1.

Emilio Aguinaldo 1899-1901

PROFILE
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy QSC PLH[c] (March 22, 1869[d] February 6, 1964) was
a Filipino revolutionary, politician, and a military leader who is officially recognized as the
First President of the Philippines (18991901) and first president of a constitutional republic
in Asia. He led Philippine forces first against Spain in the latter part of the Philippine
Revolution (18961898), and then in theSpanishAmerican War (1898), and finally against
the United States during the PhilippineAmerican War (18991901). He was captured
in Palanan, Isabela by American forces on March 23, 1901, which brought an end to his
presidency.
In 1935, Aguinaldo ran unsuccessfully for president of the Philippine
Commonwealth against Manuel Quezon. After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in
1941, he cooperated with the new rulers, even making a radio appeal for the surrender of the
American and Filipino forces on Bataan. He was arrested as a collaborator after the
Americans returned but was later freed in a general amnesty.

Contributions and Achievements:

first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolo Republic)

signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and Philippine
revolutionaries

known as the President of the Revolutionary Government

led the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-Philippine War

youngest president, taking office at age 28

longest-lived president, passing away at 94

HIGHLIGHTS
Biak-na-Bato
The Spanish army launched an attack which forced the revolutionary forces under Aguinaldo into
a retreat. On June 24, 1897 Aguinaldo arrived at Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel, Bulacan, and
established a headquarters there, located in Biak-na-Bato National Park in what is now known
as Aguinaldo Cave. In late October 1897, Aguinaldo convened an assembly of generals at Biakna-Bato, where it was decided to establish a constitutional republic. A constitution patterned
closely after the Cuban Constitution was drawn up by Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer. The
constitution provided for the creation of a Supreme Council composed of a president, a vice
president, a Secretary of War, and a Secretary of the Treasury. Aguinaldo was named president.
[15](p183184)

From March 1897, Fernando Primo de Rivera, 1st Marquis of Estella, the Spanish GovernorGeneral of the Philippines, had been encouraging prominent Filipinos to contact Aguinaldo for a
peaceful settlement of the conflict. On August 9, Manila lawyer Pedro Paternomet with Aguinaldo
at Biak-na-Bato with a proposal for peace based on reforms and amnesty. In succeeding months,
Paterno conductedshuttle diplomacy, acting as an intermediary between de Rivera and
Aguinaldo. On December 1415, 1897 Aguinaldo signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, under which
Aguinaldo effectively agreed to end hostilities and dissolve his government in exchange for
amnesty and "800,000 (Mexican)" (Aguinaldo's description of the amount) as an indemnity.[20](p252)
[21][e]

The documents were signed on December 1415, 1897. On December 23, Aguinaldo and

other revolutionary officials departed for Hong Kong to enter voluntary exile. 400,000,
representing the first installment of the indemnity, was deposited into Hong Kong banks. While in
exile, Aguinaldo reorganized his revolutionary government into the so-called "Hong Kong Junta"
and enlarging it into the "Supreme Council of the Nation"

2. Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944

PROFILE
Manuel Luis Quezn de Molina (August 19, 1878 August 1, 1944) was a Filipino statesman,
soldier, and politician who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from
1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the entire Philippines (as
opposed to the government of previous Philippine states), and is considered to have been the
second president of the Philippines, after Emilio Aguinaldo (18971901). Quezon was a Spanish
Filipino, with both his parents being Filipino mestizos.
Quezon was the first Senate president elected to the presidency, the first
president elected through a national election, and the first incumbent to secure re-election (for a
partial second term, later extended, due to amendments to the 1935 Constitution). For pushing
Commonwealth Act No. 184 that established the National Language Institute and a consequent
Philippine national language, Quezon has been tagged as his country's "Father of the National
Language".
During his presidency, Quezon tackled the problem of landless peasants in the countryside. His
other major decisions include the reorganization of the islands' military defense, approval of a
recommendation for government reorganization, the promotion of settlement and development in
Mindanao, dealing with the foreign stranglehold on Philippine trade and commerce, proposals for
land reform, and opposing graft and corruption within the government. He established an exiled
government in the U.S. with the outbreak of the war and the threat of Japanese invasion.
It was during his exile in the U.S. that he died of tuberculosis at Saranac Lake, New York. He was
buried in the Arlington National Cemetery until the end of World War II, when his remains were
moved to Manila. His final resting place is the Quezon Memorial Circle.
In 2015, the Board of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation approved a posthumously
bestowal of the Wallenberg Medal upon President Quezon and to the people of the Philippines
for having reached-out, between 1937 and 1941, to the victims of the Holocaust. President
Benigno Aquino III, and Mara Zeneida Quezon Avancea, who is 94 years old and the daughter
of the former President, were duly informed about this recognition.

