Nacionalista Party

The Nacionalista Party (Filipino and Spanish: Partido Nacionalista; lit. 'Nationalist Party') is the oldest political party in both the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general. It is responsible for leading the country throughout most of the 20th century since its founding in 1907; it was the ruling party from 1935 to 1946 (under Presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña), 1953–1961 (under Presidents Ramon Magsaysay and Carlos P. Garcia) and 1965–1978 (under President Ferdinand Marcos).

Ideology
The Nacionalista Party was initially created as a Filipino nationalist party that supported Philippine independence until 1946 when the United States granted independence to the country. Since then, many scholarly articles that dealt with the history of political parties during the Third Republic agreed that the party has been increasingly populist,  although some argued they had conservative tendencies because of their opposition to the Liberal Party and the Progressive Party. The populist ideology of the party remained to present day as described on their website.

American Insular to Commonwealth era
The party was organized as a vehicle for Philippine independence, advocating self-rule; and espousing this advocacy through representation in the Philippine Assembly of 1907–1916, and in the succeeding Philippine Legislature of 1916–1935. The ranks of Nationalist politicians rose to prominence through the Commonwealth of the Philippines spanning 1935–1941, ending when political parties were replaced by a singular and monolithic KALIBAPI Party during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

Third Republic era to present
By the second half of the century, the Nacionalista Party evolved into being main political contenders for leadership in the Philippines, in competition with its rivals, the Liberal Party and the Philippine Progressive Party. This leadership endured until the turbulent suppression of partisan politics during the Ferdinand Marcos regime. In 1978, akin to the Japanese occupation, disparate political parties were coerced to merge into a regime-controlled coalition, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan. Preferring not to be involved, the Nacionalistas went to hibernation. Years later, in the late 1980s, the party was revived under the leadership of Salvador "Doy" Laurel until the latter's passing.

In 1992, after the party nominated Doy Laurel, a pro-Danding Cojuangco faction broke away and established the Nationalist People's Coalition.

The Nacionalista Party is presently led by former Senator Manny Villar. In 2016, the party had fielded three vice-presidential candidates either running independently or in tandem with other political parties, namely Alan Peter Cayetano, Bongbong Marcos and Antonio Trillanes, albeit unsuccessfully.

Controversy over dominant-minority status
In the 2010 general election, the Nacionalista and the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) formed an alliance after it was approved by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on April 12, 2010. The Nacionalistas fielded Senator Manuel Villar and running with fellow Senator Loren Legarda who is a member of the NPC. It became the dominant minority party after a resolution passed by the COMELEC. On April 21, 2010, it was blocked by the Supreme Court after a suit filed by the rival Liberal Party. On May 6, 2010, the Supreme Court nullified the merger and therefore giving the Liberal Party to be the dominant minority party. It was based on a resolution by the COMELEC giving political parties to be accredited by August 17, 2009.

The coalition was made to help the Nacionalista Party to help boost the presidential campaign of Senator Villar and have a chance to be the dominant minority party by the COMELEC which give the rights to poll watchers during the canvassing of votes. However, it is being challenged by the Liberal Party calls the said alliance a bogus alliance and they are seeking the same party status by the COMELEC. Several local races are also being challenged from both parties, therefore causing confusion in those races.

Past
Throughout their careers, many of the country's politicians, statesmen and leaders were in whole or in part Nacionalistas. Notable names include the following:

Presidents Vice Presidents Senators
 * Manuel L. Quezon (2nd President)
 * José P. Laurel (3rd President)
 * Sergio Osmeña (4th President)
 * Manuel Roxas (5th President)
 * Elpidio Quirino (6th President)
 * Ramon Magsaysay (7th President)
 * Carlos P. Garcia (8th President)
 * Ferdinand Marcos (10th President)
 * Joseph Estrada (13th President)
 * Rodrigo Duterte (16th President)
 * Bongbong Marcos (17th President)
 * Fernando Lopez (3rd and 7th vice president under Elpidio Quirino and Ferdinand Marcos)
 * Emmanuel Pelaez (6th vice president under Diosdado Macapagal)
 * Salvador Laurel (8th vice president and 5th and last prime minister under President Corazon Aquino)


