Filipino Presidents - Biography and Accomplishments

Emilio Aguinaldo (1869 - 1964)

The president of the first Philippine republic (1899). He started as a member of the Magdalo Chapter of
the Katipunan in Cavite, then was elected president of the revolutionary government at the Tejeros
Convention on March 22,1897, and, later, Biak-na-Bato Republic. He proclaimed Philippine
independence at Kawit on June 12, 1898. His capture foreshadowed the end of large-scale armed
resistance to American rule. H

Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944)

The first Filipino president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines under American rule. He was
president of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. For advocating Filipino-language amendments to the
1935 Constitution, he is known as the "Father of the National Language."

Jose P. Laurel (1891 - 1939)

President of the Second Republic from 1943 to 1945. He had been secretary of the interior (1923),
senator (1925 - 1931), delegate to the Constitutional Convention (1934), and chief justice during the
commonwealth. When World War II broke out, he was instructed by Quezon to stay in Manila and deal
with the Japanese to soften the blow of enemy occupation. As president, he defended Filipino interests
and resisted Japanese efforts to draft Filipinos into the Japanese military service. Upon return of the
American forces, Laurel was imprisoned in Japan when Douglas Macarthur occupied that country He was
returned to the Philippines to face charges of treason, but these were dropped when President Roxas
issued an amnesty proclamation. In the Third Republic, he was elected senator and negotiated the
Laurel-Langley Agreement.

Sergio Osmea, Sr. (1878 - 1961)

The first Filipino national leader under the American regime as speaker of the Philippine assembly and
the second president of the Philippines (1944-1946).

Manuel Roxas (1892 - 1948)

The last president of the Philippine Commonwealth and the first president of the republic (1946 - 1948).

Elpidio Quirino (18901956)

President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953. As vice president during Manuel Roxass term, he was
also secretary of foreign affairs. He became president when Roxas died in 1948. He was elected
president in his own right in 1949.

Ramon Magsaysay (1907 - 1957)

President of the Philippines from 1953 to 1957. He had been President Quirinos secretary of defense
who was instrumental is suppressing the HUK rebellion. As president, he persuaded Congress to pass
the Agricultural Tenancy Act (1954). It was during his term that the Retail Trade Nationalization Act was
passed. He secured revisions in the Bell Trade Act and was the first president to revise the US Military
Bases agreement to bring it more in line with Philippine interests.

Carlos P. Garcia (1896 - 1971)

President of the Philippines from 1957 to 1961. Remembered for his Filipino First Policy. He was among
the founders of the Association for Southeast Asia (1963), the precursor of the Association for Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Diosdado Macapagal (1910 - 1997)

President of the Republic of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965. He asked Congress to pass the
Agricultural Land Reform Code, which abolished share tenancy and installed a leasehold system in its
place; it finally passed on August 8, 1963. This was a significant step toward resolving the agrarian
problem. It was during his presidency that Independence Day was moved from July 4 to June 12, the date
when General Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence in Cavite.

Ferdinand Marcos (1917 - 1989)

President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. Declared martial law on September 21, 1972. After the
People Power revolution in February 1986, he was ousted from power and lived in exile in Honolulu,
Hawaii.

Corazon Cojuangco Aquino (1933 - )

President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. With Salvador Laurel as running mate, she led the
opposition that overthrew the authoritarian government of Marcos, who went into exile after the
successful Peoples Power revolution of 1986. She first established a revolutionary government under the
Freedom Constitution, later replaced by the Constitution of 1987, which served as the basis for
reestablishing democracy

Fidel V. Ramos (1928 - )

President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1997. As head of the Constabulary under President Marcos, he
was instrumental in helping to design and implement martial law. Together with General Ponce Enrile and
the RAM, he defected from the government in 1986 and joined the Peoples Power revolution that ousted
Marcos from power. His presidency is remembered for better integrating the national economy in the
global scheme.

Joseph Estrada (1937 - )

President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. During his term in office, he was arrested and stood trial
at a congressional impeachment hearing on charges of accepting bribes and corruption. While this trial
was aborted when the senators voted 11 to 10 not to open incriminating evidence against him, he was
ousted from power anyway as a peaceful Peoples Power II revolution arose and called for his resignation

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (1947 - )

The current president of the Philippines. She served as vice president under President Estrada and
became president when he was forced to step down for malfeasance, through the Peoples Power II
revolution. PGMA has confronted some of the same obstacles as did her father, President Diosdado
Macapagal, when he tried to clean up corruption in government. Her government continues enjoy political
legitimacy in the face of opposition.

Filipino
Presidents