Contributions and Achievements:

first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines

first president elected through a national election

first president under the Commonwealth

created National Council of Education

initiated womens suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth

approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines

appears on the twenty-peso bill

a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after him

his body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle

HIGHLIGHTS
Agrarian reform
When the Commonwealth Government was established, President Quezon implemented the
Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933.[9] The purpose of this act was to regulate the share-tenancy
contracts by establishing minimum standards.[9] Primarily, the Act provided for better tenantlandlord relationship, a 5050 sharing of the crop, regulation of interest to 10% per agricultural
year, and a safeguard against arbitrary dismissal by the landlord.[9] However, because of one
major flaw of this law, no petition for the Rice Share Tenancy Act was ever presented. [9]
The major flaw of this law was that it could be used only when the majority of municipal
councils in a province petitioned for it.[9] Since landowners usually controlled such councils, no
province ever asked that the law be applied. Therefore, Quezon ordered that the act be
mandatory in all Central Luzon provinces.[9] However, contracts were good for only one year. By
simply refusing to renew their contract, landlords were able to eject tenants. As a result, peasant
organizations clamored in vain for a law that would make the contract automatically renewable
for as long as the tenants fulfilled their obligations.[9]
In 1936, this Act was amended to get rid of its loophole, but the landlords made its application
relative and not absolute. Consequently, it was never carried out in spite of its good intentions. In
fact, by 1939, thousands of peasants in Central Luzon were being threatened with wholesale
eviction.[9]
The desire of Quezon to placate both landlords and tenants pleased neither. By the early 1940s,
thousands of tenants in Central Luzon were ejected from their farmlands and the rural conflict
was more acute than ever.[9]
Indeed, during the Commonwealth period, agrarian problems persisted. [9] This motivated the
government to incorporate a cardinal principle on social justice in the 1935 Constitution. Dictated
by the social justice program of the government, expropriation of landed estates and other
landholdings commenced. Likewise, the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) began

an orderly settlement of public agricultural lands. At the outbreak of the Second World War, major
settlement areas containing more than 65,000 hectares were already established. [9]

3. Jos P. Laurel, 1943-1945

PROFILE
Jos Paciano Laurel y Garca, PLH (March 9, 1891 November 6, 1959) was
a Filipino politician and judge. He was the president of the Second Philippine Republic, a
Japanese puppet state when occupied during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. Since the
administration of President Diosdado Macapagal (19611965), Laurel has been
recognized as a legitimate president of the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

since the early 1960s, Laurel considered 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 Japanese occupation

declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in
1944

with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines

HIGHLIGHTS

Domestic policies[edit]
Economy[edit]
During Laurel's tenure as President, hunger was the main worry. Prices of essential commodities
rose to unprecedented heights. The government exerted every effort to increase production and
bring consumers' goods under control. However, Japanese rapacity had the better of it all. On
the other hand, guerrilla activities and Japanese retaliatory measures brought the peace and
order situation to a difficult point. Resorting to district-zoning and domiciliary searches, coupled
with arbitrary arrests, the Japanese made the mission of Laurel's administration incalculably
exasperating and perilous.[7]
Food shortage[edit]
During his presidency, the Philippines faced a crippling food shortage which demanded much of
Laurel's attention.[8] Rice and bread were still available but the sugar supply was gone. [9] Laurel
also resisted in Japanese demands that the Philippines issue a formal declaration of war against
the United States. He later was forced to declare war on the USA and Great Britain as long as
Filipinos would not have to fight.

4. Sergio Osmea, 1944-1946

PROFILE
Sergio Osmea, Sr., PLH, (9 September 1878 19 October 1961) was a Filipino politician who
served as the fourth President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice
President under Manuel L. Quezon, and succeeded as President upon Quezon's sudden death
in 1944, becoming the second oldest officeholder at age 65 behind Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. A

founder of theNacionalista Party, he was also the first Visayan to become President of the
Philippines.
Prior to his accession in 1944, Osmea served as Governor of Cebu from 1906 to 1907, Member
and first Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1907 to 1922, and Senator
from the 10th Senatorial District for thirteen years, in which capacity he served as Senate
President pro tempore. In 1935, he was nominated to be the running-mate of Senate
President Manuel L. Quezonfor the presidential election that year. The duo were overwhelmingly
re-elected in 1941.
He was patriarch of the prominent Osmea family, which includes his son, former Senator Sergio
Osmea Jr., and his grandsons, senators Sergio Osmea III and John Henry Osmea), exgovernor Lito Osmea, and current Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmea.

Contributions and Achievements:

became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold office

first Visayan to become president

joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to begin
restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupation

Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the International
Monetary Fund during his presidency

Bell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidency

appears on the 50-peso bill

HIGHLIGHTS
Bell Trade Act[edit]
On 30 April 1946, the United States Congress, at last approved the Bell Act, which as early as 20
January had been reported to the Ways and Means Committee of the lower house, having been
already passed by the Senate. President Osmea and Resident Commissioner Ramulo had
urged the passage of this bill, with United States High Commissioner, Paul V. McNutt, exerting
similar pressure.
The Act gave the Philippines eight years of free trade with the United States, then twenty years
during which tariffs would be upped gradually until they were in line with the rest of the American
tariff policy. The law also fixed some quotas for certain products: sugar 850,000 long
tons; cordage 6,000,000 pounds; coconut oil 200,000 long tons; cigars 200,000,000

pounds. This aid was coupled with that to be obtained from the recently passed Tydings Damage
bill, which provided some nine hundred million dollars for payment of war damages, of which one
million was earmarked to compensate for church losses. The sum of two hundred and forty
million dollars was to be periodically allocated by the United States President as good will. Also,
sixty million pieces of surplus property were transferred to the Philippines government. [1]

5. Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948

PROFILE
Manuel Acua Roxas (born Manuel Roxas y Acua; January 1, 1892 April 15, 1948)
was the fifth President of the Philippineswho served from 1946 until his death in 1948. He
briefly served as the third and last President of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines from May 28, 1946 to July 4, 1946, subsequently becoming the first President
of the independent Third Philippine Republic after the United States ceded its sovereignty
over the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

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

under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were
accepted by Congress

appears on the 100-peso bill

HIGHLIGHTS
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 equipment,
laboratories and furniture were destroyed.[9] Numberless books, invaluable documents and works
of art, irreplaceable historical relics and family heirlooms, hundreds of churches and temples
were burned. The reconstruction of the damaged school buildings alone cost more
than Php 126,000,000,000.
The new Republic began to function on an annual deficit of over Php 200,000,000 with little
prospect of a balanced budget for some years to come.[10] Manila and other cities then were
infested with criminal gangs which used techniques of American gangsters in some activities
bank holdups, kidnapping and burglaries. In rural regions, especially the provinces of Central
Luzon and the Southern Tagalog regions, the Hukbalahaps and brigands terrorized towns
and barrios.

6. Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953

PROFILE
Elpidio Rivera Quirino (born Elpidio Quirino y Rivera; November 16, 1890 February 29,
1956) was a Filipino politician of ethnic Ilocano descent who served as the sixth President of the
Philippines from 1948 to 1953.
A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos
Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 19251931. In 1934, he became a
member of the Philippine independence commission that was sent to Washington, D.C., which
secured the passage of TydingsMcDuffie Act to American Congress. In 1935, he was also
elected to the convention that drafted the 1935 constitution for the newly
established Commonwealth. In the new government, he served as secretary of the interior and
finance under President Manuel Quezon's cabinet.
After World War II, Quirino was elected vice-president in the 1946 election, consequently the
second and last for the Commonwealth and first for the third republic. After the death of the
incumbent president Manuel Roxas in 1948, he succeeded the presidency. He won the
president's office under Liberal Party ticket, defeating Nacionalista vice president and former
president Jos P. Laurel as well as fellow Liberalista and former Senate President Jos Avelino.
The Quirino administration was generally challenged by the Hukbalahaps, who ransacked towns
and barrios. Quirino ran for president again in the 1953 presidential election, but was defeated
by Nacionalista Ramon Magsaysay.
After his term, he retired to his new country home in Novaliches, Quezon City, where he died of a
heart attack on February 29, 1956.

Contributions and Achievements:

Hukbalahap guerrilla movement active during his presidency

created Social Security Commission

created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption

Quezon City became capital of the Philippines in 1948

HIGHLIGHTS

HukBaLaHap
The term HukBaLaHap was a contraction of Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapones (in English:
The Nation's Army Against the Japanese Soldiers), members of which were commonly referred
to as Huks.
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.[1] Luis Taruc surreptitiously fled away
from Manila, even as a number of his followers had either submitted themselves to the conditions
of the Amnesty proclamation or surrendered their arms. In the face of countercharges from the
Huk to the effect that the government had not satisfied the agreed conditions, President Quirino
ordered a stepped-up campaign against dissidents, restoring once more an aggressive policy in
view of the failure of the friendly attitude previously adopted.

7. Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957

PROFILE
Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay, Sr. (August 31, 1907 March 17, 1957) was the
seventh President of the Republic of the Philippines, serving from December 30, 1953
until his death in an aircraft disaster. An automobile mechanic, Magsaysay was appointed
military governor of Zambales after his outstanding service as a guerilla leader during
the Pacific War. He then served two terms as Liberal Party congressman
for Zambales before being appointed as Secretary of National Defense by
President Elpidio Quirino. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista
Party. He was the first Philippine President born during the 20th century.

Contributions and Achievements:

Hukbalahap movement quelled during his presidency

chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs

first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog during inauguration

presidency referred to as the Philippines' "Golden Years" for its lack of corruption

Philippines was ranked second in Asias clean and well-governed countries during his
presidency

established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among

other agrarian reforms

HIGHLIGHTS
SEATO[edit]
The administration of President Magsaysay was active in the fight against the expansion of
communism in the Asian region. He made the Philippines a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization (SEATO), which was established in Pepe Land on September 8, 1954 during the
"Manila Conference".[13] Members of SEATO were alarmed at the possible victory of North
Vietnam over South Vietnam, which could spread communist ideology to other countries in the
region. The possibility that a communist state can influence or cause other countries to adopt the
same system of government is called the domino theory.[14]
The active coordination of the Magsaysay administration with the Japanese government led to
the Reparation Agreement. This was an agreement between the two countries, obligating the
Japanese government to pay $550 million as reparation for war damages in the Philippines. [14]

8. Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961

PROFILE
Carlos Polestico Garcia, commonly known as Carlos P. Garcia, (November 4, 1896
June 14, 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political
economist, organized guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader, who was
the eighthPresident of the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

known for Filipino First Policy, which favored Filipino businesses over foreign investors

established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce

known as the Prince of Visayan Poets and the Bard from Bohol

cultural arts was revived during his term

was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

HIGHLIGHTS
President Garcia exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy heavily
favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investor. He was also responsible for changes in retail
trade which greatly affected the Chinese businessmen in the country. In a speech during a joint
session of Congress on September 18, 1946, President Garcia said the following:

