1.

Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 – March

23, 1901)
Emilio Aguinaldo was the first president of the Philippines First
Republic (also known as the Malolos Republic). He was inaugurated
on January 23, 1899, at the Barasoain Church, Malolos, Bulacan. He led
the proclamation of the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, in his
ancestral home in Kawit, Cavite.

Contributions and Achievements of Emilio Aguinaldo:

 He waved the Philippine flag in declaring the independence of the
Philippines in 1898
 He was the first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolos
Republic)
 The youngest Filipino president, taking office at age 28
 The longest-lived president of the Philippines, passing away at
age 94
 Featured in the front and back of the Philippine 5-peso bill (not
circulated anymore)
 He led the country in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-
Philippine War
 He led the proclamation of the Philippine Independence
 Known as the President of the Revolutionary Government
 Signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the
Spanish and Philippine revolutionaries
 He was a well-known entrepreneur, soldier, and politician
2. Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944)
Manuel L. Quezon was the 2nd president of the Philippines and the first
president of the Philippine Commonwealth established under the USA. He
was inaugurated on December 30, 1941, in Corregidor Island. He’s known
as the “Father of National Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa). He
died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York.

Contributions and Achievements of Manuel L.

Quezon:
 First President elected through a national election
 First Senate President elected as President of the Philippines
 The first president of the Philippines under the Commonwealth
 Initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the
Commonwealth
 Manuel L. Quezon created the National Council of Education
 He approved Filipino as the national language of the Philippines
 Studied Bachelor of Arts at Colegio de San Juan de Letran
 Studied Bachelor of Law at the University of Sto. Tomas
 Ranked 4th in the Philippine Bar Exam (1903)
 A province, a city, a bridge, and a university in Manila are named
after him
 He fought for the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)
 His body rests peacefully inside the special monument on Quezon
Memorial Circle
3. Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 – August 17,
1945)
Jose P. Laurel was the 3rd president of the Philippines and the president of
the Second Philippine Republic. His inauguration was on October 14, 1943,
in the Legislative Building, now National Museum. He served president of
the Philippines during the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Contributions and Achievements of Jose P. Laurel:

 Jose P. Laurel is the only Philippine president who served the
three branches of government – he became a senator-
congressman, associate justice, and president
 Since the early 1960s, Laurel was recognized as 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 the Japanese occupation
 Laurel declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the
US/United Kingdom in 1944
 He’s the Founder of the Lyceum of the Philippines
 He’s a Law genius, ranked 2nd in the Philippine Bar Exam in 1915
 Earned a Doctorate in Civil Law from Yale University in 1920
 Received Honoris Causa from Tokyo Imperial University in 1938
 He was assassinated twice, but he survived and recovered
4. Sergio Osmeña Sr. (August 1, 1944 – May 28,
1946)
Sergio Osmeña Sr. was the 4th president of the Philippines and the
2nd president of the Commonwealth. He was inaugurated on August 1,
1944, in Washington DC. He succeeded the presidency after the death of
then president Manuel L. Quezon. During his administration, the Philippines
joined the International Monetary Fund.

Contributions and Achievements of Sergio Osmena:

 Sergio Osmeña was the first Visayan to become president, born in
Cebu City
 He joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20,
1944, to begin restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese
occupation
 Founder of the Nacionalista Party
 Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated, and the country joined
the International Monetary Fund during his presidency
 The U.S. Congress approved the Bell Trade Act during his
presidency
 He was 2nd placer in the 1903 Philippine Bar Exam
 Founder and Editor of a Spanish newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, in
Cebu City
 Had Bachelor of Arts from Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1894)
 Had Bachelor of Law from the University of Santo Tomas (1903)
 Featured in the 50-peso bill, First Philippine Assembly, Leyte Landing
5. Manuel A. Roxas (May 28, 1946 – April 15,
1948)
Manuel Roxas was the 5th president of the Philippines, the 3rd (and last)
president under the Commonwealth, and the first president of the Third
Republic of the Philippines. He was inaugurated on May 28, 1946, at the
National Museum building. He held office for only one year, 10 months, and
18 days.

