Presidents of the Philippines
Presidents of the Philippines
(Born- March 22, 1869, died-         February 6, 1964)
President of the First         Philippine Republic
(Term: 1898- 1901)
Filipino leader who fought first         against Spain and later against the United States for the         Independence of the Philippines.
Born of Chinese and Filipino         parentage, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, whom providence had         placed as the supreme leader of his people at the         critical period in their history. He was born in Kawit,         Cavite, on March 22, 1869. He was the seventh among eight         children of the spouses Carlos Aguinaldo and Trinidad         Famy.
He took up his secondary course         at the Letran de Manila where he finished only three         years of high school. His favorite subject was geography.         He did not finish the secondary course education.
At the age of 17, Emilio was         elected as cabeza de barangay of Binakayan, the most         progressive barrio of Kawit, Cavite. He served for his         town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in         inter-island shipping, travelling as far as Visayas and         even Jolo, Philippines. On January 1, 1895, he was         elected capitan municipal of Kawit the first to bear that         title in accordance with the Mauro Law. At that time a         capitan municipal received no salary except 3% of taxes         he could collect. In August 1896 he was the local leader         of the Katipunan, a revolutionary society that fought         bitterly and successfully against Spanish. In December         1897 he signed an agreement called the Pact of         Biac-na-Bato with the Spanish governor-general. He agreed         to leave the Philippines and to remain permanently in         exile on condition of a substantial financial award from         Spain coupled with the promise of liberal reforms. While         in Hong Kong and Singapore he made arrangement with         representative 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 return to         the Philippines on May 19, 1898 and announced renewal of         the struggle with Spain. Upon the advice of Apolinario         Mabini to Aguinaldo he should change the form of         dictatorship to president of revolutionary government. The         Filipinos, who declared their independence of Spain on         June 12, 1898, proclaimed a provisional republic, of         which Aguinaldo was to became 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, December 10, 1898.
Relation between the Americans and the         Filipinos were unfriendly and grew steadily worse. On         January 23, 1899, the Malolos constitution by virtue of         which the Philippines was a republic and which he had         been approved by the assembly and by Aguinaldo was         proclaimed. Aguinaldo, who had been president of the         provisional government, was elected president.
Aguinaldo formally established         the first Philippine republic. He also designated         diplomats who were assigned in the major world capitals         to seek recognition of Philippine independence.
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 General Douglas McArthur on         Corregidor to surrender in order to spare the flower of         Filipino youth.
When the Americans returned,         Aguinaldo was arrested and together with the others         accused of collaboration with the Japanese was held for         several months in Bilibid Prison until released by         presidential amnesty. As a token vindication of his         honor, he was appointed by president Elpidio Quirino as         a member of the Council of State in 1950. In the latter         years of his life, he devoted his major attention to         veterans affairs, the promotion of nationalism and         democracy in the Philippines, and the improvement of         relation between the Philippines and the United States.
Aguinaldo resumed his life of         retirement. In June 12, 1963, on the occasion of the         celebration of Philippine independence, Aguinaldo veiled         his historic mansion in Kawit, together with all the         relics contained therein, to the Philippine government.
On February 6, 1964, he died at         the age of 95 years old.
(Born- August 19, 1878, died-         August 1, 1944)
First President of the         Commonwealth
(Term: November 15, 1935- August 1, 1944)
Filipino statesman, leader of         the independence movement, and first president of the         Philippine Commonwealth established under United States         tutelage in 1935.
Born in the small town of Baler         province of Tayabas on August 19, 1878. His parents are         Lucio Quezon and Maria Dolores Molina, school teacher and         small landholder of Tagalog descent on the part of         southern Luzon. Manuel spent the early years of his         childhood in his hometown among the common people. His         first teacher was his mother. He enrolled at the San Juan         de Letran college, one of the leading institutions of         learning in the capital city. Quezon years at San Juan de         Letran as a self-supporting student brought out of his         latent potentialities. He finished Bachelor of Arts         degree at the age of sixteen.
He cut short his law studies at         the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 1899 to         participate in the struggle for independence against the         United States, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. After Aguinaldo         surrendered in 1901, however, Quezon returned to the         University, obtained his degree (1903), landed fourth         place in the 1903 Bar examinations, and practiced law for         a year. Convinced that the only way to independence was         through cooperation with the United States, he ran for         governor of Tayabas province in 1905. Once elected, he         served for two years before being elected as         representatives in 1907 to the newly established         Philippine Assembly.
