Presidents of the Philippines and their Achievements and Contributions

In this page, I’ve listed all the presidents of the Philippines from the first to the present time (2013) and compiled some of their notable achievements. This list starts from the ratification of the Philippine Constitution in the First Republic – after the independence of the country in 1898. Thus, this list starts from the ratification of 1899 constitution where Emilio Aguinaldo was the president of the Republic of the Philippines. The dates followed by their names are the dates of their terms.

Presidents of the Philippines from past to present:

1

General Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 – April 1, 1901)

To make it easier for you to master, always remember why Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was on the 5-peso bill (which is not used anymore, instead his head-profile is on the 5-peso coin) bearing the Philippine flag at the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, it’s because he was the first president of the Philippines First Republic (a.k.a. Malolos Republic).

Contributions and Achievements of Emilio Aguinaldo:

first presidentyoungest president – he became the country’s leader at age 28longest-lived president – he died when he was 94 (wow!)one of the active leaders of KKKsigned the Pact of Biak na Batoknown as the President of the Revolutionary Governmenthe fought against the Spanish and American to retain our independence

2

Manuel L. Quezon (November 15, 1935 – August 1, 1944)

Notable facts about Manuel Luis Quezon is that, he is known as the “Father of National Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa) and he died in Saranac Lake, New York due to tuberculosis. I’ve seen his life-sized wax statue inside the Quezon Memorial Circle, it was well crafted.

Contributions and Achievements of Manuel L. Quezon:

first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines

first president elected through a national electionfirst president under the Commonwealthhe created National Council of Educationhe initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealthhe made Tagalog / Filipino as the national language of the Philippineshe appears on the twenty-peso billa province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila were named after himhis body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle

3

Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945)

Laurel was the third to sit at the office during Japanese occupation of World War II. He was the only Filipino president to have been shot outside of combat.

Contributions and Achievements of Jose P. Laurel:

he was considered as the legitimate president of the Philippineshe organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas).he declared Martial Law in 1944he and his family developed the establishment of Lyceum of the Philippines

4

Sergio Osmeña (August 1, 1944 – May 28, 1946)

Sergio Osmeña was the second president of the Commonwealth; he succeeded Quezon after his death.

Contributions and Achievements of Sergio Osmena:

he was 65 when he became president– making him the oldest president to hold officehe was the first Visayan to become presidenthe joined US Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 starting the freedom of the Philippines from the Japanese during World War IIduring his time, the Philippine National Bank has been rehabilitated and the country joined the International Monetary Fundon his time, the Bell Trade Act was approved by the US CongressSergio Osmena appears on the 50 peso bill

5

Manuel Roxas (May 28, 1946 – April 15, 1948)

Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines overall but he was considered as the third and last president under the Commonwealth and the first of the Third Republic of the Philippines. He only sat in the office for 1 year, 10 months and 18 days.

Contributions and Achievements of Manuel A. Roxas:

was inaugurated as the new and first president of the new Republic because the Philippines was finally free after the WW IIin his time, the country has started reconstruction from war damage and the Philippines started breathing without foreign ruleunder his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by the congresshe is in the 100 peso bill

6

Elpidio Quirino (April 17, 1948 – December 30, 1953)

He was the vice president at Roxas time. He became president when the latter died in 1948.

Contributions and Achievements of Elpidio Quirino:

under his term Hukbalahap movement was activehe created Social Security Commissionhe also created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruptionin 1948, Quezon City was the capital of the Philippinespeso and dollar exchange rate at his time was 1 US = P2

7

Ramon Magsaysay (December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957)

He was born in Iba, Zambales, was a military governor, and engineer. He died on a plane crash on Dec. 1957, boarding the presidential plane named “Mt. Pinatubo

Contributions and Achievements of Ramon Magsaysay:

was a chairman of the Committee on Guerilla Affairswas the first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog in his inaugurationhis presidency was referred as the Philippines’ Golden Years for it was the cleanest and zero-corruption

the Philippines was ranked 2nd in Asia’s clean and well-governed countrieshe established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among his agrarian reforms

8

Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961)

Another lawyer, Carlos P. Garcia was a poet, teacher, and guerilla leader too. Born from Bohol, he was the vice president of Magsaysay and secretary of Foreign Affairs for 4 years. He became president when Magsaysay died in 1957.

Contributions and Achievements of Carlos P. Garcia

he was known for “Filipino First Policy”he established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commercewas known as the “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “bard from Bohol”cultural arts was revived during his termwas the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

9

Diosdado Macapagal (December 30, 1961 – December 30, 1965)

He was born in Lubao, Pampanga, Diosdado Macapagal is the father of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the 14th and second woman president of the Philippines. He was a lawyer and a professor, too.

