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PresidentsofthePhilippines:TheirAchievementsandContributions

PresidentsofthePhilippines:TheirAchievementsand
Contributions
UpdatedonMarch11,2015
Sinceindependencein1898andtheratificationofthePhilippineConstitutionintheFirstRepublic,there
havebeen15presidents.StartingwithGeneralEmilioAguinaldoallthewaytocurrentpresident
BenignoAquino,thisarticledetailseachpresident'sparticularcontributionsandachievementswhilein
office.

1.EmilioAguinaldo18991901

OnewaytorememberthefirstpresidentofthePhilippinesFirstRepublicistolookatthefivepesocoin.
Gen.EmilioAguinaldo'sfaceusedtogracethefivepesobill(whichisnotusedanymore).Thebackof
thebillshowshimholdingthePhilippineflagatthecelebrationofthePhilippineIndependenceDay.
ContributionsandAchievements:
first(andonly)presidentoftheFirstRepublic(MaloloRepublic)
signedthePactofBiaknaBato,creatingatrucebetweentheSpanishandPhilippinerevolutionaries
knownasthePresidentoftheRevolutionaryGovernment
ledthePhilippinesintheSpanishPhilippineWarandtheAmericanPhilippineWar
youngestpresident,takingofficeatage28
longestlivedpresident,passingawayat94

2.ManuelL.Quezon,19351944
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After34yearsofInsularGovernmentunderAmericanrule,PhilippinevoterselectedManuelLuis
QuezonfirstpresidentoftheCommonwealthofthePhilippines.HeisknownastheFatherofNational
Language(AmangWikangPambansa).HediedoftuberculosisinSaranacLake,NewYork.
ContributionsandAchievements:
firstSenatepresidentelectedasPresidentofthePhilippines
firstpresidentelectedthroughanationalelection
firstpresidentundertheCommonwealth
createdNationalCouncilofEducation
initiatedwomenssuffrageinthePhilippinesduringtheCommonwealth
approvedTagalog/FilipinoasthenationallanguageofthePhilippines
appearsonthetwentypesobill
aprovince,acity,abridgeandauniversityinManilaarenamedafterhim
hisbodylieswithinthespecialmonumentonQuezonMemorialCircle

3.JosP.Laurel,19431945

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JosP.Laurel'spresidencyiscontroversial.Hewasofficiallythegovernment'scaretakerduringthe
JapaneseoccupationofWorldWarII.Criticizedasatraitorbysome,hisindictmentfortreasonwas
supersededlaterbyanamnestyproclamationin1948.
ContributionsandAchievements:
sincetheearly1960s,LaurelconsideredalegitimatepresidentofthePhilippines
organizedKALIBAPI(KapisanansaPaglilingkodsaBagongPilipinas,orAssociationforServicetothe
NewPhilippines),aprovisionalgovernmentduringJapaneseoccupation
declaredMartialLawandwarbetweenthePhilippinesandtheU.S./UnitedKingdomin1944
withhisfamily,establishedtheLyceumofthePhilippines

4.SergioOsmea,19441946

SergioOsmeawasthesecondpresidentoftheCommonwealth.Duringhispresidency,thePhilippines
joinedtheInternationalMonetaryFund.
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ContributionsandAchievements:
becamepresidentat65,makinghimtheoldestpersontoholdoffice
firstVisayantobecomepresident
joinedwithU.S.Gen.DouglasMcArthurinLeyteonOctober20,1944tobeginrestorationof
PhilippinefreedomafterJapaneseoccupation
PhilippineNationalBankwasrehabilitatedandthecountryjoinedtheInternationalMonetaryFund
duringhispresidency
BellTradeActwasapprovedbytheU.S.Congressduringhispresidency
appearsonthe50pesobill

5.ManuelRoxas,19461948

ManuelRoxaswasthefifthpresidentofthePhilippines:thethird(andlast)presidentunderthe
Commonwealth,andthefirstpresidentoftheThirdRepublicofthePhilippines.Heheldofficeforonly
oneyear,10months,and18days.
ContributionsandAchievements:
inauguratedasthefirstpresidentofthenewRepublicafterWorldWarII
reconstructionfromwardamageandlifewithoutforeignrulebeganduringhispresidency
underhisterm,thePhilippineRehabilitationActandPhilippineTradeActlawswereacceptedby
Congress
appearsonthe100pesobill

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6.ElpidioQuirino,19481953

ElpidioQuirinoservedasvicepresidentunderManuelRoxas.WhenRoxasdiedin1948,Quirino
becamepresident.
ContributionsandAchievements:
Hukbalahapguerrillamovementactiveduringhispresidency
createdSocialSecurityCommission
createdIntegrityBoardtomonitorgraftandcorruption
QuezonCitybecamecapitalofthePhilippinesin1948