We are called upon to decide on this momentous debate whether o

9. Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965

PROFILE
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (September 28, 1910 April 21, 1997) was the ninth President of
the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice-President, serving from 1957 to
1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed
the Constitutional Convention of 1970. He is the father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was the
fourteenth President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010.
A native of Lubao, Pampanga, Macapagal graduated from the University of the
Philippines and University of Santo Tomas, after which he worked as a lawyer for the
government. He first won election in 1949 to the House of Representatives, representing a
district in his home province of Pampanga. In 1957, he became Vice-President under the rule of
President Carlos P. Garca, whom he defeated in the 1961 polls.
Diosdado Macapagal was also a reputed poet in the Spanish language, though his poetic oeuvre
was eclipsed by his political biography.
As President, Macapagal worked to suppress graft and corruption and to stimulate the Philippine
economy. He introduced the country's first land reform law, placed the peso on the free currency
exchange market, and liberalized foreign exchange and import controls. Many of his reforms,
however, were crippled by a Congress dominated by the rival Nacionalista Party. He is also
known for shifting the country's observance of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12,
commemorating the day President Emilio Aguinaldounilaterally declared the independence of
the First Philippine Republic from the Spanish Empire in 1898. He stood for re-election in 1965,
and was defeated by Ferdinand Marcos, who subsequently ruled for 21 years.
Under Marcos, Macapagal was elected president of the Constitutional Convention which would
later draft what became the 1973 Constitution, though the manner in which the charter was

ratified and modified led him to later question its legitimacy. He died of heart failure, pneumonia,
and renal complications, in 1997, at the age of 86.

Contributions and Achievements:

established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private farmland to be
distributed in inexpensive, small lots to the landless

placed the Philippine peso on the currency exchange market

declared June 12, 1898 to be Philippines Independence Day

signed the Minimum Wage Law

created the Philippine Veterans Bank

HIGHLIGHTS
Anti-corruption drive
One of Macapagal's major campaign pledges had been to clean out the government corruption
that had proliferated under former President Garcia. [12] The administration also openly feuded with
Filipino businessmen Fernando Lopez and Eugenio Lopez, brothers who had controlling
interests in several large businesses.[4] The administration alluded to the brothers as "Filipino
Stonehills who build and maintain business empires through political power, including the
corruption of politicians and other officials".[13] In the 1965 election, the Lopezes threw their
support behind Macapagal's rival, Ferdinand Marcos, with Fernando Lopez serving Marcos'
running mate.[13]

10.Ferdinand Marcos, 1965-1986

PROFILE
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. (September 11, 1917 September 28, 1989) was
a Filipino politician and kleptocrat[1][2][3] who was President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986.
He ruled as dictator[4] under martial law from 1972 until 1981.[5] While his regime started an
unprecedented number of infrastructure projects and monuments (known colloquially as an
"edifice complex'" and at great taxpayer cost),[6][7][8] it also became infamous for its corruption,[9][10][11]
[12][13]

extravagance[14] and brutality.[15][16][17]

Prior to Marcos's presidency, he served as a member of the Philippine House of

Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and of thePhilippine Senate from 1959 to 1965, where he
was also Senate President from 1963 to 1965. While Marcos fought alongside with the
Americans during the Japanese Invasion and participated in the Bataan Death March, he would
later claim during his election campaigns that he has been "the most decorated war hero in the
Philippines", a claim which was later proven to be false. [18][19][20]United States Army documents that
were uncovered called the claim "fraudulent" and "absurd".[21]
He was elected President in 1965. During his term, the Philippine national debt grew from $2
billion to $28 billion[22][23][24]while used to fund development projects, of which the Marcos family
had plundered $510 billion USD,[14] according to source documents provided by the Presidential
Commission on Good Government,[25][26][27] which by itself was affected by corruption scandals after
it was alleged that officials wanted a cut of Marcos' assets and were "milking" sequestered
assets.[28][29][30] Meanwhile, based on World Bank data, Philippine Annual Gross Domestic Product
grew from $5.27 billion in 1964 to $37.14 billion in 1982, a year prior to the assassination of
Ninoy Aquino. Indeed, between 1972 and 1979, the Philippines enjoyed its best economic
development since 1945.[31] Political instability in the wake of the Aquino assassination, debtdriven growth and "poor" management policies[32]subsequently fueled a disastrous economic
recession in 1984 and 1985.[33] By the end of 1985, GDP stood at $30.7 following two years of
economic contraction[34] and poverty grew from 41% at the time Marcos took the Presidency in
the 60s to around 59% in 1986 when he was removed from power.[33]

Citing more than 15 bombing incidences and an intensifying armed communist insurgency,
[35]

Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law on September 23, 1972,[36][37][38] during which he

revamped the constitution, silenced the media,[39] and used violence and oppression[17] against
political opposition.[40] Martial law was ratified by 90.77% of the voters during the Philippine
Martial Law referendum, 1973 though the referendum was marred with controversy.[41][42] The
Washington Post revealed in 1989 that the Communists plotted the 1971 Plaza Miranda
bombing to provoke Marcos into cracking down his opponents, allowing them to increase recruits
which were needed to make use of weapons and financial aid coming from China. [43]
A 1976 Amnesty International report had listed 88 government torturers.[16] The same report
mentioned "President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce
Enrile, Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza, Major General Fidel V. Ramos(Commanding
General of The Philippine Constabulary), Brigadier General Guillermo Santos, Judge Advocate
General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other senior officials" with responsibility for
the administration of prisoners arrested under martial law.[44][45]
Public outrage led to the snap elections of 1986 and to the People Power Revolution in February
1986, which removed him from power.[46] To avoid what could have been a military confrontation
in Manila between pro- and anti-Marcos troops, Marcos was advised by President Ronald
Reagan through Sen. Paul Laxalt to "cut and cut cleanly",[47] after which Marcos fled to Hawaii.
[48]

Marcos was succeeded by Corazon (Cory) Aquino, widow of the assassinated opposition

leader Senator Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino, Jr.who had flown back to the Philippines to face the
dictator.[46][49][50][51]
The Marcos family enjoyed a decadent lifestyletaking away billions of dollars [25][27] from the
country[52][53] in the course of their US-backed rule between 1965 and 1986. His wife Imelda
Marcos, whose excesses during the couple's kleptocracy[54][55][56] made her infamous in her own
right, spawned the term "Imeldific".[15][57][58][59] In 2008, Philippines trial court judge Silvino Pampilo,
acquitted Imelda Marcos, then widow of Ferdinand Marcos, of 32 counts of illegal money
transfer[60] after having previously been convicted of graft in 1993. [61] In 2010, she was ordered to
repay the Philippine government almost $280,000 for funds taken by Ferdinand Marcos in 1983.
[62]

In 2012, a US Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit upheld a contempt judgement against

Imelda and her son Bongbong Marcos for violating an injunction barring them from dissipating
their assets, and awarded $353.6 million to human rights victims.[63] Despite still facing numerous
ongoing criminal graft charges,[64] as of March 2016, she was still active in Philippine politics
along with two of her four children, Imee Marcos and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.[27][65]
As of October 2015, Imelda Marcos still faces 10 criminal charges of graft, [66] down from 900
cases in the 1990's, as most of the cases were dismissed for lack of evidence.

Contributions and Achievements:

first president to win a second term

declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972

increased the size of Philippine military and armed forces

by 1980 the Philippine GNP was four times greater than 1972

by 1986 the Philippines was one of the most indebted countries in Asia

built more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure than all former
presidents combined

the only president whose remains are interred inside a refrigerated crypt

HIGHLIGHTS
Martial law
Hostilities that began the Philippine Revolution of 1896 started on the evening of 21 August 1896,
when hundreds of rebels attacked the Civil Guard garrison in Pasig, just as hundreds of other
rebels personally led by Andrs Bonifacio were massing in San Juan del Monte, which they
attacked hours later on the 30th. Bonifacio planned to capture the San Jose del Monte powder
magazine along with a water station supplying Manila. The defending Spaniards were
outnumbered, and fonce piece pirates pmugaiaff rebels until reinforcements arrived. Once
reinforced, the Spaniards drove Bonifacio's forces back with heavy casualties. Elsewhere rebels
attacked Mandaluyong, Sampaloc, Santa Ana,Pandacan, Pateros, Marikina, and Caloocan,[1] as
well as Makati and Taguig.[2] Balintawak in Caloocan saw intense fighting. Rebel troops tended to
gravitate towards fighting in San Juan del Monte and Sampaloc. South of Manila, a thousandstrong rebel force attacked a small force of civil guards. In Pandacan Katipuneros attacked the
parish church, making the parish priest run for his life. [2]
After their defeat in San Juan del Monte, Bonifacio's troops regrouped near Marikina, San
Mateo and Montalban, where they proceeded to attack these areas. They captured these areas
but were driven back by Spanish counterattacks, and Bonifacio eventually ordered a retreat to
Balara. On the way, Bonifacio was nearly killed shielding Emilio Jacintofrom a Spanish bullet that
grazed his collar.[2] Despite his reverses, Bonifacio was not completely defeated and was still
considered a threat.[1]
North of Manila, the towns of San Francisco de Malabon, Noveleta and Kawit in Cavite rose in
rebellion.[2] In Nueva Ecija rebels in San Isidro led by Ivan Pilien attacked the Spanish garrison on
September 24; they were repulsed.[3]

By 30 August, the revolt had spread to eight provinces, prompting the Spanish GovernorGeneral Ramn Blanco, 1st Marquis of Pea Plata, to declare a "state of war" in these provinces
and place them under martial law. These provinces
were Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija.[4][2] These
would later be represented in the eight rays of the Sun in the Philippine flag.[5] Despite such
declaration, which provided a 48-hour period in giving amnesty to rebels except their leaders,
Blanco adopted a cool, conciliatory stance, seeking to improve Spains image in the face of world
opinion.