In 1909, Quezon was         appointed resident commissioner for the Philippines,,         entitled to speak, but not vote in the U.S. House of         Representative; during his years in Washington D.C., he         fought vigorously for a speedy grant of independence by         the Unites States. Quezon played a major role in         obtaining Congress passage in 1916 of the Jones Act,         which pledged independence for the Philippines without         giving a specific date when it would take effect. The act         gave the Philippines greater autonomy and provided for         the creation of a bicameral national legislature modeled         after the U.S. Congress. Quezon resigned as a         commissioner and returned to Manila to be elected to the         newly formed Philippines senate in 1916; he subsequently         served as its president until 1935. In 1922 he gained         control of the Nacionalista party, which had previously         been led by his rival Sergio Osmeï¿½a.
Quezon fought for passage of the Tydings         McDuffie Act (1934) which provided for full independence         for the Philippines ten years after the creation of a         constitution and the establishment of a commonwealth         government that would be the forerunner of an         independence republic. Quezon was elected president of         the newly formulated commonwealth on November 15, 1935.         As president he reorganized the island military defense         (aided by General Douglas McArthur as his special         adviser). Tackled the huge problem of landless peasants         in the countryside who still worked as tenants on large         estates, promote the settlement and development of the         large southern island of Mindanao, and fought graft and         corruption in the government. A new national capital,         later known as Quezon City, was build in the suburb of         Manila.
Quezon was reelected president         in 1941. After Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines         in 1942, he went to the United States, where he formed a         government in exile, served as a member of the Pacific         war council, signed the declaration of the United Nations         against the fascist nation, and wrote his autobiography, "The Good Fight" (1946). Quezon died of         tuberculosis before full Philippine independence was         established.
He died quietly in Saranac Lake,         USA on August 1, 1944 at the age of sixty six.
Married to Doï¿½a Aurora Aragon         Quezon, now deceased. Of their three children, two are         alive, they are; Zenaida Quezon Avanceï¿½a and Manuel         Quezon Jr.
Manuel L. Quezon best remembered         as the "Father of Philippine Language" (Ama ng         Wikang Filipino).
(Born- March 9, 1891, died-         November 6, 1959)
President of the Japanese         Sponsored Republic
(Term: October 14, 1943- August 15, 1945)
Become the President of the         Philippines during the Japanese occupation of World War         II.
Born in Tanawan, Batangas on         March 9, 1891. His parents are Sotero Laurel and Jacoba         Garcia.
After receiving law degrees from         the University of the Philippines (1915) and from Yale         University (1920), he was elected to the Philippines         Senate in 1925 and appointed associate justice of the         Supreme Court in 1936.
After the Pearl Harbor attack.         Laurel remained in Manila after President Manuel Quezon         escaped first to Bataan and then to the United States. He         offered his services to the Japanese; and because of his         criticism of U.S. rule of the Philippines, he held a         series of high posts in 1942-43, climaxing in his         selection as President in 1943. Twice in that year he was         shot by Philippine guerrillas but recovered, after the         incident Laurel still held his post to served the         Filipino people. It adds his eagerness and willingness to         be of service to his countrymen.
Laurel administration did not         last long because when the Japanese occupation near to         collapse, Yamashita, a Japanese leader ordered his troops         to bring Laurel out from the Philippines, he was brought         to Japan.
In August 15, 1945, Japanese         surrendered to Americans. General McArthur order Lt. Col.         Turner to arrest Laurel and company for a case of "Collaboration". They finally arrested in the         City of Nara, Japan and temporary jailed at Sugano Prison         near Tokyo, Japan. In July 1946 he was charged with 132         counts of treason, but was never brought to trial; he         shared in the general amnesty in April 1948.
As the Nationalist Party's         nominee for the presidency of the Philippines in 1949, he         was narrowly defeated by the incumbent president, Elpidio         Quirino, nominee of the Liberal Party. Elected to the         Senate in 1951, Laurel helped to persuade Ramon         Magsaysay, then secretary of defense, to desert the         Liberals and join the Nationalist. When Magsaysay became         president, Laurel headed an economic mission that in 1955         negotiated an agreement to improve economic relations         with the United States. He retired from public life in         1957.
Married to Mrs. Pacencia         Hidalgo, of their nine children, most of them are alive         and active in politics like, former vice president         Salvador P. Laurel, former senator Sotero Laurel and         ex-speaker Jose Laurel Jr.
 
Sergio S. Osmeï¿½a
(Born- September 9, 1878, died-         October 19, 1961)
Second president of the         Commonwealth
(Term: August 1, 1944- May 27, 1946)
Filipino statesman, founder of         the Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista) and         president of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946.