Contributions and Achievements of Manuel Roxas:

 Manuel Roxas was 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
 Congress accepted the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and
Philippine Trade Act laws under his term
 Ranked 1st Place in the Philippine Bar Exam (1913)
 Featured in the 100-peso bill, Old Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
building in Intramuros, Manila, Inauguration of the Third Philippine
Republic
6. Elpidio R. Quirino (April 17, 1948 – December 30,
1953)
Elpidio Quirino was the 6th president of the Philippines and the 2nd president
of the Third Republic. He succeeded presidency after incumbent president
Manuel Roxas died in 1948. Quirino was 57 years old when he was
inaugurated as president on April 17, 1948, at the Malacañang Palace.

Contributions and Achievements of Elpidio Quirino:

 Hukbalahap Guerrilla movement was active during his presidency
 He created the Social Security Commission
 He created the Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption
 During his term, Quezon City became capital of the Philippines in
1948
 Completed Bachelor of Law at the University of the Philippines in
1915
 Dean of the College of Law at the Adamson University (1941-1946)
 Ranked 2nd placer in the Philippine Bar Exam in 1915
7. Ramon Magsaysay Sr. (December 30, 1953 –
March 17, 1957)
Ramon Magsaysay was the 7th president of the Philippines and the
3rd president of the Third Republic. He was the first president who sworn
into the office wearing Barong Tagalog during the inauguration. He died in
an aircraft disaster while boarding the presidential plane.

Contributions and Achievements of Ramon

Magsaysay:
 He led to defeat the Hukbalahap movement
 Chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs
 His presidency was referred to as the Philippines’ “Golden Years” for
its lack of corruption
 The Philippines was ranked second in Asia’s clean and well-
governed countries during his presidency
 He established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Administration (NARRA) among other agrarian reforms
 He made the Philippine a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization
8. Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957 – December
30, 1961)
Carlos P. Garcia is the 8th president of the Philippines and fourth president
of the Third Republic. This Bohol native was a lawyer, poet, and professor
and served as a guerrilla leader during the Pacific War. Garcia served as
vice president under Ramon Magsaysay and as secretary of Foreign Affairs
for four years. He became president when Magsaysay died in a plane
crash in 1957.

Contributions and Achievements of Carlos P. Garcia:

 Carlos P. Garcia was known for promoting “Filipino First Policy,”
which favored Filipino businesses over foreign investors
 He established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and
commerce
 He became a famous poet and known as the “Prince of Visayan
Poets” and the “Bard from Bohol.”
 Cultural arts was revived during his term
 He was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan
ng mga Bayani
9. Diosdado P. Macapagal (December 30, 1961 –
December 30, 1965)
Diosdado P. Macapagal was the 9th president of the Philippines. He was a
lawyer and economist, born in Lubao, Pampanga. He was inaugurated on
December 30, 1961, at the Quirino Grandstand. His daughter, Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, followed his path and became president, too.

Contributions and Achievements of Diosdado

Macapagal:
 Topped the Bar Exam, 1st place in 1936
 Took a Master of Law in 1941 and Doctor of Civil Law in 1947, and
a Ph.D. in Economics in 1957
 Diosdado Macapagal was a great economist, he established the
first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private farmland
to be distributed in inexpensive, small lots to the landless
 He placed the Philippine peso on the free currency exchange
market and encouraged exports
 The Philippine representative to the United Nations General
Assembly three times
 He signed the Minimum Wage Law
 Diosdado Macapagal signed the law to create the Philippine
Veteran’s Bank
 Featured in the 200-peso bill
10. Ferdinand E. Marcos (December 30, 1965 –
February 25, 1986)
Ferdinand Marcos was the tenth president of the Philippines and the last
president of the Third Republic. He was one of the most controversial
leaders of the 20th century. He ruled the Philippines for 21 years and was
removed from office after the People Power Revolution.