7.RamonMagsaysay,19531957

RamonMagsaysaywasborninIba,Zambales.Hewasamilitarygovernorandanengineer.Hediedin
anaircraftdisasterwhileboardingthepresidentialplane.
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ContributionsandAchievements:
Hukbalahapmovementquelledduringhispresidency
chairmanoftheCommitteeonGuerrillaAffairs
firstpresidentswornintoofficewearingBarongTagalogduringinauguration
presidencyreferredtoasthePhilippines'"GoldenYears"foritslackofcorruption
PhilippineswasrankedsecondinAsiascleanandwellgovernedcountriesduringhispresidency
establishedNationalResettlementandRehabilitationAdministration(NARRA)amongotheragrarian
reforms

8.CarlosP.Garcia,19571961

Alawyer,poet,andteacher,CarlosP.GarciaalsoservedasaguerrillaleaderduringthePacificWar.
BorninBohol,GarciaservicedasvicepresidentunderRamonMagsaysayandassecretaryofForeign
Affairsforfouryears.HebecamepresidentwhenMagsaysaydiedin1957.
ContributionsandAchievements:
knownforFilipinoFirstPolicy,whichfavoredFilipinobusinessesoverforeigninvestors
establishedtheAusterityProgramfocusingonFilipinotradeandcommerce
knownasthePrinceofVisayanPoetsandtheBardfromBohol
culturalartswasrevivedduringhisterm
wasthefirstpresidenttohavehisremainsburiedattheLibinganngmgaBayani

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9.DiosdadoMacapagal,19611965

BorninLubao,Pampanga,DiosdadoMacapagalwasalawyerandprofessor.HisdaughterGloria
MacapagalArroyowasthe14th,andsecondfemale,presidentofthePhilippines.
ContributionsandAchievements:
establishedthefirstLandReformLaw,allowingforthepurchaseofprivatefarmlandtobedistributed
ininexpensive,smalllotstothelandless
placedthePhilippinepesoonthecurrencyexchangemarket
declaredJune12,1898tobePhilippinesIndependenceDay
signedtheMinimumWageLaw
createdthePhilippineVeteransBank

10.FerdinandMarcos,19651886

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BorninSarrat,IlocosNorte,FerdinandEdralinMarcoswasalawyerandSenatePresidentforthree
years.Hewaspresidentfor21years.Heruledundermartiallawandhisdictatorshipwasknownforits
corruptionandbrutality.MarcoswasremovedfromofficeafterthePeoplePowerRevolution.
ContributionsandAchievements:
firstpresidenttowinasecondterm
declaredMartialLawonSept.22,1972
increasedthesizeofPhilippinemilitaryandarmedforces
by1980thePhilippineGNPwasfourtimesgreaterthan1972
by1986thePhilippineswasoneofthemostindebtedcountriesinAsia
builtmoreschools,roads,bridges,hospitals,andotherinfrastructurethanallformerpresidents
combined
theonlypresidentwhoseremainsareinterredinsidearefrigeratedcrypt

11.CorazonAquino,19861992

ThefirstwomanpresidentofthePhilippinesandthefirstwomantobecomepresidentofanAsian
country,CorazonAquinowasborninPaniqui,Tarlac.ShewasaprominentfigureinthePeoplePower
RevolutionthatbroughtdownFerdinandMarcos'dictatorship.Herhusband,BenignoAquinoJr.,wasa
senatorduringtheMarcosregimeanditsstrongestcritic.HewasassassinatedwhileMarcoswasstillin
power.
ContributionsandAchievements:
firstwomantobepresidentofthePhilippinesoranyAsiancountry
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restoreddemocracy
abolishedthe1973MarcosConstitutionandusheredinthenewConstitutionofthePhilippines
reorganizedthestructureoftheexecutivebranchofgovernment
signedtheFamilyCodeof1987,amajorcivillawreform,and1191LocalGovernmentCode,which
reorganizedthestructureoftheexecutivebranchofgovernment
initiatedcharitableandsocialactivitieshelpingthepoorandtheneedy
namedWomanoftheYearin1986byTimemagazine
onthenew500pesobilltogetherwithherhusbandBenignoAquino
Receivedhonorsandawardsincluding:
100WomenWhoShapedWorldHistory
20MostInfluentialAsiansofthe20thCentury
65GreatAsianHeroes
J.WilliamFulbrightPrizeforInternationalUnderstanding

12.FidelV.Ramos,19921998

FidelV.RamoswasthechiefofstaffoftheArmedForcesofthePhilippinesbeforehebecame
president.Hewasalsoacivilengineer.Aspresident,herestoredeconomicgrowthandstabilityinthe
country,evenduringtheAsianFinancialCrisisin1997.Heisthefirst,andsofartheonly,nonCatholic
presidentofthePhilippines.
ContributionsandAchievements:
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oversawPhilippineeconomicgrowth
presidedovercelebrationsofPhilippineIndependenceCentennialin1998
receivedBritishKnighthoodfromtheUnitedKingdombyQueenElizabethII(KnightGrandCrossof
theOrderofSt.MichaelandSt.George)
hostedthefourthAsiaPacificEconomicCooperationLeader'sSummitinthePhilippinesin1996
PhilippineStockExchangebecameaninternationalfavoriteduringhispresidency
deathpenaltyreinstatedwhilehewasinoffice
signedpeaceagreementwiththerebelMoroNationalLiberationFront

