The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines-PREAMBLE

"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."

The preamble constitutes the introductory part of the Constitution. It is not, however, a part of the body of the fundamental law; consequently, it does not create powers, private rights and privileges and obligations in addition to those defined and designated in the body of the charter itself.

The preamble may be resorted to whenever there is doubt as to the meaning intended in any of the provisions of the Constitution. It clearly identifies:

a) The sovereign power that ordains the Constitution, at the same time
b) Lays down the primary objectives for which the charter itself was ordained.

Certain words in the preamble of the 1973 Constitution have been changed.

The phrase "Divine Providence" now reads "Almighty God";
The phrases "and aspiration" and "our patrimony" are now used;
The words "common good" replace "general welfare";
Instead of "liberty", the preamble now uses "freedom";
The word "truth" is added;
The word "love" is also included.

The preamble envisions two basic fundamental objectives. These are:

1) It ordains the building of a just and humane society; and
2) The establishment of a government that shall embody

a) Our ideals and aspirations;
b) Promote the common good;
c) Conserve and develop our patrimony; and
d) Secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and
democracy under
i) the rule of law and
ii)a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace.

The term patrimony should be understood to mean the country's human resources, natural resources, cultural heritage and the people's intelligence in arts, sciences and letters.