 * Antonio de las Alas
 * Juan B. Alegre
 * Alejandro Almendras
 * Alauya Alonto
 * Domocao Alonto
 * Jose Altavas
 * Magnolia Antonino
 * Antonio Araneta
 * Melecio Arranz
 * José María Arroyo
 * Benigno Aquino Sr.
 * José Avelino
 * Dominador Aytona
 * Sotero Baluyut
 * Antonio Belo
 * Helena Z. Benitez
 * Manuel Briones
 * Nicolas Buendia
 * Hadji Butu
 * Tomas Cabili
 * Aquilino Calvo
 * Manuel Camus
 * Nicolás Capistrano
 * Alan Peter Cayetano
 * Edmundo B. Cea
 * José Clarín
 * Hermogenes Concepción
 * Tomás Confesor
 * Mariano Jesús Cuenco
 * Alejandro de Guzmán
 * Bernabé de Guzmán
 * Ceferino de León
 * Miriam Defensor-Santiago
 * Francisco Afan Delgado
 * Vicente de Vera
 * Jose W. Diokno
 * Ramón Diokno
 * Francisco Enage
 * Juan Ponce Enrile
 * Rene Espina
 * Eva Estrada-Kalaw
 * Rafael Fernandez
 * Ramon J. Fernandez
 * Santiago Fonacier
 * José Fuentebella
 * Isauro Gabaldón
 * Juan Gaerlan
 * Troadio Galicano
 * Rodolfo Ganzon
 * Tomás Gómez
 * Matías González
 * Espiridión Guanco
 * Mario Guariña
 * Pedro Guevara
 * Pedro C. Hernaez
 * Ludovico Hidrosollo
 * Domingo Imperial
 * Leoncio Imperial
 * Isaac Lacson
 * Wenceslao Lagumbay
 * Sotero Laurel
 * José B. Ledesma
 * Oscar Ledesma
 * Roseller T. Lim
 * Francisco Tongio Liongson
 * José Locsín
 * Manuel López
 * Joaquin Luna
 * Alejo Mabanag
 * Ernesto Maceda
 * Pacita Madrigal-Warns
 * Vicente Madrigal
 * Genaro Magsaysay
 * Gil Montilla
 * Ruperto Montinola
 * Juan Nolasco
 * Blas Ople
 * Camilo Osías
 * José Ozámiz
 * Rafael Palma
 * Quintín Paredes
 * Leonardo Perez
 * Cipriano Primicias Sr.
 * Gil Puyat
 * Vicente Rama
 * Esteban de la Rama
 * Claro M. Recto
 * Ralph Recto
 * Isabelo de los Reyes
 * Francisco Soc Rodrigo
 * Celestino Rodriguez
 * Eulogio Rodriguez
 * Pedro Rodríguez
 * José E. Romero
 * Decoroso Rosales
 * Jose J. Roy
 * Pedro Sabido
 * Pastor Salazar
 * Lope K. Santos
 * Prospero E. Sebastian
 * Esteban Singson
 * Balabaran Sinsuat
 * Pedro María Sison
 * Teófilo Sison
 * Antero Soriano
 * Francisco Soriano
 * Filemon Sotto
 * Juan Sumulong
 * Lorenzo Sumulong
 * Mamintal A.J. Tamano
 * Emiliano Tria Tirona
 * Potenciano Treñas
 * Antonio Trillanes
 * Juan Torralba
 * Arturo Tolentino
 * Ramon Torres
 * Jose Maria Veloso
 * Jose O. Vera
 * Juan Villamor
 * Francisco Felipe Villanueva
 * Hermenegildo Villanueva
 * José Yulo
 * Mariano Yulo
 * Francisco Zulueta
 * Jose Zulueta

Others

 * Roque Ablan Jr. (former Representative of Ilocos Norte's 1st District)
 * Norberto S. Amoranto (5th Mayor of Quezon City)
 * Galicano Apacible (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. (former Governor of Tarlac, became Senator under the NP's rival Liberal Party)
 * Jose Aspiras (former Representative of La Union's 2nd District)
 * Sergio Bayan (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Fortunato Borbon (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Pablo Borbon (former Governor of Batangas
 * Bartolome C. Cabangbang (former Representative of Bohol's 2nd district)
 * Vicente J. Caedo (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Marc Douglas Cagas IV (former Governor of Davao del Sur)
 * Antonio Carpio (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Costancio Castañeda (former Representative of Tarlac's 2nd district)
 * Modesto Castillo (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. (former Representative of Tarlac's 1st district and Governor of Tarlac)
 * Pablo Cuneta (former Mayor of Pasay)
 * Jose Delgado (former Governor and Mayor of Cebu )
 * Antonio Diaz (former Representative of Zambales' Lone district)
 * Vicente Duterte (former Governor of Davao)
 * Nicolas Gonzales (former Governor of Batangas)
 * León Guinto- (former Governor of Quezon(Tayabas) and 11th Mayor of Manila)
 * Eduardo Gullas (former Rrepresentative of Cebu's 1st District and Governor of Cebu)
 * Adriano Hernández y Dayot (former Governor of Iloilo)
 * Maximo Malvar (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Placido L. Mapa (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Ramon P. Mitra Sr. (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Isko Moreno (27th Mayor of Manila, was a member of NP during his term as Vice Mayor)
 * Vicente Noble (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Juan G. Nolasco (9th Mayor of Manila)
 * Arsenio Lacson (15th Mayor of Manila)
 * Luis L. Lardizabal (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Jose Laurel Jr. (9th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and Representative of Batangas' 3rd district)
 * Jose C. Laurel IV (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Feliciano Leviste (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Elias B. Lopez (former Mayor of Davao City)
 * Vicente Lukbán (former Governor of Tayabas)
 * Mariano Melendres (5th Governor of Rizal)
 * Carmen Planas (former Vice Mayor of Manila)
 * Miguel Raffiñan (former Representative of Cebu's 6th District and Mayor of Cebu City)
 * Francisco Remotigue (former Governor of Cebu)
 * Osmundo Rama (former Governor of Cebu)
 * Jonvic Remulla (Incumbent Governor of Cavite, was a member of NP during his first term)
 * Benjamin Romualdez (former Governor of Leyte)
 * Adelina Santos Rodriguez (6th Mayor of Quezon City)
 * Isidro Rodriguez (18th Governor of Rizal)
 * Jose V. Rodriguez (former Representative of Cebu's 7th District and Mayor of Cebu City)
 * Ignacio Santiago Sr. (former Governor of Bulacan)
 * Alejo Santos (World War II Veteran, former Representative of Bulacan's 2nd District and former Governor of Bulacan
 * Pablo Gomez Sarino (former Mayor of Bacoor, Cavite, was a member of NP as a municipal councilor)
 * Isidro Siapno (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Chavit Singson (former Governor of Ilocos Sur and Mayor of Narvacan)
 * Manuel C. Sotto (former Vice Mayor of Davao City
 * Alfonso Tabora (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Nicasio S. Valderossa (former Mayor of Baguio)
 * Pío Valenzuela (former Governor of Bulacan)
 * Braulio de Villa (former Governor of Batangas)
 * Nemesio Yabut (7th Mayor of Makati)
 * Bienvenido R. Yandoc (former Mayor of Baguio)

