1.
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 (Malolo 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
2. Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944
After 34 years of Insular Government under American rule, Philippine voters elected Manuel Luis
Quezon 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
3. José P. Laurel, 1943-1945
José P. Laurel's 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superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948.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
4. Sergio Osmeña, 1944-1946
Sergio Osmeña 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
5. Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948
Manuel Roxas 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
6. Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953
Elpidio Quirino 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
7. Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957
Ramon Magsaysay 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
8. Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961
A lawyer, poet, and teacher, Carlos P. Garcia also served as a guerrilla leader during the Pacific
War. Born in Bohol, Garcia serviced as vice president under Ramon Magsaysay and as secretary of
Foreign Affairs for four years. He became president when Magsaysay died in 1957.
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
9. Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965
Born in Lubao, Pampanga, Diosdado Macapagal 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
10. Ferdinand Marcos, 1965-1986
Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos 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
11. Corazon Aquino, 1986-1992
The first woman president of the Philippines and the first woman to become president of an Asian
country, Corazon Aquino was born in Paniqui, Tarlac. She was a prominent figure in the People
Power Revolution that brought down Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. Her husband, Benigno Aquino
Jr., was a senator during the Marcos regime and its strongest critic. He was assassinated while
Marcos was still in power.
Contributions and Achievements:
first woman to be president of the Philippines or any Asian country
restored democracy
abolished the 1973 Marcos Constitution and ushered in the new Constitution of the Philippines
reorganized the structure of the executive branch of government
signed the Family Code of 1987, a major civil law reform, and 1191 Local Government Code,
which reorganized the structure of the executive branch of government
initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the needy
named “Woman of the Year” in 1986 by Time magazine
on the new 500-peso bill together with her husband Benigno Aquino
Received honors and awards including:
100 Women Who Shaped World History
20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
65 Great Asian Heroes
J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding
12. Fidel V. Ramos, 1992-1998
Fidel V. Ramos 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.
Contributions and Achievements:
oversaw Philippine economic growth
presided over celebrations of Philippine Independence Centennial in 1998
received British Knighthood from the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand
Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George)
hosted the fourth Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Summit in the Philippines in
1996
Philippine Stock Exchange became an international favorite during his presidency
death penalty reinstated while he was in office
signed peace agreement with the rebel Moro National Liberation Front
13. Joseph Estrada, 1998-2001
Known as Erap, Joseph Estrada 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.
Contributions and Achievements:
during his presidency Moro Islamic Liberation Front headquarters and camps were captured
joined other leaders and politicians to try to amend the 1987 Constitution
cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989
among the “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the agreement that allows for U.S. control
of Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base
14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001-2010
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14th, president of the Philippines (and the second female
president). The Oakwood Mutiny occurred during her term. Arroyo oversaw road and infrastructure
improvements and higher economic growth that presidents before her, but there was also
controversy. The so-called "Hello Garci" controversy involved recordings that allegedly captured
Arroyo ordering the rigging of the election that put her in office. In 2005 Arroyo faced impeachment
proceedings related to the recordings but the impeachment failed. After she had left office Arroyo
faced additional charges of election fraud and misuse of state funds.
Contributions and Achievements:
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
15. Benigno Aquino III, 2010-present
Benigno Aquino III joined the House of Representatives and the Senate before his presidency. He is
the first president who is a bachelor; he is unmarried and has no children.
Contributions and Achievements:
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