13.JosephEstrada,19982001

KnownasErap,JosephEstradawasthefirstpresidentwhohadbeenafamousfilmactor.His
presidencywascontroversial.Duringhisyearsinofficeeconomicgrowthwasslowandhefaced
impeachmentproceedings.Hewasoustedfromthepresidencyin2001.Hewaslaterconvictedof
stealingfromthegovernmentbutwaspardoned.Heranunsuccessfullyforpresidentin2010.
ContributionsandAchievements:
duringhispresidencyMoroIslamicLiberationFrontheadquartersandcampswerecaptured
joinedotherleadersandpoliticianstotrytoamendthe1987Constitution
citedasoneoftheThreeOutstandingSenatorsin1989
amongtheMagnificent12whovotedtoterminatetheagreementthatallowsforU.S.controlof
ClarkAirbaseandSubicNavalBase
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14.GloriaMacapagalArroyo,20012010

GloriaMacapagalArroyowasthe14th,presidentofthePhilippines(andthesecondfemalepresident).
TheOakwoodMutinyoccurredduringherterm.Arroyooversawroadandinfrastructureimprovements
andhighereconomicgrowththatpresidentsbeforeher,buttherewasalsocontroversy.Thesocalled
"HelloGarci"controversyinvolvedrecordingsthatallegedlycapturedArroyoorderingtheriggingofthe
electionthatputherinoffice.In2005Arroyofacedimpeachmentproceedingsrelatedtotherecordings
buttheimpeachmentfailed.AftershehadleftofficeArroyofacedadditionalchargesofelectionfraud
andmisuseofstatefunds.
ContributionsandAchievements:
secondfemalepresidentofthecountry
firstandonlyfemalevicepresidentofthePhilippinessofar
firstpresidenttotakeoathoutsideLuzon
formerEconomicsprofessorattheAteneodeManilaUniversity,wherecurrentpresidentBenigno
AquinoIIIwasoneofherstudents
exclassmateofformerU.S.PresidentBillClintonatGeorgetownUniversitysWalshSchoolof
ForeignService,whereshemaintainedDeansliststatus
oversawhighereconomicgrowththanthepastthreepresidentsbeforeher
pesobecamethebestperformingcurrencyoftheyearinAsiain2007
eVATLawwasimplementedunderherterm
currentlyonthe200pesobill

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15.BenignoAquinoIII,2010present

BenignoAquinoIIIjoinedtheHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenatebeforehispresidency.Heisthe
firstpresidentwhoisabachelorheisunmarriedandhasnochildren.
ContributionsandAchievements:
createdtheno"wangwang"(streetsiren)policy
appointedstatesmanJesseRobredotoserveassecretaryofInteriorandLocalGovernmentin2010,
whereRobredoserveduntilhisdeathin2012
initiatedK12educationinthePhilippines
renamedtheOfficeofthePressSecretarytoPresidentialCommunicationsOperationsOfficeand
appointednewofficers
suspendedallowancesandbonusestoGovernmentOwedandControlledCorporationand
GovernmentFinancialInstitutionboardmembers
oversaw7.1%growthofthePhilippineeconomyin2012

AFinalNote
Inmyopinion,thePhilippineeconomywasstrongerwhenFilipinosbelievedinandtrustedtheirleaders.
Manyexpresidentswerelawyersorprofessorsandcitizensfoundthemtobetrustworthy.Those
presidentswereabletokeeptheeconomystrongeveninthemidstoffinancialcrisisintherestofthe
world.
ThePhilippineeconomybegantosufferwhenpeoplelosttrustintheirleadersandbegantorally.Here
iswhatIthink:Weneedgreatleaders,butwhatwereallyneedrightnowaregreatfollowers.Bringback
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theFilipinoswhousedtorespectandhonortheircommanderinchiefinspiteofbadpublicity.Bring
backthegoodvibes.Whenthepeoplefeelpositive,thestockmarketandthepesorise,investors
becomeinterested,jobsopenup,andFilipinosarehappy.

WhoisyourfavoritepresidentofthePhilippines?
EmilioAguinaldo
ManuelL.Quezon
JoseP.Laurel
SergioOsmena
ManuelRoxas
ElpidioQuirino
RamonMagsaysay
CarlosP.Garcia
DiosdadoMacapagal
FerdinandMarcos
CorazonAquino
FidelV.Ramos
JosephEstrada
GloriaMacapagalArroyo
BenignoAquinoIII

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