He was born in Cebu, on         September 9, 1878. Son of Juana Osmeï¿½a Y. Suico. His         birth place was a medium sized house of wood with tin can         roofing. He was brought up in a wholesome atmosphere. He         was enrolled by his mother in a private school of Miguel         Logarta, a local lawyer-educator, not long before the         latter discovered how intellectually gifted his young         pupil was, later he entered the Seminary College of San         Carlos for his secondary course. In 1892, he finished his         studies in San Carlos. To pursue his studies he come to         Manila and studied at Letran, he first met Manuel L.         Quezon, one of his classmates. He took up law at the         University of Santo Tomas, although his studies was         interrupted by the war conflict between Spain and         America, he and the rest of his classmates were allowed         by the Supreme Court to take the examinations in that         year of 1903, he got an average of 95.66% second placer         in the bar examination.
A lawyer, he         espoused the cause of independence through peaceful means         as editor of the Cebu newspaper El Nuevo Dia (New Day),         which he founded in 1900. Upon the return of governor         Climaco from the United States, in 1904 the United States         colonial administration appointed him governor of the         province of Cebu and fiscal (district attorney) for the         province of Cebu and Negros Oriental. Two years later he         was elected delegate to the Philippine National Assembly         and founded the Nationalist Party, which come to dominate         Philippine political life.
Osmeï¿½a         remained leader of the Naitonalists until 1921, when he         was succeeded by Manuel L. Quezon, who had joined him in         a coalition. Made speaker of the House of Representative         in 1916, he served until his election to the Senate in         1923. In 1933 he went to Washington D.C. to secure         passage of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting independence bill, but         Quezon differed with Osmeï¿½a over the bill's provision to         retain U.S. military bases after independence. The bill,         vetoed by the Philippine Assembly, was superseded by the         Tydings McDuffie Act of March 1934, making the         Philippines a commonwealth with a large measured of         independence. The following years Osmeï¿½a became vice         president, with Quezon as president. He remained vice         president during the Japanese occupation when the         government was in exile in Washington D.C. On the death         of Quezon in August 1944, Osmeï¿½a became president. He         serve as president until the elections of April 1946,         when he was defeated by Manuel Roxas, who became the         first president of the independent republic of the         Philippines.
Osmeï¿½a thereafter retired to         his hometown in Cebu, where he spent the remaining of his         life, until he died on October 19, 1961 at the age of 83,         with his death the nation lost a towering Molave of the         race.
First wife Doï¿½a Estefania         Veloso. Most of their eight children are now deceased.         One of those alive is Mrs. Paloming Osmeï¿½a Charnley,         retired in Cebu City. For his second wife, Doï¿½a         Esperanza Limjap, are Rosie Osmeï¿½a Valencia is involved         in Manila Society. Ramon and Victor live in Cebu.
(Born- January 1, 1892, died-         April 15, 1948)
Last President of         the Commonwealth
(Term: May 28, 1946- July 4, 1946)
First President of         the 3rd Republic of the Philippines
(Term: July 4, 1946- April 15, 1948)
Political leader         and first president of the independence republic of the         Philippines.
The silver tongued         genius- for a genius indeed, was born on January 1, 1892,         in Capiz (renamed Roxas City (1949), in his honor).
His parents were         Gerardo Roxas Sr. and Rosario Acuna. After graduating his         early education in the public school of Capiz. He went to         Hong Kong to study for sometime, later he transferred to         Manila High School to finish his secondary course. He         took up law at University of the Philippines and         graduated in 1913.
In 1913 to 1916,         after his bar exam whom he got 1st placer, he then became         professor at the Philippine Law School and National         University. Upon learning the excellent records of Roxas         former chief justice Cayetano S. Arellano, offered him to         be his secretary of the Supreme Court.
Roxas         began his political career in 1917 as a member of the         municipal council of his hometown Capiz in Panay Island.         He was governor of the province of Capiz in 1919-1921 and         was then elected to the Philippine House of         Representative, subsequently serving as Speaker of the         House and a member of the Council of State. In 1923 he         and Manuel Quezon, the president of the senate, resigned         in protest from the Council of State when the U.S.         governor-general (Leonard Wood), began vetoing bills         passed by the Philippine legislature. In 1932 Roxas and         Sergio Osmeï¿½a, the Nacionalista Party leader, led the         Philippine independence mission to Washington D.C., where         they influenced the passage of teh Hare-Hawes-Cutting         Act. Roxas was later opposed by Quezon, who held that the         act compromised future Philippine independence; the         Nacionalista Party was split between them on this issue.         In 1934, however, Roxas was a member of the convention         that drew up a constitution under the revised Philippine         Independence and Commonwealth Act (Tydings McDuffie Act).         Roxas also served as Secretary of Finance in the         Commonwealth government (1938-1940).
