Philippine Presidents Overview

First President of the Philippines

• Emilio Aguinaldo served from January 23, 1899, to March 23, 1901.
• He was the first and only president of the First Republic (Malolos Republic) and declared Philippine independence in 1898.
• Aguinaldo is recognized as the youngest president, taking office at 28 years old.

Second President of the Philippines

• Manuel L. Quezon was the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth, serving from 1935 to 1944.
• He was the first president elected through a national election.
• Quezon approved Filipino as the national language and ranked 4th in the Philippine Bar Exam (1903).

Third President of the Philippines

• Jose P. Laurel held office from October 14, 1943, to August 17, 1945, as president of the Second Republic.
• He served in all three branches of government: senator, associate justice, and president.
• Laurel organized the KALIBAPI, promoting nationalism.

Fourth President of the Philippines

• Sergio Osmeña Sr. served from August 1, 1944, to May 28, 1946.
• He was a founding member of the Nationalista Party and the first Visayan to become president.

Fifth President of the Philippines

• Manuel A. Roxas is known for significant economic developments and is featured on the 100 peso bill.

Sixth President of the Philippines

• Elpidio Quirino served as the sixth president from April 17, 1948, to December 30, 1953.
• He created the Social Security Commission and established the Integrity Board to combat corruption.

Seventh President of the Philippines

• Ramon Magsaysay was president from December 30, 1953, to March 17, 1957.
• His presidency is referred to as the Golden Years for its lack of corruption and he was the first president to wear the Barong Tagalog for his inauguration.

Eighth President of the Philippines

• Carlos P. Garcia held office from March 18, 1957, to December 30, 1961.
• He promoted the "Filipino First Policy," which prioritized Filipino businesses over foreign investors.

Ninth and Tenth Presidents of the Philippines

• Diosdado P. Macapagal served as the ninth president.
• Ferdinand E. Marcos served as the tenth president and ruled for 21 years, implementing Martial Law in 1972.

Eleventh to Sixteenth Presidents

• Corazon C. Aquino was the first woman president and gained recognition as TIME magazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1986.
• Fidel V. Ramos, known for effective leadership, oversaw rapid economic growth and received British Knighthood.
• Joseph E. Estrada starred in over 100 films and earned numerous Best Actor awards during his career.

Fourteenth and Fifteenth Presidents

• Gloria Macapagal Arroyo oversaw higher economic growth than her three predecessors and initiated infrastructure development.
• Benigno Aquino III launched several reforms and was known for creating the "no wang-wang" policy for street management.

Current and Recent Presidents

• Rodrigo Roa Duterte, served from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2022, initiated the Build! Build! Build! infrastructure program.
• Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the current president, having taken office on June 30, 2022.

Significant Historical Moments

• Aguinaldo signed the pact of Biak-na-Bato, which aimed to end hostilities with American forces.
• Magsaysay's presidency was noted for improvements in governance and economic conditions, leading to recognition of the Philippines as the second cleanest country in Asia during his term.

Additional Highlights

• Many presidents are featured on currency, highlighting their legacy.
• Various presidents enacted significant laws and reforms that shaped the political, social, and economic landscape of the Philippines.