11. Corazon Aquino, 1986-1992

PROFILE
Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (born Maria Corazon Sumulong
Cojuangco; January 25, 1933 August 1, 2009), popularly known as Cory Aquino, was
a Filipina politician who served as the 11th President of the Philippines, the first woman to hold
that office and the first female president in Asia. Aquino was the most prominent figure of the
1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled the 21-year authoritarian rule of
President Ferdinand E. Marcos and restored democracy to thePhilippines. She was
named Time magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1986. Prior to this, she had not held any other
elective office.
A self-proclaimed "plain housewife",[1] she was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., the
staunchest critic of President Marcos. She emerged as leader of the opposition after her
husband was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines from exile in
the United States. In late 1985, Marcos called for snap elections, and Aquino ran for president
with former senatorSalvador Laurel as her Vice-President. After the elections were held on
February 7, 1986, the Batasang Pambansa proclaimed Marcos and his running mate, Arturo

Tolentino, as the winners amidst allegations of electoral fraud, with Aquino calling for massivecivil
disobedience actions. Defections from the Armed Forces and the support of the local Catholic
hierarchy led to the People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos and secured Aquino's
accession on February 25, 1986.
As President, Aquino oversaw the promulgation of the 1987 Constitution, which limited the
powers of the Presidency and re-established the bicameral Congress. Her administration gave
strong emphasis and concern for civil liberties and human rights, and on peace talks to resolve
the ongoing Communist insurgency and Islamist secession movements. Her economic policies
centred on restoring economic health and confidence and focused on creating a market-oriented
and socially responsible economy.
Aquino faced several coup attempts against her government and various natural calamities until
the end of her term in 1992. She was succeeded as President by Fidel V. Ramos, and returned
to civilian life while remaining public about her opinions on political issues.
In 2008, Aquino was diagnosed with colorectal cancer from which she died on August 1, 2009.
She was survived by her son,Benigno Aquino III, who was President of the Philippines from June
30, 2010 to June 30, 2016. Throughout her life, Aquino was known to be a devout Roman
Catholic, and was fluent in French, Japanese and English aside from her
native Tagalog andKapampangan.

Contributions and Achievements:

first woman to be president of the Philippines or any Asian country

restored democracy

abolished the 1973 Marcos Constitution and ushered in the new Constitution of the
Philippines

reorganized the structure of the executive branch of government

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

initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the needy

named Woman of the Year in 1986 by Time magazine

on the new 500-peso bill together with her husband Benigno Aquino

Received honors and awards including:

100 Women Who Shaped World History

20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century

65 Great Asian Heroes

J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding\

HIGHLIGHTS
PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION
Ferdinand E. Marcos was elected president in 1965, defeating incumbent Diosdado
Macapagal by a very slim margin. During this time, Marcos was very active in the initiation of
public works projects and the intensification of tax collections. Marcos and his government
claimed that they "built more roads than all his predecessors combined, and more schools than
any previous administration."[9] Amidst charges of vote buying and a fraudulent election, Marcos
was reelected in 1969, this time defeating Sergio Osmea, Jr.[citation needed]
Marcos' second term for the presidency was marred by allegations of widespread graft and
corruption. The increasing disparity of wealth between the very wealthy and the very poor which
made up the majority of the Philippines' population led to a rise in crime and civil unrest around
the country. These factors, including the formation of the New People's Army, a Communist
insurgency supported financially and militarily by China, [10] and a bloody Muslim separatist
movement in the southern island of Mindanao led by the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF,
contributed to the rapid rise of civil discontent and unrest in the Philippines. [citation needed]
On September 23, 1972, citing more than 15 bombing incidences and an intensifying armed
communist insurgency,[11] he declared martial law by virtue of presidential proclamation (No.
1081). The Washington Post revealed in 1989 that the Communists plotted the 1971 Plaza
Miranda bombing to provoke Marcos into cracking down his opponents, allowing them to
increase recruits which were needed to make use of weapons and financial aid coming from
China.

12.Fidel V. Ramos, 1992-1998

PROFILE
Fidel Valdez Ramos AFP PLH GCMG (born Fidel Ramos y Valdez on March 18, 1928), popularly
known as FVR and Eddie, was the12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During
his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and
renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.
Prior to his election as President, Ramos served in the Cabinet of President Corazn Aquino, first
as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and later on, as Secretary of
National Defense from 1986 to 1991.[2] He was the father of thePhilippine Army's Special
Forces and the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.
During the historic 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Ramos was hailed as a hero by many
Filipinos for his decision to breakaway from the administration of President Ferdinand
Marcos and pledge allegiance and loyalty to the newly established government of President
Aquino.
Under Ramos, the Philippines experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic
growth and expansion, as a result of his policies and programs designed to foster national
reconciliation and unity. Ramos was able to secure major peace agreements with Muslim
separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in
the Philippine economy. Ramos also aggressively pushed for the deregulation of the nation's
major industries and the privatization of bad government assets. As a result of his hands-on
approach to the economy, the Philippines was dubbed by various internationally as Asia's Next
Economic Tiger.
However, the momentum in the economic gains made under his administration was briefly
interrupted during the onset of the 1997Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, during the last year
of the term, the economy managed to make a rebound since it was not severely hit by the crisis

as compared to other Asian economies. He also oversaw the Philippine Centennial

Independencecelebrations in 1998.
Ramos has received numerous awards, and is the only Filipino to have received an honorary
British order, having been made aKnight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St
George by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1995. A member of theUnited Church of
Christ in the Philippines, Ramos is notably the first and to date only Protestant president of the
majority Roman Catholic country.