During World War II         Roxas served in the pro-Japanese government of Jose         Laurel by acquiring supplies of rice for the Japanese         Army. Although a court was established after the war to         try collaborators, Roxas was defended by his friend         General Douglas McArthur. Roxas was elected president of         the commonwealth in 1946 as the nominee of the liberal         wing of the Nacionalista Party (which became the Liberal         Party), and when independence was declared on July 4 he         became the first president of the new republic.
Although Roxas was         successful in getting rehabilitation funds from the         United States after independence, he was forced to         concede military bases (23 of which were leased for 99         years), trade restriction for the Philippine citizens,         and special privileges for U.S. property owner and         investor. His administration was marred by graft and         corruption; moreover, the abuses of the provincial         military police contributed to the rise of the left-wing         Hukbalahap (Huk) movement in the countryside. His         heavy-handed attempts to crush the Huks led to widespread         peasant disaffection.
Roxas did not stay         long in office because of heart attack upon a speech in         an occassion in the Clark Air Base in April 15, 1948 and         was succeeded by his vice president Elpidio Quirino.
Manuel Roxas         bereaved wife Doï¿½a Trinidad de Leon and children Ruby         and Gerardo Roxas who became congressman, senator, and a         leader of Liberal Party.
He died at the age         of 44.
Married to Doï¿½a         Trinidad de Leon Roxas. Who is very active in the         Philippine society. Their two children Ruby, who is         active and involved in functions commemorating the memory         of her late father and former senator Gerry Roxas, their         only son, died several years ago.
(Born- November 16, 1890, died-         February 28, 1956)
Second President, Third Republic         of the Philippines
(Term: April 17, 1948- November 10, 1953)
Political leader and second         president of the Independence Republic of the         Philippines.
He was born on November 16, 1890         in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
After obtaining a law degree         from the University of the Philippines in 1915, Quirino         practiced law until he was elected as member of         Philippine House of Representative in 1919-25 and as         senator in 1925-1931. In 1934 he was a member of the         Philippine Independence mission to Washington D.C.,         headed by Manuel Quezon, which secured the passage in         Congress of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, setting the date         for Philippine independence as July 4, 1946. He was also         elected to the convention that drafted a constitution for         the new Philippine Commonwealth. Subsequently he served         as secretary of finance and secretary of the interior in         the Commonwealth government.
After World War II, Quirino         serve as secretary of state and vice president under the         first president of the independence Philippines, Manuel         Roxas. When Roxas died on April 15, 1948, Quirino         suceeded to the presidency. The following years, he was         elected president for a four-year term on the Liberal         Party ticket, defeating the Nacionalista candidiate.
President Quirino's         administration faced a serious threat in the form of the         Communist led Hukbalahap (Huk) movement. Though the Huks         originally had been an anti-Japanese guerrilla army in         Luzon, the Communists steadily gained control over the         leadership, and when Quirino's negotiation with Huk         commander Luis Taruc broke down in 1948, Taruc openly         declared himself a Communist and called for the overthrow         of the government. By 1950 the Huks had gained control         over a considerable portion of national defense to         suppress the insurrection.
Quirino's         six years as president were marked by notable postwar         reconstruction, general economic gains, and increased         economic aid from the United States. Basic social         problems, however, particularly in the rural areas,         remained unsolved; Quirino's administration was tainted         by widespread graft and corruption. The 1949 election,         which he had won, were among the most dishonest in the         country's history. Magsaysay, who had been largely         successful in eliminating the threat of the Huk         insurgents, broke with Quirino on the issue of         corruption, campaigning for clean elections and defeating         Quirino as the Nacionalista candidate in the presidential         election of 1953. Subsequently, Quirino retired to         private life, in his new country home in Novaliches where         he died of heart attack on February 28, 1956. His         bereaved wife Alicia Syguia and children Tomas, Victoria         and victims of Massacre of World War II: Armando, Norma         and Fe. His wife Alicia also died during World War II and         already dead when Quirino become president. Of their         children only Victoria is alive and re-married to Paco         Delgado.
Quirino died at the age of 66.
