The President of the Philippines

Emilio Aguinaldo
Mayo 24, 1899-Abril 1, 1901
In August 1896 he was mayor of Cavite Viejo and was the local leader of the Katipunan, a revolutionary society that
fought bitterly and successfully against the Spanish. In December 1897 he signed an agreement called the Pact of
Biac-na-Bató with the Spanish governor general. He agreed to leave the Philippines and to remain permanently in
exile on condition of a substantial financial reward from Spain coupled with the promise of liberal reforms. While in
Hong Kong and Singapore he made arrangements with representatives of the American consulates and of
Commodore George Dewey to return to the Philippines to assist the United States in the war against Spain.

Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines May 19, 1898, and announced renewal of the struggle with Spain. The Filipinos,
who declared their independence of Spain on June 12, 1898, proclaimed a provisional republic, of which Aguinaldo
was to become president; and in September a revolutionary assembly met and ratified Filipino independence.
However, the Philippines, along with Puerto Rico and Guam, were ceded by Spain to the United States by the Treaty
of Paris, Dec. 10, 1898.
Relations between the Americans and the Filipinos were unfriendly and grew steadily worse. On Jan. 23, 1899, the
Malolos Constitution, by virtue of which the Philippines were declared a republic and which had been approved by the
assembly and by Aguinaldo, was proclaimed. Aguinaldo, who had been president of the provisional government, was
elected president.
On the night of February 4 the inevitable conflict between the Americans and Filipinos surrounding Manila was
precipitated. Morning found the Filipinos, who had fought bravely, even recklessly, defeated at all points. While the
fighting was in progress, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation of war against the United States, which immediately sent
reinforcements to the Philippines. The Filipino government fled northward. In November 1899 the Filipinos resorted
to guerrilla warfare, with all its devastating features.
After three years of costly fighting the insurrection was finally brought to an end when, in a daring operation led by
Gen. Frederick Funston, General Aguinaldo was captured in his secret headquarters at Palanan in northern Luzon on
March 23, 1901. Aguinaldo took an oath of allegiance to the United States, was granted a pension from the U.S.
government, and retired to private life.
In 1935 when the commonwealth government of the Philippines was established in preparation for independence,
Aguinaldo ran for president but was decisively beaten. He returned to private life until the Japanese invaded the
Philippines in 1941. The Japanese used Aguinaldo as an anti-American tool. They caused him to make speeches, to
sign articles, and to address a radio appeal to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on Corregidor to surrender in order to spare
the flower of Filipino youth.

Manuel L. Quezon
Nobyembre 15, 1935-Disyembre 24, 1941[1]
Disyembre 24, 1941-Agosto 1,1944

First Term (1935-1941)In 1935 Quezón won the Philippine's first national presidential
election under the banner of the Nacionalista Party. He obtained nearly 68% of the vote against his
two main rivals, Emilio Aguinaldo andGregorio Aglipay. Quezón was inaugurated in November
1935. He is recognized as the second President of the Philippines. However, in January 2008,
House Representative Rodolfo Valencia ofOriental Mindoro filed a bill seeking instead to declare
General Miguel Malvar as the second Philippine President, having directly succeeded Aguinaldo
in 1901.[3]
Government Reorganization

To meet the demands of the newly established government set-up and in compliance with the provisions
of the Tydings-McDuffie law, as well as the requirements of the Constitution, President Quezon, true to
his pledge of "More Government and less politics", initiated a reorganization of the government bodies.
[4]
 To this effect, he established the Government Survey Board to study the existing institutions and in the
light of the changed circumstances, make the necessary recommendations. [4]

Early results were seen with the revamping of the Executive Department. Offices and bureaus were either
merged with one another or outrightly abolished. Some new ones, however, were created. [4]President
Quezon ordered the transfer of the Philippines Constabulary for the Department of Interior, were placed
under the Department of Finance. Among the innovations in the Executive Departments by the way of
modification in functions ore new creations, were those of the National
Defense, Agriculture and Commerce, Public Works and Communications, and Health and Public Welfare.
[4]

In Keeping with other exigencies posed by the Constitution, new offices and boards were created either
by Executive Order or by appropriate legislative action. [4] Among these were the Council of National
Defense, the Board of National Relief, the Mindanao and Sulu Commission, and the Civil Service Board
of Appeals.[4]
[edit]Social justice program

Pledged to improve the lot of the Philippine working class and seeking the inspiration from the social
doctrines of Leo XIII and Pius XI, aside from the authoritative treatises of the world's leading sociologists,
President Quezon started a vigorous program of social justice, which he traduced into reality through
appropriate executive measures and legislation obtained from the National Assembly.[4]

Thus, a court of Industrial Relations was established by law to take cognizance disputes, under certain
conditions, minimizing in this wise the inconveniences of the strikes and lockouts. A minimum wage law
was enacted, as well as a law providing for a maximum of eight hours daily work and a Tenancy law for
the Filipino farmers. Another effective measure was the creation of the position of Public Defenders to
help indigent litigants in their court suits.[4]Commonwealth Act No. 20 authorize President Quezon to
institute expropriation proceedings and/or acquire large landed estates to re-sell them at nominal cost
andunder easy terms to tenants thereon, thus enabling them to possess a lot and a home of their own. It
was by virtue of this law that the Buenavista estate was acquired by the Commonwealth Government.
EconomyUpon the advent of the Commonwealth fortunately the economic condition of the country
wasstable and promising.[4] With foreign trade reaching a peak of four hundred million pesos, the upward
trend in business was accentuated and assumed the aspect of a boom. Exports crops were generally
good and, with the exemption of tobacco, they were all in excellent demand in foreign trade markets.
Indeed the value of the Philippine exports reached an all high of 320,896,000 pesos, the highest since
1929.[4]