Contributions and Achievements:

oversaw Philippine economic growth

presided over celebrations of Philippine Independence Centennial in 1998

received British Knighthood from the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II (Knight
Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George)

hosted the fourth Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Summit in the Philippines
in 1996

Philippine Stock Exchange became an international favorite during his presidency

death penalty reinstated while he was in office

signed peace agreement with the rebel Moro National Liberation Front

HIGHLIGHTS
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".[19] 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.

13.Joseph Estrada, 1998-2001

PROFILE
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada (real name Jose Marcelo Ejercito; born April 19, 1937) is
a Filipino politician who served as the13th President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001 and as
the 9th Vice President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He has currently been Mayor of
the City of Manila, the country's capital, since 2013.[1]
Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over a hundred films in an
acting career spanning some three decades and Model, who was started as a fashion and ramp
model at the age of 13. He used his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as
mayor of San Juan for 16 years, as Senator for one term, then as Vice-President under
President Fidel V. Ramos.
Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other
challengers, and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. In 2000 he declared an "allout-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured its headquarters and other
camps.[2][3] However, allegations of corruption spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in
2001 Estrada was ousted by "People Power 2" after the prosecution walked out of the
impeachment court when the Senator-Judges voted "no" in the opening of the second envelope.
In 2007, Estrada was sentenced by the special division of the Sandiganbayan to reclusin
perpetua for the plunder of stealing $80 million from the government and was sentenced to a
lifetime in prison, but was later granted pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He ran for
president again in the 2010 presidential election, but placed second behind Senator Benigno
Aquino III.

Contributions and Achievements:

during his presidency Moro Islamic Liberation Front headquarters and camps were
captured

joined other leaders and politicians to try to amend the 1987 Constitution

cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989

among the Magnificent 12 who voted to terminate the agreement that allows for U.S.
control of Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base

HIGHLIGHTS
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. [3] 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 on the Philippine military and
civilians still continued.[3] These included the kidnapping of 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. [19]
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 Mindanaobecause without peace, there
can be no development.

The second is to develop Mindanaobecause without development, there can be no

peace.

The third is to continue seeking peace talks with the MILF within the framework of the
Constitutionbecause 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 MNLFbecause 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.[19] 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 massive surrender of 669 LC-MILF mujahideen led by the renegade vice mayor of
Marugong, Lanao del Sur Malupandi Cosandi Sarip and seven other battalion commanders,
surrendered to President Estrada at the 4th ID headquarters in Camp Edilberto Evangelista, Bgy.
Patag, Cagayan de Oro City. They were followed shortly by a second batch of 855 surrenderees
led by Lost command MILF Commander Sayben Ampaso on December 29, 2000.

14.Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001-2010

PROFILE
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (born April 5, 1947)[1] is a Filipina politician who served as
the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 until 2010, as the 10th Vice President of the
Philippines from 1998 to 2001, as incumbent deputy speaker of the 17th Congress and a
member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga since 2010.
She was the country's second female president (after Corazon Aquino), and the daughter of
former President Diosdado Macapagal. Arroyo is also the first duly elected female Vice President
of the Philippines.[2]
Arroyo was a former professor of economics at Ateneo de Manila University where Benigno
Aquino III was one of her students. She entered government in 1987, serving as assistant
secretary and undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry upon the invitation of

President Corazon Aquino. After serving as a senator from 1992 to 1998, she was elected to
the vice presidency under President Joseph Estrada, despite having run on an opposing ticket.
After Estrada was accused of corruption, she resigned her cabinet position as Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development and joined the growing opposition to the president, who faced
impeachment. Estrada was soon forced from office by the EDSA Revolution of 2001, and Arroyo
was sworn into the presidency by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. on January 20, 2001. She was
elected to a full six-year presidential term in the controversial May2004 Philippine elections, and
was sworn in on June 30, 2004. Following her presidency she was elected to the House of
Representatives, making her the second Philippine presidentafter Jose P. Laurelto pursue a
lower office after their presidency.
On November 18, 2011, Arroyo was arrested following the filing of criminal charges against her
for electoral fraud. She was held at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City under
charges of electoral sabotage.[3][4] but released on bail in July 2012. She was rearrested while in
the hospital on charges of misuse of $8.8 million in state lottery funds in October 2012. [5] On July
19, 2016, she was acquitted by the Supreme Court by a voting of 11-4.[6] She is a member of
the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language.

Contributions and Achievements:

second female president of the country

first and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far

first president to take oath outside Luzon

former Economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, where current president
Benigno Aquino III was one of her students

ex-classmate of former U.S. President Bill Clinton at Georgetown Universitys Walsh

School of Foreign Service, where she maintained Deans list status

oversaw higher economic growth than the past three presidents before her

peso became the best-performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007

eVAT Law was implemented under her term

currently on the 200-peso bill

HIGHLIGHTS
EVAT LAW
The extended value-added tax law is one of the most recent instruments of
fiscal reform in the Philippines. Also known as RA 9337, the EVAT law was

passed on May 11, 2005 by the Senate. This newly law implemented taxation
on commodities that in the past were tax-exempt, such as petroleum,
electricity and services to name a few. Aside from this, the law also increased
sin taxes, or taxes on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. In February 2006,
the extended value added tax was increased from 10% to 12%. In addition,
corporate tax also moved from 32% to 35%. Through this new law, the
government was able to obtain additional revenues of PHP 81.4 B in 2006.
We are all aware that the EVAT law was famously advocated by Senator
Ralph Recto, as he served as the spokesperson in the Senate.
The law was formally passed on the 11th of May 2005, and since then has
been scrutinized by the public. This law was actually designed by international
creditors so that the country can pay its international loans. Despite the
positive turnout of the law, however, Senator Ralph Recto lost in the elections.
Some people have saying that his name was associated with higher taxes,
thus the people not so keen on voting for him.