(Born- August 31, 1907, died-         March 17, 1957)
Third President of the Third         Republic of the Philippines
(Term: December 30, 1953- March 17, 1957)
Best known for successfully         defeating the communist led Hukbalahap (Huk) Movement.         Idol of the masses, champion of democracy, and freedom         fighter.
He was born in the capital of         Iba, Zambales on August 31, 1907. His parents are Exequel         Magsaysay and Perfecta Del Fiero.
Magsaysay finished his         elementary at the Castillejos, However his secondary         course at the Zambales Academy both in his hometown         Zambales.
Though most Philippine political         leaders were of Spanish descent, Magsaysay was of Malay         stock, like most of the common people. He took up         mechanical engineering at University of the Philippines         but ended up with a commerce degree from Jose Rizal         College in Manila in 1933 and became general manager of a         Try-Tran transportation company before starting as a         mechanic. After serving as a guerrilla leader on Luzon         during World War II, he was appointed military governor         of his home province, Zambales, by MacArthur, when the         United States recaptured the Philippines. He served two         terms (1946-50) as a Liberal Party congressman for         Zambales, his first experience in politics.
President Elpidio         Quirino appointed Magsaysay secretary of defense to deal         with the threat of the Huks, whose leader, Luis Taruc, in         February 1950 established a People's Liberation Army and         called for the overthrow of the government. Magsaysay         then carried out until 1953 one of the most successful         anti-guerrilla campaigns in modern history. Realizing         that the Huks could not survive without popular support,         he strove to win the trust of the peasants by offering         land and tools to those who came over to the government         side and by insisting that army units treat the people         with respect. Reforming the army, he dismissed corrupt         and incompetent officers and emphasized mobility and         flexibility in combat operations against the guerrillas.         By 1953, Huks were no longer a serious threat, but         Magsaysay's radical measures had made many enemies for         him within the government, compelling him to resign on         February 28, when he charge the Quirino administration         with corruption and incompetence.
Although Magsaysay was a Liberal, the         Nacionalista Party successfully backed him for the         presidency against Quirino in the 1953 elections, winning         the support of Carlos P. Garcia, who had organized a         third party. Magsaysay promised reform in every segment         of Philippine life, but he was frustrated in his efforts         by a conservative congress that represented the interest         of the wealthy. Despite initial support of Congress in         July 1955.
Magsaysay was unable to pass         effective land reform legislation; government         indifference to the plight of the peasants then undid         most of his good work in gaining the support of the         people against the Huks. Neverthless, he remained         extremely popular and had a well deserve reputation for         incorruptibility.
In foreign policy, Magsaysay         remained a close friend and supporter of the United         States and a vocal spokesman against communism during the         Cold War. He made the Philippines a member of the         Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, which was established         in Manila on September 8, 1954. Before the expiration of         his term as president, Magsaysay was killed when his         airplane crashed at Mount Pinatubo in the early morning         of March 17, 1957, he was succeeded by the vice         president, Carlos P. Garcia. The nation was shocked upon         learning of Magsaysay sudden death, most of the Filipino         people mourned because the nation lost a well loved         leader, who in his lifetime become a legendary figure in         Philippine politics.
He left his bereaved wife Luz         Banzon, children Teresita, Milagros Magsaysay Valenzuela         and Ramon Magsaysay Jr., a proclaim winner in May 8, 1995         Senatorial election.
Magsaysay died at the age of 50         years old.
(Born- November 4, 1896, died-         June 14, 1971)
Fourth President of the Third         Republic of the Philippines
(Term: March 18, 1957- December 30, 1961)
Famous for his austerity program         and policy. He was born in Talibon, Bohol, on November 4,         1896. His parents are Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia         Polistico.
After graduating from Philippine         Law School in Manila in 1923, he was among the top ten in         the bar examination. He became successively, a school         teacher, representative in the Philippine Congress,         governor of his province (Bohol), and then senator         (1941-1953).
Garcia was the one who commissioned         the Philippine rehabilitation at war damage claims in         1945 in the United States. During the Japanese occupation         of the Philippines in World War II, Garcia was active in         the resistance movement. He was elected vice president on         the ticket of the Nacionalista Party in 1953 and was also         minister of foreign affairs (1953-1957). He became         president of the Philippines in March 1957 for eight         months, upon the death of president Ramon Magsaysay, and         was elected to a full four-year term the same year (The         noisiest and the most expensive in Philippine history).         He maintained the strong tradition ties with the United         States and sought closer relation with non-communist         Asian countries. In the election of November 1961 he was         defeated by the vice president Diosdado Macapagal.