On the other hand, government revenues amounted to 76,675,000 pesos in 1936, as compared with the
1935 revenue of 65,000,000 pesos. Even the government companies, with the exemption of the Manila
Railroad, managed to earn profits. Gold production increased about 37% and iron nearly 100%,
while cement production augmented some 14%.[4]

Notwithstanding this prosperous situation,[4] the government had to meet certain economic problems
besetting the country and which, if attended to, might jeopardize the very prosperity then being enjoyed.
For this Purpose the National Economic Council was created by law. This body advised the government
in economic and financial questions, including promotion of industries, diversification of crops and
enterprises, tariffs, taxation, and formulation of an economic program in the contemplation of the future
independent Republic of the Philippines.[4]

Again, a law reorganized the National Development Company, the National Rice and Corn
Company (NARIC) was created by law. It was given a capital of four million pesos. [4]

Upon the recommendation of the National Economic Council, agricultural colonies were established in the
country, especially in Korondal, Malig, and other appropriate sites in Mindanao. The government,
moreover, offered facilities of every sort to encourage migration and settlement in those places. The
Agricultural and Industrial Bank was established to aid small farmers with the convenient loans on easy
terms. Attention was also devoted to soil survey, as well as to the proper disposition of lands of t
the public domain. These steps and measures held much promise for our economic welfare. [4]
]Agrarian reform

When the Commonwealth Government was established, President Quezon implemented the Rice Share
Tenancy Act of 1933.[5] The purpose of this act was to regulate the share-tenancy contracts by
establishing minimum standards.[5] Primarily, the Act provided for better tenant-landlord relationship, a 50-
50 sharing of the crop, regulation of interest to 10% per agricultural year, and a safeguard against

José P. Laurel
August 17, 1945

Laurel's Supreme Court tenure may have been overshadowed by his presidency, yet he remains one of
the most important Supreme Court justices in Philippine history. He authored several leading cases still
analyzed to this day that defined the parameters of the branches of government as well as their
powers.Angara v. Electoral Commission, 63 Phil. 139 (1936), which is considered as the Philippine
equivalent of Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803), is Laurel's most important contribution to
jurisprudence and even the rule of law in the Philippines. In affirming that the Court had jurisdiction to
review the rulings of the Electoral Commission organized under the National Assembly, the Court,
through Justice Laurel's opinion, firmly entrenched the power of Philippine courts to engage in judicial
review of the acts of the other branches of government, and to interpret the Constitution. Held the Court,
through Laurel:

"The Constitution is a definition of the powers of government. Who is to determine the nature, scope and
extent of such powers? The Constitution itself has provided for the instrumentality of the judiciary as the
rational way. And when the judiciary mediates to allocate constitutional boundaries, it does not assert any
superiority over the other departments; it does not in reality nullify or invalidate an act of the legislature,
but only asserts the solemn and sacred obligation assigned to it by the Constitution to determine
conflicting claims of authority under the Constitution and to establish for the parties in an actual
controversy the rights which that instrument secures and guarantees to them."

Another highly influential decision penned by Laurel was Ang Tibay v. CIR, 69 Phil. 635 (1940). The Court
acknowledged in that case that the substantive and procedural requirements before proceedings in
administrative agencies, such as labor relations courts, were more flexible than those in judicial
proceedings. At the same time, the Court still asserted that the right to due process of law must be
observed, and enumerated the "cardinal primary rights" that must be respected in administrative
proceedings. Since then, these "cardinal primary rights" have stood as the standard in testing due
process claims in administrative cases.

Calalang v. Williams, 70 Phil. 726 (1940) was a seemingly innocuous case involving a challenge raised by
a private citizen to a traffic regulation banning kalesas from Manila streets during certain afternoon hours.
The Court, through Laurel, upheld the regulation as within the police power of the government. But in
rejecting the claim that the regulation was violative of social justice, Laurel would respond with what would
become his most famous aphorism, which is to this day widely quoted by judges and memorized by
Filipino law students:

Sergio Osmeña
August 1, 1944-May 28, 1946
Presidency
Osmeña became president of the Commonwealth on Quezon's death in 1944. He returned to the
Philippines the same year with General Douglas MacArthur and the liberation forces. After the war,
Osmeña restored the Commonwealth government and the various executive departments. He continued
the fight for Philippine independence.
For the presidential election of 1946, Osmeña refused to campaign, saying that the Filipino people knew
of his record of 40 years of honest and faithful service. He lost to Manuel Roxas, who won 54 percent of
the vote and became president of the independent Republic of the Philippines.

Administration and Cabinet

On August 8, 1944, President Osmeña issued Executive Order 15-W reorganizing and
consolidating the Executive Departments of the Commonwealth government. The reorganization
of the government after it was reestablished on Philippine soil was undertaken with Executive
Order No. 27, February 27, 1945.

Manuel Roxas
May 28, 1946- April 15, 1948
Last President of the Commonwealth (1946)
oxas served as the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in a brief period, from his
subsequent election on May 28, 1946 to July 4, 1946, the scheduled date of the proclamation of
Philippine Independence. Roxas prepared the groundwork for the advent of a free and independent
Philippines, assisted by the Congress (reorganized May 25, 1946), with Senator José Avelino as
the Senate President and Congressman Eugenio Perez as the House of Representatives Speaker. On
June 3, 1946, Roxas appeared for the first time before the joint session of the Congress to deliver his
first state of the nation address. Among other things, he told the members of the Congress the grave
problems and difficulties the Philippines are set to face and reports of his special trip to the United States–
the approval for independence.[1]

On June 21, he reappeared into another joint session of the Congress and urged the acceptance of two
important laws passed by the Congress of the United States on April 30, 1946 to the Philippine lands.
They are the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the Philippine Trade Act.[2] Both recommendations were
accepted by the Congress.