Contributions and Achievements of Ferdinand

Marcos:
 The first president to win a second term
 The longest-ruling president of the Philippines, he ruled for 21
years
 He declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972
 He increased the size of Philippine military and armed forces
 By 1980, the Philippine GNP was four times greater than 1972
 Marcos built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other
infrastructure than all former presidents combined
 He topped 1st place in the Bar Exam in 1939
 The only president whose remains were interred inside a refrigerated
crypt
 Many of Marcos Sr.’s infrastructure projects include the North Luzon
Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Maharlika Highway,
Circumferential Roads 1-10, San Juanico Bridge, and Mactan-
Mandaue Bridge
  Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s government also completed 20 power
plants so that the Philippines would be independent of the surging
prices of oil and electricity
 Notable medical institutions were also built during Marcos’s regime,
such as the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines,
and National Kidney and Transplant Institute
 The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Folks Arts Theater,
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), National Arts
Center, Nayong Pilipino, and the People’s Park in the Sky were
constructed during Marcos Sr.’s regime to promote Filipino heritage
and culture
 Marcos Sr. signed the Emancipation of Tenants from the Bondage
of the Soil (Presidential Decree No.27) in 1972

11. Corazon C. Aquino (February 25, 1986 –

June 30, 1992)
Corazon Aquino was the first woman president of the Philippines and the
first woman to become president of an Asian country. She was the
11th president and a democracy icon, one of the 100 Women Who Shaped
World History and 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century.

Contributions and Achievements of Corazon Aquino:

  The first woman to be president of the Philippines or any Asian
country
 She 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
 She initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the
needy
 Was named “Woman of the Year” in 1986 by TIME magazine
 She was featured on the new 500-peso bill together with her
husband, Benigno Aquino Jr.
 Among the 100 Women Who Shaped World History
 One of the 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
 One of TIME Magazine’s 65 Asian Heroes
 Received Honorary Doctorates from international universities
including Boston University, Eastern University in Pennsylvania,
Fordham University in New York, Waseda University in Tokyo

12. Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 – June 30,

1998)
Photo Credit: Presidential Museum and Library of the Philippines

Fidel Ramos was the 12th president of the Philippines. Ramos also lived
longer than the other presidents. Like Aguinaldo, FVR was 94 years old
when he died. He’s one of the most admired presidents because, during his
presidency, he restored economic growth and stability in the country.

Contributions and Achievements of Fidel V. Ramos:

  FVR was widely credited as the most effective president because
he led the Philippines to economic growth
 He promoted family-planning practices to help to solve the country’s
growing population
 Hosted the 4th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader’s
Summit in the Philippines in 1996
 He presided over celebrations of Philippine
Independence Centennial in 1998
 Ramos reached out peace talks with the rebels such as the Moro
National Liberation Front and New People’s Army
 FVR received British Knighthood from Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St.
George)
 The Philippine Stock Exchange became an international favorite
during his presidency
 Ranked 8th Place in the Philippine Civil Engineering Licensure
Exam (1953)
 The death penalty was reinstated while he was in office
 FVR was the only military officer who reached the rank of five-star
general/admiral de jure who rose from second lieutenant up to
commander-in-chief of the armed forces
 Had 29 Honorary Doctorate Degrees

13. Joseph E. Estrada (June 30, 1998 – January

20, 2001)
Joseph Estrada is the 13th president of the Philippines and the first film
actor to become a president in the country. During his years in office,
economic growth was slow, and he faced impeachment proceedings. He
became the first president in Asia to be impeached from an executive role.
He was ousted from the presidency in 2001.