He left his bereaved wife,         Leonila Dimataga and the only daughter Linda Garcia         Campus.
He died on June 14, 1971 at the         age of seventy five (75).
Fifth President of the Third         Republic of the Philippines
(Term: December 30, 1961- December 30, 1965)
Filipino reformist president of         the Republic of the Philippines.
Best known as the "Champion of the Common Man."
He was born in Barrio San         Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga, on September 28, 1910. His         parents are Urbano Macapagal and Romana Pangan, their         family was a middle class and a law abiding citizen,         Macapagal pursue his studies in order to reach his goal         in the future.
Nevertheless, Macapagal finish         his elementary at the Lubao Elementary School, he         received an honor of being the valedictorian and in 1929         in the Pampanga High School for his secondary course, he         is the salutatorian.
He entered Philippine Law School         to get his law degree.In this law school he become         well-known as the best orator and debater. After two         years he transferred to the University of Sto. Tomas.
After         receiving his law degree, Macapagal was admitted to the         bar in 1936. During World War II, he practiced law in         Manila and aided the anti-Japanese resistance. After the         war he worked in a law firm and in 1948 served as second         secretary to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.         The following year was elected to a seat in the         Philippine House of Representatives, serving until 1956.         During this time he was Philippine representative to the United Nations General Assembly three times. From 1957         to1961, Macapagal was a member of the Liberal Party and         vice president under Nacionalista President Carlos P.         Garcia. In the 1961 elections, however he ran against         former president Carlos P. Garcia forging a coalition of         the Liberal and progressive parties and making a crusade         against corruption a principal element of his platform.         He was elected by a wide margin.
While president, Diosdado Macapagal         worked to suppress graft and corruption and to stimulate         the Philippine economy. He placed the Peso in the free         currency-exchange market, encouraged wealthiest families,         which cost the treasury millions of pesos yearly. His         reforms, however, were crippled by a House         Representatives and Senate dominated by the         Nacionalistas, and he was defeated in the 1965 elections         by Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Macapagals administration         (1961 - 1965) is best remembered for resetting the date         of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day  from July 4 when the U.S. turned over the reins of         government in 1946 to the more correct date of June 12         when Aguinaldo declared independence in 1898.
In 1972 he chaired the         convention that drafted the 1973 constitution only to         question in 1981 the validity of its ratification. In         1979 he organized the National Union for Liberation as an         opposition party to the Marcos regime. He had two children         from first wife Purita dela Rosa (deceased); Maria Cielo         and Arturo. For his second wife Doï¿½a Evangeline Macaraeg         Macapagal, their children are Maria Gloria Macapagal         Arroyo, a winner in the 1995 senatorial race and Diosdado         Macapagal Jr. who served the government under Corazon's         administration.
As of this writing (February         1996) Macapagal is still alive and a regular         writer/columnist in a leading newspaper. In his         retirement, although he still heartily and devoted a good         part of his time to reading and writing.
The good president always         remembered those past days serving his country with love         and honor with peace in his heart.
(Born- September 11, 1917, Died-         September 28, 1989)
Sixth President of the Third         Republic of the Philippines
(Term: December 30, 1965- February 25, 1986)
Philippine lawyer and politician         who, as head of the States from 1966 to 1986.
He was born in Sarrat, Ilocos         Norte on September 11, 1917. His parents are; Don Mariano         Marcos and Doï¿½a Josefa Edralin. His father is a         politician, while his mother is a teacher in their         hometown.
Marcos attended school at the         age of five years old in Sarrat Central School, later he         transferred to Manila. According to his scholastic         records, Marcos always got an honor from his elementary         and secondary course. He is best in oratory speeches as         well as in debate and declamatory speeches.
Marcos attended school in Manila         and studied law in the late 1930s at the University of         the Philippines, in Quezon City. Tried for the         assassination in 1933 of a political opponent of his         politician father, Marcos was found guilty in November         1939. But he argued his case on appeal to the Philippine         Supreme Court, acquittal a year later. He become a trial         lawyer in Manila. During World War II he served as an         officer with the Philippine Armed Forces. Captured by the         Japanese, he survived the Death March from Bataan to         Central Luzon and then escaped. Marcos subsequent claims         to being an important leader in the Filipino guerrilla         resistance movement were a central factor in his later         political success, but U.S. government archives revealed         that he actually played little or no part in         anti-Japanese activities during 1942-45.