[edit]First President of the Third Republic (1946-1948)

Manuel Roxas' term as the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines ended on the morning of
July 4, 1946 when the Third Republic of the Philippineswas inaugurated and Philippine
Independence from the United States proclaimed, amidts plaudits and prayers of some 300,000
people, 21-gun salute and joyous echoes of church bells. Roxas was then inaugurated as the new and
first president of the new Republic.

The inaugural ceremonies took place at Luneta Park, Manila. On the grandstand there were around 3,000
guests and notables, consisted of President Roxas and PaulMcNutt; General Douglas MacArthur (coming
Domestic policies
No sooner had the fanfare of the independence festivities ended that the government and the people
quickly put all hands to work in the tasks of rescuing the country from its dire economic straits. Reputed to
be the most bombed and destroyed country in the world, the Philippines was in a sorry mess.
OnlyStalingrad and Warsaw, for instance, could compare with Manila in point of destruction. All over the
country more that a million people were unaccounted fro. The war casualties as such could very well
reached the two million mark. Conservative estimates had it that the Philippines had lost about two thirds
of her material wealth[3].

The country was facing near bankruptcy[4]. There was no national economy, no export trade. Indeed,
production for exports had not been restored. On the other hand, imports were to reach the amount of
three million dollars. There was need of immediate aid from the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation
Administration. Something along this line was obtained. again, loans for the United States, as well as
some increase in the national revenues, were to help the new Republic [5].

President Roxas, with bold steps, met the situation with the same confidence he exuded in his inaugural
address, when he said: "The system of free but guided enterprise is our system". Among the maid
remedies proposed was the establishment of the Philippine Rehabilitation Finance Corporation. This
entity would be responsible for the construction of twelve thousand houses and for the grant of easy-term
loans in the amount of 177,000,000 pesos. Another proposal was the creation of the Central Bank of the
Philippines to help stabilize the Philippine dollar reserves and coordinate and the nations banking
activities gearing them to the economic progress.

Concentrating on the sugar industry, President Roxas would exert such efforts as to succeed in
increasing production from 13,000 tons at the time of the Philippine liberation to an all-high of one million
tons[6].

Reconstruction after the war

The postwar Philippines had burned cities and towns, ruined farms and factories, blasted roads and
bridges, shattered industries and commerce, and thousands of massacred victims. The war had
paralyzed the educational system, where 80% of the school buildings, their equipments, laboratories and
furniture were destroyed.[7] Numberless books, invaluable documents and works of art, irreplaceable
historical relics and familyheirlooms, hundreds of churches and temples were burned. The reconstruction
of the damaged school buildings alone cost more than Php 126,000,000..

Elpidio Quirino
April 17, 1948- December 30, 1953AccessionQuirino assumed the presidency on April 17, 1948, taking
his oath of office two days after the death of Manuel Roxas. His first official act as the President was the
proclamation of a state mourning throughout the country for Roxas' death. Since Quirino was a widower,
his surviving daughter Vicky would serve as the official hostess and perform the functions traditionally
ascribed to the First Lady.New Capital City
On July 17, 1948, the Congress approved Republic Act No. 333, amending Commonwealth Act No. 502,
declaring Quezon City the capital of the Philippines in place of Manila[2]. Nevertheless, pending the official
transfer of the government offices to the new capital site, Manila remained to be such for all effective
purposes[2].
[edit]HUKBALAHAP Re-incidence

With the expiration of the Amnesty deadline on August 15, 1948, the government found out that
the Huks had not lived up to the terms of the Quirino-Taruc agreement. Indeed, after having been seated
in Congress and collecting his back pay allowance[2]. Luis Taruc surreptitiously fled away from Manila,
even as a measly number of his followers had either submitted themselves to the conditions of the
Amnesty proclamation or surrendered their arms. In the face of counter charges from the Huk from to the
effect that the government had not satisfied the conditions agreed upon, President Quirino ordered a
stepped-up campaign against dissidents, restoring once more to the mailed-fist policy in view of the
failure of the friendly attitude previously adopted [2].
[edit]Fireside Chats

Moreover, to bring the government closer to the people, he revived President Quezon's "fireside chats", in
which he enlightened the people on the activities of the Republic by the periodic radio broadcasts from
the Malacañang Palace.
[edit]Impeachment Attempt

Riding on the crest of the growing wave of resentment against the Liberal Party, a move was next
hatched to indict President Quirino himself[2]. Led by Representative Agripino Escareal a committee,
composed of seven members of the House of Representatives, prepared a five-count accusation ranging
from nepotism to gross expenditures. Speaker Eugenio Perez appointed a committee of seven, headed
by Representative Lorenzo Sumulong to look into the charges preparatory to their filing with the Senate,
acting as an impeachment body. Solicitor General Felix Angelo Bautista entered his appearance as
defense counsel for the chief executive[2]. Following several hearings, on April 19, 1949, after a rather
turbulent session that lasted all night, the congressional committee reached a verdict completely
exonerating the President. Realizing the heavy undertone of politicking behind the move, the exoneration
decision was received favorable by the nation at Romulo becomes UN President

Great hono]was paid the Philippines when, in September 1949, the Fourth General Assembly of
the United Nations elected delegate Carlos P. Romulo as President. The firs]Oriental to hold the position,
Romulo was strongly supporteby the Anglo-Saxon bloc, as well as by the group of Spanish-speaking
nations thus underscoring the hybrid nature of the Filipino people's culture and upringing[2].

Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino won a full term as President of the Philippines after the untimely
death of President Manuel Roxas in 1948. His running mate, Senator Fernando López won as Vice
President. Despite factions created in the administration party, Quirino won a satisfactory vote from the
public. It was the only time in Philippine history where the duly elected president, vice president and
senators all came from the same party, the Liberal Party. Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray,
publisher of the Manila Evening News, accuse Quirino in their book The Magsaysay Story (The John Day
Company, 1956, updated - with an additional chapter on Magsaysay's death - re-edition by Pocket Books,
Special Student Edition, SP-18, December 1957) of widespread fraud and intimidation of the opposition
by military action, calling it the "dirty election".

[edit]Second Term (1949-1953)

Baguio Conference

In May 1950, upon the invitation of President Qurino, through the insistent suggestion of United
Nations President Carlos P. Romulo, official representatives
ofIndia, Pakistan, Ceylon, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia met in the city of Baguio for a regional
conference sponsored by the Philippines[2]. China andKorea did not attend the conference because the
latter did not contemplate the formation of a military union of the Southeast Asian nations. On the other
hand, Japan, Indonesia, China, and others were not invited because, at the time, they were not free and
independent states. Due to the request of India and Indonesia, no political questions were taken up the
conference[2]. Instead, the delegates discussed economic and, most of all, cultural, problems confronting
their respective countries. Strangely enough however, the Baguio Conference ended with an
official communique in which the nations attending the same expressed their united agreement in
supporting the right to self-determination of all peoples the world over. This initial regional meet held
much promise of a future alliance of these neighboring nations for common protection and aid [2].
[edit]HUKBALAHAP continued re-insurgence
Ramon Magsaysay
December 30, 1953- March 17, 1957

As president, he was a close friend and supporter of the United States and a vocal spokesman
against communism during the Cold War. He led the foundation of the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization also known as the Manila Pact of 1954, that aimed to defeat communist-Marxist movements
in South East Asia, South Asia and the Southwestern Pacific. During his term, he madeMalacañáng
Palace literally a "house of the people", opening its gates to the public. One example of his integrity
followed a demonstration flight aboard a new plane belonging to the Philippine Air Force(PAF). President
Magsaysay asked what the operating costs per hour were for that type of aircraft, then wrote a personal
check to the PAF, covering the cost of his flight.

His administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-free; his presidency was cited
as the Philippines' Golden Years. Trade and industry flourished, the Philippine military was at its prime,
and the Filipino people were given international recognition in sports, culture and foreign affairs. The
Philippines ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed countries.

[edit]Domestic Policies
President's Action Body

Ushering, indeed, a new era in Philippine government, President Magsaysay placed emphasis upon
service to the people by bringing the government closer to the former. [2] This was symbollically seen
when, on inauguration day, President Magsaysay ordered the gates of Malacañang Palace open to all
and sundry, who were allowed to freely visit all the dependencies of the presidential mansion. Later, this
was regulated to allow weekly visit.[2]

True[2] to his electoral promise, President Magsaysay created the Presidential Complaints and Action
Committee.[2] This body immediately proceeded to hear grievances and recommend remedial action.
Headed by soft-spoken, but active and tireless, Manuel Manahan, this committee would come to hear
nearly sixty thousand complaints in a year, of which more than thirty thousand would be settled by direct
action and a little more that twenty five thousand, referred to government agencies for appropriate follow-
up. This new entity, composed of youthful personnel, all loyal to the President, proved to be a highly
successful morale booster restoring the people's confidence in their own government. [2]
[edit]Agrarian Reform

To amplify and stabilize the functions of the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR), President
Magsaysay worked[2] for the establishment of the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration
(NARRA).[2] This body took over from the EDCOR and helped in the giving some sixty five thousand acres
to three thousand indigent families for settlement purposes. [2] Again, it allocated some other twenty five
thousand to a little more that one thousand five hundred landless families, who subsequently
became farmers.[2]

As further aid to the rural people,[2] the President Established the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative
Administration (ACCFA). The idea was for this entity to make available rural credits. Records show that it
did grant, in this wise, almost ten million dollars. This administration body next devoted its attention to
cooperative marketing.[2]

Along this line of help to the rural areas, President Magsaysay initiated in all earnestness the artesian
wells campaign. A group-movement known as the Liberty Wells Association was formed and in record
time managed to raise a considerable sum for the construction of as many artesian wells as possible. The
socio-economic value of the same could not be gainsaid and the people were profuse in their gratitude. [2]

Carlos P. GarciaMarch 18, 1957- December 30, 196Vice-President Carlos P. García was inaugurated as the
8th President of thePhilippines upon Magsaysay's death on March 17, 1957. at the Council of State Room, Executive
Building, Malacañan Palace. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Ricardo Paras on March 17, 1957.
At the time of the sudden death of President Ramon Magsaysay, Vice-President and Foreign Affairs
Secretary Carlos P. Garcia was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being
held at Canberra, Australia[3]. Having been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice-President Garcia
enplaned back for Manila. Upon his arrival he directly repaired to Malacañang Palace to assume the
duties of President. Chief Justice Ricardo Paras, of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the
oath of office. President Garcia's first actuations dealt with the declaration of a period of mourning for the
whole nation and the burial ceremonies for the late Chief-Executive Magsaysay

Austerity Program
In the face of the trying conditions of the country, President Garcia initiated what has been called "The
Austerity Program". García's administration was characterized by its austerity program and its insistence
on a comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he affirmed the need for complete economic
freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests
(especially American) in the national economy. He promised to shake off "the yoke of alien domination in
business, trade, commerce and industry." García was also credited with his role in reviving Filipino
cultural arts.[2]. The main points of the Austerity Program were[7]:

1. The government would tighten up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of exports
under license and in under-pricing as well.
2. There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments.
3. Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items.
4. The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum.
5. An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the
importation of gasoline and spare parts.
6. The tax system would be revised so as to attain more equitable distribution of the paymeny-
burden and achieve more effective collection from those with ability to pay.
7. There would be an intensification of food production.
Diosdado Macapagal
December 30, 1961-December 30, 1965
Major issues of presidency
[edit]Macapagal's speeches

 Inaugural Address, (30 December 1961)

 First State of the Nation Address (22 January 1962)
 Second State of the Nation Address (28 January 1963)
 Third State of the Nation Address (27 January 1964)
Republic Act No. 3512 - An Act Creating A Fisheries Commission Defining Its Powers, Duties and
Functions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.

