Grand Alliance (Philippines)

Not to be confused with Grand Alliance for Democracy.

The Grand Alliance (GA) was a political multi-party electoral alliance in the Philippines that existed from 1959 to 1965. It was composed of members of the Progressive Party and defectors from the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party.^[1]

Grand Alliance
Founded	1959
Dissolved	1965
Coalition members	Progressive Party Liberal Party[a] Nacionalista Party[a]
Politics of the Philippines Political parties Elections

History

Formation

In 1959, the Liberal Party, led by Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal and Senate President Ferdinand Marcos, negotiated with members of the Progressive Party for a possible alliance with the two parties. Under the terms of the negotiation, Manuel Manahan and Raul Manglapus would be included in the senatorial slate of the Liberal Party for the 1959 senatorial elections. According to Macapagal, Manahan initially agreed to the coalition.^[2]

However, the Progressive camp wanted Senator Emmanuel Pelaez and former Defense Secretary Jesus Vargas. This eventually found the support of Senator Ambrosio Padilla from the Liberal Party. Due to a disagreement with the terms, the proposed coalition broke down. According to Manglapus, this also resulted in Padilla being ousted from the Liberal Party.^[2][3]

With negotiations with the Liberal Party failing to move forward, the Progressive Party and defectors of both the Nacionalista Party and Liberal Party formed the Grand Alliance (GA).

1959 election

The GA put up its own six-man slate for the 1959 senatorial elections. Manahan, Manglapus, and Vargas represented the Progressive wing of the alliance. Pelaez represented the Nacionalista wing, while Narciso Pimentel, Jr. and Osmundo Mondoñedo represented the Liberal wing.^[4]

By the end of the election, none of them were successful in acquiring a Senate seat.

Members

The following had served as members of the Grand Alliance:^[5]

• Vicente Araneta
• Rogelio de la Rosa
• Manuel Manahan
• Raul Manglapus
• Osmundo Mondoñedo
• Ambrosio Padilla
• Emmanuel Pelaez
• Rodrigo Perez
• Narciso Pimentel, Jr.
• Francisco Soc Rodrigo
• Jesus Vargas

Notes

1. Defectors' wing only

References

1. Tubangui, Helen R., Bauzon, Leslie E., Foronda, Marcelino Jr. A., Ausejo, Luz U. The Filipino Nation: A Concise History of the Philippines. Grolier International, 1982.
2. Macapagal, Diosdado P. From nipa hut to presidential palace: autobiography of Diosdado P. Macapagal. Philippine Academy for Continuing Education and Research, 2002.
3. Manglapus, Raul S. Revolt against tradition: the challenge of change and the Filipino's drive to greatness. Manila, 1964.
4. Constantino, Renato and Constantino, Letizia R. The Philippines: the continuing past. The Foundation for Nationalist Studies, 1978.
5. Manglapus, Raul S. Faith in the Filipino: The Ripening Revolution. Regal Publishing, 1961.