From 1946 to 1947         Marcos was a technical assistant to Manuel Roxas, the         first president of the independent Philippine Republic.         He was a member of House of Representatives (1949-1959)         and of the Senate (1959-1965). Serving as Senate         President (1963-1965). In 1965, Marcos, who was a         prominent member of the Liberal Party founded by Roxas,         broke with it after failing to get his party's nomination         for president. He then ran as the Nationalist Party         candidate for president against the Liberal president,         Diosdado Macapagal. The campaign was expensive and         bitter. Marcos won and was inaugurated as president. On         December 30, 1969, Marcos was reelected, the first he         had made progress in agriculture, industry, and education.         Yet his administration was troubled by increasing student         demonstrations and violent urban-guerilla activities.
On September 21, 1972, Marcos imposed         martial law. Holding that communist and subversive forces         precipitated the crisis, he acted swiftly; opposition         politicians were jailed and the armed forces became an         arm of the regime. Opposed by political leaders- notably         Benigno Aquino Jr., who was jailed and held in detention         for almost eight years, Marcos was also criticized by         church leaders and others. In the provinces Maoist         communists (New Peoples Army) and Muslim separatist         undertook guerrilla activities intended to bring down the         central government.
Under Martial Law the president         assumed extraordinary powers, including the suspension of         the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Marcos announce the end of         Martial Law in January 17, 1981 but still ruled in an         authoritarian fashion thereafter under various         constitutional formats. He won election to the newly         created post of president against only token opposition         in June 1981.
Marcos wife from 1954 was Imelda         Romualdez Marcos, a former beauty queen. Imelda became a         powerful figure in her own right after her husband         instituted martial law in 1972. She was frequently         criticized for her appointment of relatives to lucrative         government and industrial position while she held the         post of Governor of Metropolitan Manila (1975-1986) and         Minister of Human Settlements and Ecology (1979-1986).
Marcos later years in power were         marred by rampant government corruption, economic         inequalities between the rich and the poor, and the         steady growth of a communist guerrilla insurgency active         in the rural areas of the Philippines innumerable         islands.
By 1983 Marcos health was         beginning to fall, and opposition to his rule was         growing. Hoping to present an alternative to both Marcos         and the increasingly powerful New Peoples Army. Benigno         Aquino Jr. return to Manila on August 21, 1983, only to         be shot dead as he stepped off the plane. The         assassination was probably the work of the government and         touch off massive anti-government protest. An independent         commission appointed by Marcos concluded in 1984 that         high military officers were responsible for Aquino's         assassination. To reassert his mandate, Marcos called for         presidential election to be held in 1986. But a         formidable political opponent soon emerged in Aquino's         widow, Corazon C. Aquino, who became the presidential         candidate of the opposition. It was widely asserted that         Marcos managed to defeat Aquino and retain the presidency         in the election of February 7, 1986, only through massive         voting fraud on the part of his supporters. Marcos held         to his presidency as the Philippine military split         between supporters of his and of Aquino's legitimate         right to the presidency. A tense stand off (EDSA         Revolution, People's Power) that ensued between the two         sides ended only when Marcos fled the country on February         25, 1986 at United States urging, and went into exile in         Hawaii, USA.
Evidence subsequently emerged         that during his year in power, Marcos, his family, and         his close associates had looted the Philippines economy         of billions of dollars through embezzlements and other         corrupt practices. Marcos and his wife were subsequently         indicted by the U.S. government on racketeering charges.         After a trial a year later, Imelda won acquittal by the         board of jury. Imelda return to the Philippines to face         the charges against her and her family.
Marcos died on September 28,         1989 at Waikiki, Hawaii. His bereaved wife, Imelda R.         Marcos and children Imee Marcos Manotoc, Irene Marcos         Araneta and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., a         former congressman of Ilocos Sur and a senatorial         candidate in May 8, 1995 election. He serve as         congressman under Ramos administration.
Ferdinand Marcos died at the age         of seventy two (72).
(Born- January 25, 1933, Died- August 1, 2009)
Seventh and First Woman         President of the Republic of the Philippines
(Term: February 25, 1986- June 30, 1992)
Political leader and president from (1986 to 1992) of the Philippines. In 1983 she          succeeded her murdered husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.(A popular          critic of the Marcos administration), as leader of the opposition to          President Ferdinand Marcos. No one could have imagined that Cory Aquino          would become a president of the Philippines.
Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the first woman to          become president of the Philippines, was born in Tarlac on January 25,          1933. Her parents are Don Jose Cojuangco and Doï¿½a Demetria Sumulong.          Cory was the sixth among the eight children of the Sumulong. Corazon          Aquino's children are Maria Elena Aquino, Aurora Corazon, Victoria          Eliza, Noynoy and Kris Aquino, her youngest child is a TV and movie          personality.