 Republic Act No. 3518 - An Act Creating The Philippine Veterans' Bank, and For Other Purposes.
 Republic Act No. 3844 - An Act To Ordain The Agricultural Land Reform Code and To Institute
Land Reforms In The Philippines, Including The Abolition of Tenancy and The Channeling of Capital
Into Industry, Provide For The Necessary Implementing Agencies, Appropriate Funds Therefor and
For Other Purposes.
 Republic Act No. 4166 - An Act Changing The Date Of Philippine Independence Day From July
Four To June Twelve, And Declaring July Four As Philippine Republic Day, Further Amending For
The Purpose Section Twenty-Nine Of The Revised Administrative Code.
 Republic Act No. 4180 - An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered Six Hundred Two, Otherwise
Known As The Minimum Wage Law, By Raising The Minimum Wage For Certain Workers, And For
Other Purposes.
Domestic policies
[edit]Economy

In his inaugural address, Macapagal promised a socio-economic program anchored on "a return to free
and private enterprise", placing economic development in the hands of private entrepreneurs with minimal
government interference.[4]

Twenty days after the inauguration, exchange controls were lifted and the Philippine peso was allowed to
float on the free currency exchange market. The currency controls were initially adopted by the
administration of Elpidio Quirino as a temporary measure, but continued to be adopted by succeeding
administrations. The peso devalued from P2.64 to the US dollar, and stabilized at P3.80 to the dollar,
supported by a $300 million stabilization fund from the International Monetary Fund.[4]

To achieve the national goal of economic and social progress with prosperity reaching down to the
masses, there existed a choice of methods. First, there was the choice between the democratic and
dictatorial systems, the latter prevailing in Communist countries. On this, the choice was easy as Filipinos
had long been committed to the democratic method. [10] With the democratic mechanism, however, the
next choice was between free enterprise and the controls system. Macapagal stated the essence of free
establishing a dynamic basic for future growth.

Free enterprise ws restored with decontrol. The Five-Year Economic Program had been prescribed. Land
reform abolishing tenancy had been launched. These were essential foundations for economic and social
progress for the greatest number.[10]
Ferdinand Marcos
December 30, 1965-February 25, 1986

First term (1965-1969)

Economic situation

The Filipino, it seems, has lost his soul, his dignity, and his courage.

We have come upon a phase of our history when ideals are only a veneer for greed and power, (in public
and private affairs) when devotion to duty and dedication to a public trust are to be weighted at all times
against private advantages and personal gain, and when loyalties can be traded. ...Our government is in
the iron grip of venality, its treasury is barren, its resources are wasted, its civil service is slothful and
indifferent, its armed forces demoralized and its councils sterile. We are in crisis. You know that the
government treasury is empty. Only by severe self-denial will there be hope for recovery within the next
year.[10]The last years of the 1960s and the first two years of the 1970s witnessed the radicalization of the
country's student population. Students in various colleges and universities held massive rallies and
demonstrations to express their frustrations and resentments. On January 30, 1970, demonstrators
numbering about 50,000 students and laborers stormed the Malacañang Palace, burning part of the
medical building and crashing through Gate 4 with a fire truck that had been forcibly commandeered by
laborers and students. The Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) of the Philippine Constabulary (PC)
repulsed them, pushing them toward Mendiola Bridge, where, hours later, after an exchange of gunfire,
four persons were killed and scores from both sides injured. Tear gas grenades finally dispersed the
crowd.[21] The event is known today as the First Quarter Storm.

Violent students protests did not end. In October 1970, a series of violent events occurred on numerous
campuses in the Greater Manila Area, cited as “an explosion of pillboxes in at least two schools.” The
University of the Philippines was not spared when 18,000 students boycotted their classes to demand
academic and non-academic reforms in the State University, ending in the ‘occupation’ of the office of the
president of the university by student leaders. Other schools in which scenes of violent student
demonstrations occurred were San Sebastian College, the University of the East, Letran College, Mapua
Institute of Technology, the University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and the Philippine College
of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines). Student demonstrators even succeeded in
“occupying the office of the Secretary of Justice Vicente Abad Santos for at least seven hours.” [22] The
president described the brief “communization” of the University of the Philippines and the violent
demonstrations of the left-leaning students as an “act of insurrection."
[edit]The re-emergence of the Communist movement
The re-emergence of the Communist movement and the threats it poised to the Philippine Republic may
be best narrated by the Supreme Court in Lansang vs. Garcia on December 11, 1970, excerpts:

In the language of the Report on Central Luzon, submitted, on September 4, 1971, by the Senate Ad Hoc
Committee of Seven – copy of which Report was filed in these cases by the petitioners herein – “The
years following 1963 saw the successive emergence in the country of several mass organizations,
notably the Lapiang Manggagawa (now the Socialist Party of the Philippines) among the workers; the
Malayang Samahan ng Magsasaka (MASAKA) among the peasantry; the Kabataang Makabayan (KM)
among the youth/students; and the Movement for the Advancement of Nationalism (MAN) among the
intellectuals/professionals. The PKP has exerted all-out effort to infiltrate, influence, and utilize these
organizations in promoting its radical brand of nationalism. Meanwhile, the Communist leaders in the
Philippines had been split into two (2) groups, one of which- composed mainly of young radicals,
constituting the Maoist faction – reorganized the Communist party of the Philippines early in 1969 and
established a New People’s Army. This faction adheres to the Maoist concept of the “Protracted People’s
War” or “War of National Liberation.” In the year 1969, the NPA had – according to the records of the
Department of National Defense – conducted raids, resorted to kidnappings and taken part in other
violent incidents numbering 230, in which it inflicted 404 casualties, and in turn, suffered 243 loses.

