez also withdrew to run in the Senate election instead. The two withdrew to support Ramon Magsaysay's candidacy.[6][7] Lopez and Ruperto Kangleon both won in the senatorial election, with Lopez topping the race, placing second.

The Democrats would later merge into the Nacionalista Party.

## Electoral performance

[edit]

The party participated in the 1953 and 1955 elections.[8]

### Presidential and vice presidential elections

[edit]

Year  | Presidential election  | Vice presidential election

|
|

Candidate  | Vote share  | Result  | Candidate  | Vote share  | Result
1953 | None[n 1] | Ramon Magsaysay
(Nacionalista)  | None[n 2] | Carlos P. Garcia
(Nacionalista)

1. ^ Carlos P. Romulo withdrew. Supported Ramon Magsaysay of Nacionalista Party.
2. ^ Fernando Lopez withdrew

### Congress

[edit]

Senate election  | Votes  | %  | Senate seats  | +/–  | Senate Result  | House election  | Votes  | %  | House Seats  | +/–  | House Result

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1953 | 3,793,654  | 15.4%  |

2 / 24

|  2  | Won  | 1953[n 1] | 342,889  | 8.4  |

11 / 102

|  11  | Won; Joined the Majority Bloc
1955 | Did not contest
1957 | Did not contest  | 1957 | 42,890  | 0.9  |

0 / 102

|  11  | Lost

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Two of the seats were from a common Nacionalista Party-Democratic Party ticket.

## Notable Members

[edit]

### Cabinet Level

[edit]

* Carlos P. Romulo, a presidential prospect in 1953, general, and a statesman

### Senate

[edit]

* Fernando Lopez, topnotcher of the 1953 senatorial elections, former Vice President
* Ruperto Kangleon, last in the ranking of winners of the 1953 senatorial elections, a World War II hero

### House of Representatives

[edit]

#### Full Democratic members

[edit]

* Pedro G. Trono (Iloilo 1st)
* Ricardo Yap Ladrido (Iloilo 4th)
* Jose M. Aldeguer (Iloilo 5th)
* Ramon P. Mitra, Jr. (Mountain Province 2nd)
* Jose Puey (Negros Occidental 2nd)
* Carlos Hilado (Negros Occidental 3rd)
* Conrado M. Morente (Oriental Mindoro At-large)
* Serafin Salvador (Rizal 2nd)
* Jose Roy (Tarlac 1st)

#### Partnered with Nacionalista

[edit]

* Ramon M. Durano (Cebu 1st)
* Domingo Veloso (Leyte 2nd)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cruz, Elfren S. (May 9, 2019). "Keeping democracy alive". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
2. ^ Pace, Eric (December 16, 1985). "CARLOS P. ROMULO OF PHILIPPINES DIES". The New York Times.
3. ^ "15. Philippines (1946-present)". uca.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
4. ^ "Manila Convention Names Romulo; New Democratic Party Cheers Him; His Nomination for Philippine Presidency Is Unopposed -- He Flies to U. S." The New York Times. June 22, 1953.
5. ^ "Fernando Lopez was born in Jaro, Iloilo April 13, 1904". The Kahimyang Project. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
6. ^ Cruz, Elfren S. (July 8, 2021). "Winning Philippine elections". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
7. ^ https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v12p2/d334
8. ^ Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos, Jr. (2001). Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz and Christof Hartmann (ed.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific Vol. II. Oxford University Press. pp. 185–230\. ISBN 0199249598.

## External links

[edit]

* "List of Senators". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on September 14, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2006.
* "The LAWPHiL Project – Philippine Laws and Jurispudance Databank". Arellano Law Foundation. Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2006.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Philippine House of Representatives Congressional Library
* Paras, Corazon L. (2000). The Presidents of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines. ISBN 971-8832-24-6.
* Pobre, Cesar P. (2000). Philippine Legislature 100 Years. ISBN 971-92245-0-9.