16 PRESIDENTS
Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944
After 34 years of Insular Government under American rule, Philippine voters elected first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. He is known as the "Father of National Language" (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa). He died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York. Contributions and Achievements: first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines first president elected through a national election first president under the Commonwealth created National Council of Education initiated women's suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines appears on the twenty-peso bill a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after him his body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle
Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965
Born in Lubao, Pampanga, was a lawyer and professor. His daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14th, and second female, president of the Philippines. Contributions and Achievements: established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private farmland to be distributed in inexpensive, small lots to the landless placed the Philippine peso on the currency exchange market declared June 12, 1898 to be Philippines' Independence Day signed the Minimum Wage Law created the Philippine Veteran's Bank
Ferdinand Marcos, 1965-1986
Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, was a lawyer and Senate President for three years. He was president for 21 years. He ruled under martial law and his dictatorship was known for its corruption and brutality. Marcos was removed from office after the People Power Revolution. Contributions and Achievements: first president to win a second term declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972 increased the size of Philippine military and armed forces by 1980 the Philippine GNP was four times greater than 1972 by 1986 the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asia built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure than all former presidents combined the only president whose remains are interred inside a refrigerated crypt
Emilio Aguinaldo 1899-1901
One way to remember the first president of the Philippines First Republic is to look at the five peso coin. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's face used to grace the five peso bill (which is not used anymore). The back of the bill shows him holding the Philippine flag at the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. Contributions and Achievements: first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolos Republic) signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and Philippine revolutionaries known as the President of the Revolutionary Government led the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-Philippine War youngest president, taking office at age 28 longest-lived president, passing away at 94
Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961
as a guerrilla leader during the Pacific War. Born in Bohol, serviced as vice president under as secretary of Foreign Affairs for four years. He became president when Magsaysay Contributions and Achievements: known for "Filipino First Policy," which favored Filipino businesses over foreign investors established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce known as the "Prince of Visayan Poets" and the "Bard from Bohol" cultural arts was revived during his term was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
Benigno Aquino III, 2010-present
created the no "wang-wang" (street siren) policy appointed statesman Jesse Robredo to serve as secretary of Interior and Local Government in 2010, where Robredo served until his death in 2012 initiated K-12 education in the Philippines renamed the Office of the Press Secretary to Presidential Communications Operations Office and appointed new officers suspended allowances and bonuses to Government Owed and Controlled Corporation and Government Financial Institution board members oversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012
José P. Laurel, 1943-1945
presidency is controversial. He was officially the government's caretaker during the Japanese occupation of World War II. Criticized as a traitor by some, his indictment for treason was superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948. Contributions and Achievements: since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippines organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or Association for Service to the New Philippines), a provisional government during Japanese occupation declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in 1944 with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001-2010
second female president of the country first and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far first president to take oath outside Luzon former Economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, where current president Benigno Aquino III was one of her students ex-classmate of former U.S. President Bill Clinton at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she maintained Dean's list status oversaw higher economic growth than the past three presidents before her peso became the best-performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007 eVAT Law was implemented under her term currently on the 200-peso bill
Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953
served as vice president under Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died in 1948, Quirino became president. Contributions and Achievements: Hukbalahap guerrilla movement active during his presidency created Social Security Commission created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption Quezon City became capital of the Philippines in 1948
Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957
was born in Iba, Zambales. He was a military governor and an engineer. He died in an aircraft disaster while boarding the presidential plane. Contributions and Achievements: Hukbalahap movement quelled during his presidency chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog during inauguration presidency referred to as the Philippines' "Golden Years" for its lack of corruption Philippines was ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed countries during his presidency established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among other agrarian reforms
Fidel V. Ramos, 1992-1998
was the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he became president. He was also a civil engineer. As president, he restored economic growth and stability in the country, even during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He is the first, and so far the only, non-Catholic president of the Philippines.
Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948
was the fifth president of the Philippines: the third (and last) president under the Commonwealth, and the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines. He held office for only one year, 10 months, and 18 days. Contributions and Achievements: inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic after World War II reconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule began during his presidency under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by Congress appears on the 100-peso bill
Joseph Estrada, 1998-2001
was the first president who had been a famous film actor. His presidency was controversial. During his years in office economic growth was slow and he faced impeachment proceedings. He was ousted from the presidency in 2001. He was later convicted of stealing from the government but was pardoned. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2010
Sergio Osmeña, 1944-1946
was the second president of the Commonwealth. During his presidency, the Philippines joined the International Monetary Fund. Contributions and Achievements: became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold office first Visayan to become president joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to begin restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupation Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the International Monetary Fund during his presidency Bell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidency appears on the 50-peso bill