[edit]Martial law and the New Society (1972-1981)

Main article:  Martial Law in the Philippines

He also urged the revitalization of the judiciary, the national defense posture and the fight against
smuggling, criminality, and graft and corruption in the government.
To accomplish his goals “President Marcos mobilized the manpower and resources of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) for action to complement civilian agencies in such activities as infrastructure
construction; economic planning and program execution; regional and industrial site planning and

Second term (1969-1981)

the Philippines to seek new loans from the IMF. In February 1970 the PHP exchange rate was left to float
and it devaluated at once, dipping to PHP6.4 against USD1 by December 1970. Inflation had already
increased sharply from 1966 but the new exchange rates resulted in higher prices for imported products
and additional inflation. At the same time the trade balance had after 1965 (when it was USD24 million
positive) dramatically changed from positive (USD24 million in 1965) to negative (USD9 million in 1966
and USD224 million in 1967), also partly related with the infrastructure projects started by Marcos. [19]
[20]
 While some of these negative developments were the result of events outside the Philippines, a large
part of the blame lies also with Marcos and his government. Soon after the 1973 oil crisis made matters
worse for the Philippines, which is largely dependent on imports for its energy needs.

Corazon Aquino
February 25, 1986[L 10]- June 30, 1992
Constitutional and political reforms
Immediately after assuming the presidency, President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3, which
established a revolutionary government. She abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in force during
martial law, and instead promulgated the provisional 1986 Freedom Constitution, pending the ratification
of a new Constitution by the people. This allowed Aquino to exercise both executive and legislative
powers until the ratification of the new Philippine Constitution and the establishment of a new Congress in
1987.[9] As such, Aquino promulgated two landmark legal codes, namely, theFamily Code of 1987, which
reformed the civil law on family relations, and the Administrative Code of 1987, which reorganized the
structure of the executive branch of government. Another landmark law that was enacted during her
tenure was the 1991 Local Government Code, which devolved national government powers to local
government units (LGUs). The new Code also enhanced the power of LGUs to enact local taxation
measures and assured them of a share in the national revenue.

[edit]Socio-economic programs and policies

[edit]Economic management

When Aquino became president, she inherited a weak economy. The Philippines was bankrupt and debt-
ridden after twenty years of the Marcos regime and her own civil disobedience campaign against Marcos
and his cronies.

In response to cronyism, she dismantled the various monopolies that were perpetrated by Marcos during
his stay in power.

She also moved quickly to tackle the issue of the US$26 billion foreign debt incurred by her predecessor.
Aquino chose to honor all the debts that were previously incurred. Her decision proved to be unpopular
but Aquino defended that it was the most practical move. It was crucial for the country at that time to
regain the investors' confidence in the Philippine economy. Since 1986, the Aquino administration has
paid off $4 billion of the country's outstanding debts to regain good international credit ratings and attract
the attention of future markets. Nevertheless, the administration borrowed an additional $9 billion,
increasing the national debt by $5 billion within six years time since the ouster of former President
Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.[12]

Further, the Aquino administration also sought to bring back fiscal discipline in order as it aimed to trim
down the government's budget deficit that ballooned during Marcos' term through privatization of bad
government assets and deregulation of many vital industries. It was also during Aquino's time that vital
economic laws such as the Built-Operate-Transfer Law, Foreign Investments Act and the Consumer
Protection and Welfare Act were enacted.
The economy posted a positive growth of 3.4% during her first year in office. But in the aftermath of
the 1989 coup attempt by the rightist Reform the Armed Forces Movement, the Philippine economy
remained stagnant. In her final year in office, inflation was raging at 17%, and unemployment was slightly
over 10%, higher than the Marcos years. [13] Overall, the economy under Aquino had an average growth of
3.8% from 1986 to 1992.[14]

Fidel V. Ramos
June 30, 1992-June 30, 1998

Power crisis
The Philippines then was experiencing widespread brownouts due to huge demand for electricity and
antiquity of power plants, the abolishment of the Department of Energy and discontinuation of the Bataan
Nuclear Power Plant during the Aquino administration. During his State of the Nation address on July 27,
1992, he requested that the Congress enact a law that would create an Energy Department that would
plan and manage the Philippines' energy demands. Congress not only created an Energy Department but
gave him special emergency powers to resolve the power crisis. Using the powers given to him, Ramos
issued licenses to independent power producers (IPP) to construct power plants within 24 months.
Ramos issued supply contracts that guaranteed the government would buy whatever power the IPPs
produced under the contract in U.S. dollars to entice investments in power plants. This became a problem
during the East Asian Financial Crisis when the demand for electricity contracted and the Philippine
peso lost half of its value.

The country was considered risky by investors due to previous coup attempts by military adventurists led
by Gregorio Honasan, and experienced brownouts at an almost daily basis lasting 4–12 hours during the
term of President Aquino. The low supply of power and perceived instability had previously held back
investments and modernization in the country. Under Ramos, the Philippines was a pioneer in the Build-
Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme where private investors are invited to build certain government projects
(i.e. tollways, powerplants, railways, etc.), make money by charging users, and transfer operation to the
government after a set amount of time.

