16 PRESIDENTS

OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES
EMILIO AGUINALDO (1898-1901)

- The First President of the Philippines.

He led the Filipinos in fighting against

the Spaniards and the Americans.

MANUEL L. QUEZON (1935-1944)

- The first Senate President elected as

President of the Philippines. First elected

in a national election. He made Tagalog

as the national language of the

Philippines.

JOSE P. LAUREL ( 1943-1945)

- The President of the Philippines during

the Japanese occupation in World War II.

 SERGIO OSMENA ( 1944-1946 )

- He was the oldest President at 65 to hold

office. He rehabilitated the Philippine

National Bank, and the Philippines joined

the International Monetary Fund.

Manuel Roxas ( 1946- 1948 )

- The first President of the Third Republic and

during his administration the Philippines

started reconstructing war damages. A military

assistance pact was signed in 1947 granting

the United States a 99- year lease on desig-

nated military bases in the country.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO ( 1948- 1953 )

- Vice President Quirino ascended to the

Presidency when Roxas died in 1948. He ran

president in his own right in 1949 winning a

four-year term. He served as the second President

of the Third Republic. He ceated rural banks.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY ( 1953- 1957 )

- He succeeded Quirino but was not able to

finish his term as he died in a plane crash

on March 17, 1957. He was immensely

popular with the ordinary people.

Carlos P. Garcia ( 1957- 1961 )

- The 4th President of the Third Republic who

was known for his Filipino First Policy. He

also implemented cultural revival and

economic nationalism.

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ( 1961-1965 )

- He succeeded Garcia. His administration was

known for its socio-economic programs, the

abolition of tenancy and the establishment of

Land Bank. He sought relations with neighboring

Asian countries. He changed the celebration of

Independence from July 4 to June 12.

Ferdinand Marcos ( 1965-1986 )

- He became President in 1965 and was re-elected

in1969. Marcos declared Martial Law on

September 21,1972, by proclamation No. 1081.

Marcos by virtue of Presidential Decrees curtailed

press freedom, closed down Congress and media

establishments. Opposition leaders and militant

activists were arrested including his critic Senator

Benigno Aquino Jr.

CORAZON AQUINO ( 1986- 1992 )

- She became the first woman President in Asia.

She lacked political experience, but she survived

seven attempted coup attempts. She was respon-

sible for the restoration of democratic purposes

and institutions in the Philippines. The members

of the Philippine Senate in 1991 rejected the

treaty that would have allowed a 10-year extension

of the U.S Military basesin the Philippines.

FIDEL RAMOS ( 1992- 1998 )

- He declared national reconciliation and was

known for his program the “ Philippines 2000 “

where he attempted to make the Philippines as

a “ Tiger Economy of Asia “. During his adminis-

tration, capital punishment was re-imposed.

JOSEPH ESTRADA ( 1998- 2000)

- He became President by a landslide victory in 1998.

He was removed from office on January 20, 2001 by

EDSA Revolution because of the controversial im-

peachment trial against him. He was tried and con-

victed for plunder and spent six years in prison but

given Presidential pardon by his successor Gloria M.

Arroyo, his former Vice President.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO ( 2001-2010 )

- The daughter of the late President Diosdado

Macapagal. She has the vision “ Sugpuin ang

Kahirapan “. Her nine-year administration was

Marked with issues like cheating in the Presidential

Electionn, poverty, Expanded VAT Law, Fertilizer

Scam, Jueteng and ZTE Scandal .

BENIGNO AQUINO III ( 2010- 2016 )

- The son of Former President Cory Aquino and

hero Ninoy Aquino. He ascended to Presidency

in 2010 elections.
 RODRIGO DUTERTE ( 2016- … )

- He was the 16th President of the Philippines.

He started a nationwide campaign to rid the

country of crime, corruption and illegal

drugs. He also campaigned to restore the

death penalty in the Philippines.

CATHRINA THERESE P. CORNITA

12 HUMSS A