Contributions and Achievements of Joseph Estrada:

 He starred in over 100 films in the Philippines and received
numerous Best Actor awards
 Moro Islamic Liberation Front headquarters and camps were
captured during his presidency
 Cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989
 He became a Mayor of the City of Manila, the county’s capital
 He won every mayor election in San Juan from 1969 to 1984
 Erap was among the “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the
agreement that allows for U.S. control of Clark Airbase and Subic
Naval Base

 He was credited with the passage of, among other pieces of

legislation, the bills on irrigation project and the protection of
carabaos

14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (January 20, 2001 –

June 30, 2010)
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the 14th president of the Philippines, the
2nd female president, and the first Filipino president whose parent was a
former president. She’s also an economist like her father, ex-president
Diosdado Macapagal. Having a master’s degree and doctorate in
economics, Gloria put the Philippine economy back in shape.
Annual economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during her
administration, expanding every quarter of her presidency. That is higher
than in the administrations of her three immediate predecessors. The peso
strengthened by nearly 20% in making it the best-performing currency of
the year in 2007.

Contributions and Achievements of Gloria Macapagal

Arroyo:
 Second female president of the country
 First president to take oath outside Luzon
 Gloria Arroyo oversaw higher economic growth than the past three
presidents before her
 Philippine Peso became the best-performing currency of the
year in Asia in 2007 during her term
 eVAT Law was implemented under her term
 She supported to bring back Spanish language in the Philippines
during her 9-year presidency
 She took up International Trade at Georgetown University in
Washington D.C. with Bill Clinton
 Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Assumption College in 1968
 Arroyo earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from Ateneo de
Manila University in 1978
 Obtained Doctorate in Economics from the University of the
Philippines in 1986
 Numerous Honorary Degrees granted by prominent international
universities
 TIME Magazine’s People Who Mattered list for 2005
 Forbes 100 Most Powerful Women in the World (2004 – 2009)
 Currently featured on the 200-peso bill
15. Benigno Aquino III (June 30, 2010 – June 30,
2016)

Photo Credit: Presidential Museum and Library of the Philippines

Benigno Aquino III was the 15th president of the Philippines. He was the first
bachelor president. A son of ex-president Corazon Aquino, he was also
called as Noynoy or PNoy. Noynoy finished his Economics degree from
Ateneo de Manila University. He was one of the students of a former
economics professor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the president before him.

Contributions and Achievements of Benigno Aquino

III:
 He created the no “wang-wang” (street siren) policy
 Noynoy initiated shifting to K-12 education in the Philippines
 Peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in October
2012
 Oversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012
 TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the
World in 2013
16. Rodrigo Roa Duterte (June 30, 2016 – June
30, 2022)
Photo Credit: DuterteUpdates Instagram

Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the 16th president of the Philippines. He’s one of the
most loved presidents. He’s earned a massive fanbase after transforming
one of the most dangerous cities (Davao) into one of the world’s safest
when he was a mayor. At age 71, he became the oldest Filipino ever
elected to the presidency.

Contributions and Achievements of Rodrigo Duterte:

 He earned Political Science Degree from Lyceum of the Philippines
in 1968
 Obtained Law Degree from San Beda College in 1972
 He initiated decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport in Manila, the country’s main gateway
 Signed the Freedom of Information Order
 Duterte launched a 24-hour complaint hotline, 8888
 He signed an order for Smoking Ban in public places
 Boracay Island was rehabilitated during his term
 Launched the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Program
 Duterte signed the TRAIN Law and Comprehensive Tax Reform
Program
 One of Forbes list of World’s Most Powerful People in 2016
 Duterte has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine
17. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (June 30, 2022 –
present)

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is the 17th president of the Philippines. He is the

second child of former president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and the “iron
butterfly” Imelda Romualdez Marcos. His campaign is focused on unity.
BBM won the presidential election by a landslide garnering over 31 million
votes.

Contributions and Achievements of Ferdinand R.

Marcos Jr:
 BBM has been a public servant since 1980
 He served as a senator, congressman, governor, and vice-governor
 Marcos Jr. authored landmark laws such as the Philippine
Archipelagic Baselines Law (R.A. 9522)
 He authored, co-authored, sponsored, and co-sponsored 54 bills
passed into law
 BBM led the modernization of agricultural and tourism landscape of
Ilocos Norte when he was a governor
 BBM is an advocate of renewable energy and sustainable
development, the Bangui Windmill Farm was one of his astonishing
energy development projects.