[edit]Economic reforms
During his administration, Ramos began implementing economic reforms intended to open up the once-
closed national economy, encourage private enterprise, invite more foreign and domestic investment, and
reduce corruption. Ramos was also known as the most-traveled Philippine President compared to his
predecessors with numerous foreign trips abroad, generating about US$ 20 billion worth of foreign
investments to the Philippines. To ensure a positive financial outlook on the Philippines, Ramos led the
4th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit in the Philippines on November 1996.
Under his administration, the Philippines enjoyed economic growth and stability. The Philippine Stock
Exchange in the mid-1990s was one of the best in the world and his visions of 'Philippines 2000' that led
the country into a newly industrialized country in the world and the "Tiger Cub Economy in Asia". [7]

Philippines 2000 Five-Point Program

Peace and Stability

Economic Growth and Sustainable Development

 Energy and Power Generation

 Environmental Protection
 Streamlined Bureaucracy
[edit]Death penalty
While campaigning for the presidency, Fidel Ramos declared his support for reinstating the death penalty.
Capital punishment was abolished for all crimes in 1987, making the Philippines the first Asian country to
do so. In 1996 Ramos signed a bill that returned capital punishment with the electric chair(method used
from 1923 to 1976, making Philippines the only country to do so outside U.S.) "until the gas
chamber  could be installed".[8] However, no one was electrocuted nor gassed, because the previously-
used chair was destroyed earlier and the Philippines adopted the lethal injection. Some people were put
to death by this means, until the death penalty was abolished again in 2006.

[edit]Peace with separatists

Ramos, a military general himself, made peace with the rebel panels. He was instrumental in the signing
of the final peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led
by Nur Misuari in 1996.

Although he battled Communist rebels as a young lieutenant in the 1950s, Ramos made a bold move
when he signed into law Republic Act 7636, which repealed the Anti-Subversion Law. With its rep

Joseph Estrada
June 30, 1998-January 20, 2001
Economy
n 1998, Estrada was elected president. Even with its strong economic team, the Estrada administration
failed to capitalize on the gains of the previous administration. His administration was severely criticized
for cronyism, incompetence, and corruption, causing it to lose the confidence of foreign investors.[citation
needed]
 Foreign investors' confidence was further damaged when, in his second year, Estrada was accused
of exerting influence in an investigation of a friend's involvement in stock market manipulation. Social
unrest brought about by bombings, bomb threats, kidnappings, etc. contributed to the economy's
troubles. Economic performance was also hurt by climatic disturbance that caused extremes of dry and
wet weather. By the end of Estrada's administration, the fiscal deficit had reportedly doubled to more than
P 100 billion from a low of P 49 billion in 1998. [15] Despite such setbacks, the rate of GNP in 1999
increased to 3.6 percent from 0.1 percent in 1998, and the GDP posted a 3.2 percent growth rate, up from
a low of -0.5 percent in 1998. Debt reached P 2.1 trillion in 1999. Domestic debt amounted to P 986.7
billion while foreign debt stood at US$ 52.2 billion.

War against the MILF

During the Ramos administration a cessation of hostilities agreement was signed between the Philippine
Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) in July 1997. This was continued by a series of
peace talks and negotiations in Estrada administration.[4] The MILF, an Islamic group formed in 1977,
seeks to be an independent Islamic State from the Philippines, and, despite the agreements, a sequence
of terrorist attacks with the Philippine military and the civilians still continued. [4] It was later divulged in a
Senate Hearing by then Lt. Trillanes that the Military was behind these terrorist attacks to justify the "all-
out-war" policy of the government which was masterminded by Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes, and which
included the kidnapping a foreign priest, namely Father Luciano Benedetti; the destruction by arson of
Talayan, Maguindanao's municipal hall; the takeover of the Kauswagan Municipal Hall; the bombing of
the Lady of Mediatrix boat at Ozamiz City; and the takeover of the Narciso Ramos Highway. By doing so,
they inflicted severe damage on the country's image abroad, and scared much-needed investments
away. For this reason, on March 21, 2000, Estrada declared an "all-out-war" against the MILF. During the
war the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines(CBCP) asked Estrada to negotiate a cease-
fire with MILF, but Estrada opposed the idea arguing that a cease-fire would cause more terrorist attacks.
For the next three months of the war, Camp Abubakar, headquarters of the MILF, fell along with other 13
major camps and 43 minor camps, and then all of which became under controlled by the government.
The MILF leader Hashim Salamat fled to Malaysia. The MILF later declared a Jihad on the government.
On July 10 of the same year, the President went to Minadanao and raised the Philippine flag symbolizing
victory. After the war the President said, "... will speed up government efforts to bring genuine and lasting
peace and development in Mindanao". In the middle of July the president ordered the military to arrest top
MILF leaders.[17]

In his state of the nation address, popularly called "SONA", the president highlighted his vision for
Mindanao:
 The first is to restore and maintain peace in Mindanao—because without peace, there can be no
development.
 The second is to develop Mindanao—because without development, there can be no peace.
 The third is to continue seeking peace talks with the MILF within the framework of the
Constitution—because a peace agreed upon in good faith is preferable to a peace enforced by force
of arms.
 And the fourth is to continue with the implementation of the peace agreement between the
government and the Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF—because that is our commitment to
our countrymen and to the international community.

In addition to this the president said his administration can move with more speed in transforming
Mindanao into a progressive economic center.[17] High on the list of priorities was the plight of MILF
guerrillas who were tired of fighting and had no camps left to which to report. On October 5, 2000 the first

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
January 20, 2001-June 30, 2010
Oakwood Mutiny
Main article:  Oakwood mutiny

The Oakwood mutiny occurred in the Philippines on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who
called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"[10] led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt. Antonio Trillanes
IV of the Philippine Navy took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced
apartment tower in Makati City to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs suggesting that the President was going to
declare martial law.
State of Emergency
Main article:  2006 state of emergency in the Philippines

On February 24, 2006, a plot to take over the government was uncovered by authorities, allegedly
headed by Gen. Danilo Lim and other rightist military adventurists. General Lim and some of his men
were arrested. To face the threat posed by enemies of the state, Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation
1017 (PP 1017) and used it as basis in declaring a state of emergency throughout the Philippines.
According to Arroyo, this declaration was done to quell the military rebellion, stop lawless violence, and
promote peace and stability. PP 1017 also empowered the government to enforce warrantless arrests
and take over strategic private utilities companies.