Contributions and Achievements of Diosdado Macapagal:

he established the first Land Reform Lawhe placed the Philippines currency – peso, on the currency exchange markethe made June 12 1898 as the Philippines’ Independence Dayhe signed the Minimum Wage Lawhe signed the creation of the Philippine Veteran’s Bank

10

Ferdinand Marcos (December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986)

Born from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was a lawyer and Senate President for 3 years. He was president for 21 years and only quit office after the People Power Revolution. His wife, Imelda Marcos became quite popular in the world too. His term was the most controversial and messy one

because of Martial Law and People Power although Marcos has contributed a lot of nice things in the Philippines. He was one of the best and brightest presidents even though their family was rumored to have embezzled public funds to Switzerland and other wealthy countries.

Contributions and Achievements of Ferdinand Marcos:

he was the first president to win a second termhe declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972he increased the size of Philippine military and armed forcesin 1980, GNP was 4 times greater than 1972in 1986, the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asiahe built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals and infrastructures than all former presidents did combinedis the only president whose remains interred inside a refrigerated crypt

Source: CC BY SA 2.0 by Philippinepresidency Flickr photostream11

Corazon Aquino (February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992)

The first woman president of the Philippines and the first woman president in Asia, Cory Aquino is the wife of Benigno Aquino Jr. (who was assassinated during Marcos regime). She was born in Paniqui, Tarlac

Contributions and Achievements of Corazon Aquino:

was named “Woman of the Year” in 1986 by Time magazinefirst woman president of the Philippines and Asiashe’s known to bring back democracy in the countryshe abolished 1973 Marcos Constitution brought the new Constitution of the Philippinesshe reorganized the structure of the executive branch of governmentsigned the Family Code of 1987 and 1191 Local Government Codeshe always initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the needyshe’s been cited as a modern-day Joan of Arc by manyshe is in the new 500 peso bill together with her husband Ninoy Aquinoshe has received great honors and awards such as one of:

100 Women Who Shaped World History20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century65 Great Asian Heroesa recipient of J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding

Source: CC BY SA by Philippinepresidency Flickr Photostream12

Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998)

FVR was the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he became president. Unknown to many, he’s also a civil engineer. He brought back economic growth and stability in the country in spite of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He is the first and only non-Catholic president of the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements of Fidel V. Ramos

during his time, the Philippines was cited as Asia’s Next Economic Tiger because he brought back economic growththe Philippines celebrated Centennial Independence in 1998he’s the only Filipino who received British Knighthood from the United Kingdom, bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George)he led the 4th APEC Summit held in the Philippineshis “Philippines 2000” vision made the Philippine Stock Exchange one of the best in the world in the mid-90sDeath Penalty was reinstated at his timehe signed peace talks and agreement with the MNLF

13

Joseph Estrada (June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001)

Known as Erap, he was the first president who was a famous film actor. His governance had so many downs due to controversies, impeachment and slow economic growth. I think he’s the first president who has been impeached and the second one who was forced to leave the office because of People Power III in Edsa. Philippine economy was at its worst because of leadership uncertainty.

Contributions and Achievements of Joseph “Erap” Estrada:

during his time, the MILF’s headquarters and camps were capturedhe joined other leaders and politicians who supported against the Charter Changewas cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989was among the “Magnificent 12” who voted for the termination of the Philippines and US Military Bases Agreement from Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base

Source: CC BY Piercing Pens Flickr Photostream14

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010)

Gloria Arroyo, daughter of ex-president Diosdado Macapagal, was the second female president of the Philippines. She was 14 when she moved and lived in the Malacanang Palace. Oakwood Mutiny occurred on her term. There were also lots of messy controversies against Gloria like impeachments and the Hello Garci disgrace but Gloria has known to have contributed big record for road, bridges infrastructures and higher economic growth than the past 3 presidents term did. Amid the 2008 global financial crisis, the Philippines still had an impressive GDP growth and it was so hard to keep it afloat but she did.

Contributions and Achievements of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo:

second female president of the countryfirst and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far (to date)first president to had oath taking outside Luzonan ex-professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University where Noynoy Aduino was one of her studentsan ex-classmate of former US president Bill Clinton at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service where she maintained Dean’s list statusshe regained higher economic growth than the past 3 presidents before herPhilippine economy grew at its fastest in 3 decades in 2007, GDP exceeding 7% growthUS ex-president Bill Clinton cited Gloria’s “tough decisions” because of her brilliant strategy to make the country's economy back in shape amidst the 2008 global financial crisisPeso became the best performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007eVAT Law was implemented under her termshe is currently in the 200 peso bill

Source: CC BY Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Flickr Photostream15

Benigno Aquino III (June 30, 2010 – present)

Son of the first female president of the Philippines and Asia – Corazon Aquino, Benigno Aquino III Aquino a.k.a. NoyNoy joined the House of Representatives and the Senate before his presidency. He is the first president who is a bachelor, unmarried and has no children.