15.Benigno Aquino III, 2010-2016

PROFILE
Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III[1][2][3][4][5] (born February 8, 1960) is
a Filipino politician who served as the 15thPresident of the Philippines from 2010 until 2016.[4][6][7]
Aquino is a fourth-generation politician and is currently the chairman of the Liberal Party.[8] Born
in Manila, Aquino finished hisBachelor of Arts (major in economics) from Ateneo de Manila
University in 1981 and joined his family in their exile in the United States shortly thereafter. He
returned to the Philippines in 1983 shortly after the assassination of his father and held several
positions working in the private sector. In 1998, he was elected to the House of
Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province. He was subsequently

re-elected to the House in 2001 and 2004.[4] In 2007, having been barred from running for reelection to the House due to term limits, he was elected to the Senate in the 14th Congress of
the Philippines.[4]
On September 9, 2009, Aquino officially announced he would be a candidate in the 2010
presidential election and on June 30, 2010, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila,[4]
[9]

Aquino was sworn into office as the fifteenth President of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria

Macapagal-Arroyo, and stepped down on June 30, 2016. His successor is Rodrigo Duterte.
In 2013, Time named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.[10]

Contributions and Achievements:

created the no "wang-wang" (street siren) policy

appointed statesman Jesse Robredo to serve as secretary of Interior and Local

Government in 2010, where Robredo served until his death in 2012

initiated K-12 education in the Philippines

renamed the Office of the Press Secretary to Presidential Communications Operations

Office and appointed new officers

suspended allowances and bonuses to Government Owed and Controlled Corporation

and Government Financial Institution board members

oversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012

HIGHLIGHTS
no wang wang policy
President Benigno Aquino declared his walang wangwang policy in his inaugural speech on June 30,
and it is those two words, above all that he said, that have struck a chord the hearts of the Filipino
people. Literally meaning no sirens, walang wangwang at its surface refers to the practice of
politicians and officials of using sirens to cut through traffic. Armed with sirens (called wangwang after
the sound they make) and blinkers, their vehicles make the roads their own as they force other
vehicles to the curb to enable them to pass through. In other words, they make the roads miserable
for the average commuters, who can do nothing but curse the abusive officials who can get to their
destination on time while they get stuck in an even worse traffic jam left in the wake of the passing
convoy.
Because it was the simplest to follow, traffic authorities jumped on the directive and immediately
launched a campaign against sirens and blinkers on the streets. In the first few days of Mr. Aquinos
presidency, the confiscation of such illegal equipment only a select few officials, including the
President, are allowed to use them became the focus of traffic enforcers. Hundreds of sirens and

blinkers were confiscated and shown to the media, creating the impression that this was a serious
crackdown that would not spare even the high and mighty.

16.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, 2016-PRESENT

Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte (born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong,[6] is
a Filipino politician and jurist who is the 16th and current President of the Philippines.[7][8][9] He is
the first Mindanaoan to hold the office, and the fourth of Visayan descent.[10]
Duterte studied political science at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, graduating in 1968,
before obtaining a law degree fromSan Beda College of Law in 1972. He then worked as a
lawyer and was a prosecutor for Davao City, a highly urbanized city onMindanao island, before
becoming vice mayor and subsequently, mayor of the city, in wake of the Philippine Revolution of
1986. Duterte was among the longest-serving mayors in the Philippines, serving seven terms
and totaling more than 22 years in office.
Duterte's political success has been aided by his vocal support for the extrajudicial killing of drug
users and criminals.[11] Human rights groups have documented over 1,400 killings allegedly by
vigilante groups occurring in Davao between 1998 and May 2016; the victims were mainly drug
users, petty criminals and street children.[12] Duterte denied any involvement in the said vigilante
groups.[13] In a January 2016 decision by the Office of the Ombudsman on the investigation
conducted by the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged death squad in Davao between
2005 and 2009, the Ombudsman found no evidence to support "the killings attributed or
attributable to the Davao Death Squad, much less the involvement of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte" to
said acts.[14]
On May 9, 2016, Duterte won the Philippine presidential election, garnering 16,601,997 votes
(39.01% of total votes cast, and 6.6 million votes ahead of closest rival Mar Roxas).[15] His
domestic policy has focused on combating illegal drug trade by initiating thePhilippine Drug War.

Following criticism from United Nations human rights experts that extrajudicial killings had
increased since the election, he threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the UN and form a
new organization with China and African nations.[16] His administration has also vowed to pursue
an "independent foreign policy" that would reject any meddling by foreign governments. [17]On July
20, 2016, Pulse Asia released a poll conducted on July 28 which showed that 91% of Filipinos
trust Duterte, making him the most trusted official in the Philippines since Pulse Asia started its
trust surveys.[18]