On February 25, 2006, the police raided the office of the Daily Tribune, a newspaper known as a critic of
the Arroyo administration. The government then issued a journalism guidelines to address the threat
posed by critics in the media. Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor said that the
guidelines were necessary in order to cope with the emergency situation.

The state of emergency existed for about one week with the purpose of curbing further violence, illegal
rallies, and public disturbance throughout the Philippines. The police and the military dispersed
demonstrators and protesters, especially those along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Aside from
General Lim, prominent personalities were also arrested in connection with their alleged participation in
the attempt to overthrow the government. Among those arrested were:

1. Col. Ariel Querubín - leader of a group of Philippine Marines who engaged the government in a

political stand-off at Fort Bonifacio on February 25, 2005
2. Randy David - led a protest rally without securing the necessary permit
3. Crispin Beltran - party-list representative of Anakpawis charged with inciting to sedition and
rebellion
4. Batasan Five - party-list representatives charged with rebellion and were placed under the
custody of the House of Representatives; Bayan Muna's Teodoro Casiño, Satur Ocampo,
and Joel Virador; Gabriela's Liza Maza, and Anakpawis' Rafael Mariano

PP 1017 was lifted on March 3, 2006 but members of the opposition, private lawyers, and concerned
citizens challenged its constitutionality before the Supreme Court. On May 4, the high court declared the
proclamation constitutional. However, it also said that it was illegal for the government to implement
warrantless arrests and seize private institutions and companies.
Charter Change

Arroyo currently spearheads a controversial plan for an overhaul of the constitution to transform the
present unitary and presidential republic with a bicameral legislature into a federal parliamentary
government with a unicameral legislature.[11]

Economy
Main article:  Presidency_of_Gloria_Macapagal-Arroyo#Economy

Arroyo, who earned a master's degree and doctorate in economics, made the Philippine economy the
focus of her presidency. Annual economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the Arroyo
administration, expanding every quarter of her presidency. [12] This is higher than in the administrations of
her three immediate predecessors, Corazon Aquino (3.8%), Fidel Ramos (3.7%), andJoseph
Estrada (3.7%).[13] The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real
GDP growth exceeding 7%.[14] The economy was one of the few to avoid contraction during the 2008
global financial crisis, faring better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled
international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large
remittances from four-to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process
outsourcing industry.[12] Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former US President Bill
Clinton, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape. [15] Despite this
growth, the poverty rate remained stagnant due to a high population growth rate and uneven distribution
of income.

A controversial expanded value added tax (e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo
administration's economic reform agenda, was implemented in November 2005, aiming to complement
revenue-raising efforts that could plug the country's large budget deficit. [16] Her administration originally

Benigno Aquino III

Hunyo 30, 2010-Kasakuluyan

he Presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III began at noon on June 30, 2010, when he became
the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeedingGloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Aquino is the third-
youngest person to be elected president, and the fourth-youngest president after Emilio
Aguinaldo, Ramon Magsaysay and Ferdinand Marcos.[2] Aquino is the first president to be a bachelor,
being unmarried and having no children.[2] Aquino is the second president not to drink alcoholic
beverages; the first president not to drink alcohol was Emilio Aguinaldo.[2] Aquino is the eighth president
to be asmoker.[2] Aquino is the first graduate of Ateneo de Manila University to become president.
[2]
 Aquino is the third president who will only hold office inMalacañang Palace, but not be a resident,
following Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos.[2] Aquino is the first president to make Bahay Pangarap his
official residence.[39][40] Aquino is the third president to use his second given name, Simeon, as his middle
initial, as Manuel L. Quezon and José P. Laureldid.[1][2][3] Aquino is the second president to be a child of a
former president, his mother was former President Corazon Aquino; the first president to be a child of a
former president was President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is the daughter of former
President Diosdado Macapagal.

The presidential transition began on June 9, 2010, when the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed

Aquino the winner of the 2010 Philippine presidential elections held on May 10, 2010, proclaiming Aquino
as the President-elect of the Philippines.[5][6] The transition was in charge of the new presidential
residence, cabinet appointments and cordial meetings between them and the outgoing administration.

The presidential residence of Aquino is Bahay Pangarap (English: House of Dreams),[13] located inside of

Malacañang Park,[41] at the headquarters of thePresidential Security Group across the Pasig
River from Malacañang Palace.[13][14] Aquino is the first president to make Bahay Pangarap his official
residence.[39][40] Malacañang Park was intended as a recreational retreat by former President Manuel L.
Quezon.[40] The house was built and designed by architect Juan Arellano in the 1930s, [13][40] and underwent
a number of renovations.[13] In 2008, the house was demolished and rebuilt in contemporary style by
architect Conrad Onglao,[13][40] a new swimming pool was built, replacing the Commonwealth-era
swimming pool.[39][40] The house originally had one bedroom,[13] however, the house was renovated for
Aquino to have four bedrooms,[39] a guest room, a room for Aquino's household staff, and a room for
Aquino's close-in security.[41] The house was originally intended as a rest house, the venue for informal
activities and social functions for the First Family by former President Manuel L. Quezon.[13] Malacañang
Park was refurbished through the efforts of First Lady Eva Macapagal, wife of former President Diosdado
Macapagal, in the early 1960s.[40] First Lady Macapagal renamed the rest house as Bahay Pangarap.
[40]
 During the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos, the house was restored and became the club house of the
Malacañang Golf Club.[13] The house was used by former President