Most of these individuals embody solid political traditions of economic and political nationalism are pertinent today, even with the party's subsequent decline.

Current party officials
Some members of the House of Representatives and Senate include—but are not limited to—the following:
 * Manuel Villar (former Senate President), Party President
 * Cynthia Villar (current Senator), Party Chairman
 * Mark Aguilar Villar (current Senator) Secretary-General
 * Jose Espinosa III (former Mayor of Iloilo City) Nacionalista Chairman of Iloilo City
 * Robert "Ace" Barbers (current Representative from Surigao del Norte), Spokesperson
 * Imee Marcos (current Senator)
 * Matthew Marcos Manotoc (current Governor of Ilocos Norte)
 * Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza (current Governor of Cotabato)
 * Jose I. Tejada (current Representative from North Cotabato)

Nacionalista-affiliated parties

 * PDP–Laban
 * Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino
 * Lakas–CMD
 * National Unity Party
 * United Bangsamoro Justice Party
 * People's Reform Party
 * Alyansa – Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental
 * Alayon – Cebu
 * Bileg- Ilocos Sur
 * Kugi Uswag Sugbo – Cebu City
 * Partido Magdalo – Cavite
 * PaDayon Pilipino – Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro
 * Paglaum Party- Negros Occidental
 * Fuerza Zamboanga – Zamboanga City
 * One Batangas – Batangas

Presidential ticket

 * Manuel Villar – presidential candidate (lost)
 * Loren Legarda – vice presidential candidate (lost)

For senator

 * Pia Cayetano (won)
 * Bongbong Marcos (won)
 * Liza Maza (lost)
 * Ramon Mitra III (lost)
 * Satur Ocampo (lost)
 * Susan Ople (lost)
 * Gwen Pimentel (lost)
 * Ariel Querubin (lost)
 * Gilbert Remulla (lost)
 * Adel Tamano (lost)
 * Miriam Defensor Santiago (won)

For senator
All members ran under the administration coalition, Team PNoy.
 * Cynthia Villar (won)
 * Alan Peter Cayetano (won)
 * Antonio Trillanes (won)

For vice president
Three members ran for vice president albeit as independent candidates.
 * Alan Peter Cayetano (lost)
 * Bongbong Marcos (lost)
 * Antonio Trillanes (lost)

For senator

 * Susan Ople (guest candidate of United Nationalist Alliance and Partido ng Galing at Puso) (lost)

For senator
All candidates ran under the administration coalition, Hugpong ng Pagbabago.
 * Pia Cayetano (won)
 * Imee Marcos (won)
 * Cynthia Villar (won)

For senator

 * Mark Villar (won)

Senate

 * Cynthia Villar
 * Imee Marcos
 * Pia Cayetano
 * Mark Villar

District Representatives

 * Arjo Atayde
 * Angelo Barba
 * Robert Ace Barbers
 * Kristine Alexie Besas-Tutor
 * Ferjenel Biron
 * Lianda Bolilia
 * Eric Buhain
 * John Tracy Cagas
 * Rodolfo Caoagdan
 * Ricardo Cruz Jr.
 * Arnold Celeste
 * Nelson Dayanghirang
 * Lawrence Fortun
 * Jocelyn Fortuno
 * Ed Christopher Go
 * Marquez Go
 * Teodorico Haresco Jr.
 * Eleandro Madrona
 * Oscar Malapitan
 * Mario Vittorio Mariño
 * Ando Oaminal
 * Frederick Siao
 * Sharee Ann Tan
 * Jose Tejada
 * Raul Tupas
 * Camille Villar

Partylist allies

 * Ronnie Ong (Ang Probinsyano)
 * Naealla Rose Bainto-Aguinaldo (Bahay)
 * Michael Edgar Aglipay (DIWA)
 * Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA)
 * Rico Geron (AGAP)
 * Irene Gay Saulog (Kalinga)
 * Allan Ty (LPGMA)
 * Francisco Datol, Jr. (Senior Citizen)