Corazon Cojuangco was born into a wealthy,          politically prominent family based in Tarlac province, north of Manila.          In 1946, her family left for the U.S. and she enrolled at Ravenhill          Academy in Philadelphia. She finished her junior and senior years at          Notre Dame College in New York. She entered Mount Saint Vincent College          in New York City in 1949 where she finished a Bachelor of Arts, major in          French. In 1953, she returned to the Philippines to take up law at the          Far Eastern University, but then abandoned further studies in 1955 to          marry Benigno Aquino, who was then a promising young politician. Cory          remained in the background during her husband's subsequent career,          rearing their five children at home and later in exile. Her husband was          assassinated upon his return to the Philippines in August 1983.
When Ferdinand Marcos         unexpectedly called for presidential election in February         1986, Corazon Aquino become the unified opposition's         candidate for the presidency. Though she was officially         reported to have lost the election to Marcos, Aquino and         her supporters challenged the results, charging         widespread voting fraud. High officials in the         Philippines military soon publicly renounced Marcos         continued rule and proclaimed Aquino the Philippines         rightful president. On February 25, 1986, both Aquino and         Marcos were inaugurated as president by their respective         supporters but that same day Marcos fled the country.
In March 1986 she proclaimed a         provisional constitution and soon thereafter appointed a         commission to write a new constitution. The resulting         document was ratified by a landslide popular vote in         February 1987. In spite of her continuous popular support,         Aquino faced an ongoing outcry over economic injustice, a         problem that was only exacerbated by continuing warfare         between the communist insurgency and a military whose         loyalties to Aquino were uncertain. In general, her         economic policies were criticized for being mixed or         faltering in the face of mass poverty.
Aquino children are Maria Elena         Aquino, Aurora Corazon, Victoria Eliza, Noynoy and Kris         Aquino. Her youngest child is a TV & movie         personality.
8th President of the Republic of the    Philippines
(Term- June 30, 1992-June 30, 1998)
As head of the State his administration centerpiece program is the    Philippines 2000; which aim to uplift the Philippines as a newly    industrialized country by the year 2000.
Fidel V. Ramos was born in Lingayen, Pangasinan    on February 8, 1928. His parents are Narciso Ramos (A lawyer, a    crusading journalist, a legislator and later, secretary of foreign    affairs) and Angela Valdez Ramos. Fidel V. Ramos have two sisters,    Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani and Gloria Ramos de Rodda, a diplomat.
Become a Valedictorian of his graduating class    at the Lingayen Elementary School in Maniboc, Lingayan, Pangasinan, he    was the consistent valedictorian of his class, through his elementary    grades and through his high school at the University of the Philippines.
In the year 1950, Fidel V. Ramos graduated in    the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, a well know military    school in the U.S.A. He also acquired his master in Civil Engineering    course at the University of Illinois in the year 1951. Another course in    associate Infantry Company Officers at Fort Benning at Fort Bragg. In    the year 1960 he was the topnotcher of all the 21 graduated for the "Special Forces/Pay Operations/Airborne." Aside from those courses, he    took up Command and General Staff at Fort Santiago year 1965, where he    became the topnotcher of all 48 graduating students.
During the administration of President Marcos,    Fidel V. Ramos became the Presidential assistant of military tactics.    (1968-1969); Assistant to the head of State of the Civil Defense July 1,    1969- Nov. 6, 1970. Head of the Intelligence Services of the Armed    Forces of the Philippines and Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense    Activities (1971-1981).
Moreover, he become a delegate of the    Philippines to other countries such as: Delegation for the third    conference of the Association fo Southeast Asian Nations, held at    Malaysia (1969) and the Ministerial conference of Southeast Asian    Nations held at Kuala Lumpur (Nov. 1971).
According to his record, FVR receives award,    medal and honor for his achievements in Korea and Vietnam. Known for his    disciplinarian method in his troop but has a good faith in his heart.
In his administration the good President look    forward the dream for the Philippines as an industrialized country    towards the year 2000. He also emphasizes for the rebels who are willing    to surrender, to achieved the real peace and order in the country.
The Ramos Administration intensify to complete    the Program such as; school buildings, roads and bridges, country wide    development, country's infrastructure program for Luzon, Visayas and    Mindanao and inviting foreign investors to put up business in the    country to help the Filipino People.
Ramos married Amelita Martinez on October 21,    1953. They had five children.