Contributions and Achievements of Benigno Aquino III:

he created the no wang-wang policy and this was practiced on his inaugural addresshe assigned the notable Jesse Robredo as the secretary of DILG in 2010.he initiated the K-12 education in the Philippineshe renamed the Office of the Press Secretary into Presidential Communications Operations Office and appointed new officers

he signed an EO about suspension of allowances and bonuses of GOCCs and GFIs board membershas paved peace in Mindanao thru the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movementin 2012, the Philippine economy grew 7.1% besting other South East Asian countries

List of Presidents of the PhilippinesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malacañan Palace, the official residence of the president

The President of the Philippines is the head of state governing the country. According to the Philippine

government, the office has been held by politicians who were inaugurated as President of the

Philippines following the ratification of a constitution that explicitly declared the existence of thePhilippines.

For leaders of the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, see Datu. For leaders during the Spanish

colonial period and prior to the ratification of the 1935 constitution, see Governor-General of the Philippines.

The King of Spain was the head of state during the Spanish era (1565–1898) and the President of the United

States was the head of state during the American era (1898–1946). Note that the presidents under

the Commonwealth of the Philippines were under United States sovereignty, and that the president of the

Second Republic is considered to have been running a puppet government of the Japanese during World War

II although this puppet government of José P. Laurel during the Japanese occupation was officially considered

independent by the Japanese. Thus the Philippines had threePresidents during that war - one de facto and

two de jure, and two at the same time.[1]

Emilio Aguinaldo was president of the short-lived Malolos Republic between 1899 and 1901. Although the

republic never received foreign recognition, Filipinos consider Aguinaldo to be their first president.[2]

The colors in the following chart indicate the political party or coalition of each President at Election Day or at

the time of ascendancy.

Contents

  [hide] 

1 Legend

2 List of Presidents

o 2.1 Notes

3 Timeline

4 Statistics

5 Unofficial Presidents of the Philippines

6 References

7 See also

8 External links

Legend[edit]

The following color-coding is applied to the table and the timeline below:

  KALIBAPI

  KBL

  Lakas

  LAMP

  Liberal

  Nacionalista

  NPC

  PDP-LABAN

  UNIDO

  Independent

List of Presidents[edit]

President(Birth–Death)

Took office

Left office

PartyVice

PresidentTerm

Era

1Emilio

Aguinaldo(1869–1964)

January 23, 1899[L

1]

April 1, 1901[L 2]

None; formerly the Magdalo

faction of theKatipunan [L 3]

None[L 4] —First Republic

(Malolos Republic)

Abolished; occupied by the US Civil Governors of the Philippine Islands from July 4, 1901 to November 15, 1935.

Insular Government

2 Manuel L. Quezon

(1878–1944)

November 15, 1935

August 1, 1944[L 5]

Nacionalista Sergio Osmeña

1 Commonwealth

2

3José P. Laurel

(1891–1959)

October 14, 1943

August 17, 1945[L

6]

KALIBAPI [L 7] (Caretaker government

under Japanese occupation)

None[L 8] —Second

Republic

4Sergio

Osmeña(1878–1961)

August 1, 1944

May 28, 1946

Nacionalista Vacant 2 Commonwealth

(Restored)

5Manuel Roxas

(1892–1948)

May 28, 1946

April 15, 1948[L 9] Liberal

Elpidio Quirino

3

Third Republic

6 Elpidio Quirino

(1890–1956)

April 17, 1948

December 30, 1953

Liberal Vacant

Fernando Lopez

4

7Ramon

Magsaysay(1907–1957)

December 30, 1953

March 17, 1957[L 10] Nacionalista

Carlos P. Garcia

5

8Carlos P. Garcia

(1896–1971)

March 18, 1957

December 30, 1961

Nacionalista

Vacant

Diosdado Macapagal

6

9Diosdado

Macapagal(1910–1997)

December 30, 1961

December 30, 1965

LiberalEmmanuel

Pelaez7

10

Ferdinand Marcos

(1917–1989)

December 30, 1965

February 25, 1986[L

11]

NacionalistaFernando

Lopez8

91 KBL Vacant Second

Dictatorship

0

"The New Society"

10

Fourth RepublicArturo

Tolentino

11

11

Corazon Aquino

(1933–2009)

February 25, 1986[L

12]

June 30, 1992

PDP-LABAN / UNIDO

Salvador Laurel

Fifth Republic

12

Fidel V. Ramos(1928– )

June 30, 1992

June 30, 1998

LakasJoseph Estrada

12

13

Joseph Estrada(1937– )

June 30, 1998

January 20, 2001[L

13]LAMP

Gloria Macapagal

-Arroyo

13

14

Gloria Macapagal

-Arroyo(1947– )

January 20, 2001

June 30, 2010

Lakas / KAMPI

Vacant

Teofisto Guingona,

Jr.

Noli de Castro

14Lakas-Kampi

15

Benigno Aquino III

(1960– )

June 30, 2010

Incumbent

(Term expires June

30, 2016)

LiberalJejomar Binay

15