Learn as much as you can about them so that you can somewhat grasp and be guided about the devoted men and women who have contributed to enhancing Philippine history and how politics has affected us all over the past 200 years.
The political party, achievements, and awards they each received during their time as the most powerful government figure in the Philippines are listed here.
See their achievements and contribution for the Filipino people and the country.
Listed in accordance from 1869, our first ever president of the Philippines to the latest in 2022 - Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. An important part of the history during the era of the official ratification of the Philippine Constitution of our country as the First Republic during the era of the declared Philippine independence. From the one who allegedly sold the Philippines to the one who continues to take for granted, the Filipino people's independence.
2. Manuel L. Quezon - (1878–1944) - Ncionalista
3. José P. Laurel - (1891–1959) - KALIBAPI
4. Sergio Osmeña - (1878–1961) - Nacionalista
5. Manuel Roxas - (1892–1948) - Liberal
6. Elpidio Quirino - (1890–1956) - Liberal
7. Ramon Magsaysay - (1907–1957) - Nacionalista
8. Carlos P. Garcia - (1896–1971) - Nacionalista
9. Diosdado Macapagal - (1910–1997) - Liberal
10. Ferdinand Marcos - (1917–1989) Nacionalista / KBL
11. Corazon Aquino - (1933–2009) - PDP LABAN / UNIDO
12. Fidel V. Ramos - (1928– ) - LAKAS
13. Joseph Estrada - (1937– ) - LAMP
14. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - (1947– ) - LAKAS / KAMPI
15. Benigno Aquino III - (1960– ) - Liberal
General Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 – April 1, 1901)
Controversially dubbed by some as the Philippine president who sold the Philippines independence, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's symbolic face can be found in the old 5-peso bill which is no longer used in the Philippines.
You can find him in the 5-peso coin where an emblem of the Philippine flag during which the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day is celebrated can also be seen. He is also known for being the first president of the Philippines under the First Republic known in Philippine history back then as the Malolos Republic.
Contributions Achievements:
- first president of the first republic of the Philippines (R.P.)
- youngest general of the Hukbong Sandatahan in his time and also the country’s youngest president at age 28
- the longest living president who died at an old age of 94 years old
- leaders of Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan
- Pact of Biak na Bato signatory
Manuel L. Quezon (November 15, 1935 – August 1, 1944)
As the “Father of National Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa in Tagalog), Manuel Luis Quezon is Philippine president known to have died of a common man's disease, tuberculosis in his last few days in Saranac Lake, New York according to a wiki biography.
Contributions and Achievements:
- first Senate president elected as one of the Philippine Presidents in his time
- won as the first president through a (nation-wide) national election
- first president under the Commonwealth
- created the National Council of Education
- initiated women’s rights in the Philippines during the Commonwealth regime
- made Tagalog / Filipino as the national language of the Philippines, hence he is called "Ama ng Pambansang Wika"
- he is in the current twenty-peso bill
- to his legacy, his name was made as the remembering name of Quezon Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Quezon province, Quezon City, Quezon Bridge and MLQU and MLQHS respectively in Manila
- his remains still lie at the Rotonda monument in Quezon Memorial Circle.
Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945)
The 3rd among Philippine presidents to assume office during the era of the Japanese occupation of World War II, Jose P. Laurel is the only Filipino president in his time to have been shot outside of combat.
Contributions and Achievements:
- he organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas)
- he declared Martial Law in 1944
- his family became popular for establishing one of the pioneer universities in Manila - Lyceum of the Philippines
Sergio Osmeña (August 1, 1944 – May 28, 1946)
Sergio Osmeña - the second Philippine president and of the Commonwealth regime whose face appears in the 50-peso bill.
Contributions and Achievements:
- the oldest president to resume office, this legend is already 65 when he became president of the Philippines
- he was the first Visayan to become president of the country (wikipedia)
- he joined then US Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 starting the freedom of the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II - "Leyte Guld landing"
- it was during his regime, that the Philippine National Bank (PNB) has been rehabilitated and the country joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- during his time, the popular Bell Trade Act was approved by the US Congress
Manuel Roxas (May 28, 1946 – April 15, 1948)
He was the fifth Philippine president but was considered as the third and last president under the Commonwealth era making him the next first leader of the Third Republic of the Philippines (R.P.). Shortlived as he served for some reason, he only assumed office for a very short period of 1 year, 10 months and 18 days to be exact.
Contributions and Achievements:
- was inaugurated as the new and first president of the new Republic because the Philippines was finally free after the WW II
- in his time, the country has started reconstruction from war damage and the Philippines started breathing without foreign rule
- under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by the congress
- he is in the 100 peso bill
Elpidio Quirino (April 17, 1948 – December 30, 1953)
Served first as the vice president of Manuel Roxas in his time and assumed to become the next leader and Philippine president when the latter died in 1948.
Contributions and Achievements:
- under his term in the Japanese occupation, Hukbalahap movement (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon) was active
- he created Social Security Commission now SSS
- he also created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption
- an important historical fact is during 1948, Quezon City was still the capital of the Philippines and not Manila
- an important figure of inflation / depletion is that in his regime, the peso and dollar exchange rate was 1 US = P2.00, a rate we can never regain from today's presidents
Ramon Magsaysay (December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957)
Born as a native of Iba, Zambales, he was a military governor, and engineer. He died on a plane crash on Dec. 1957, boarding the presidential plane on the slopes of Mount Manunggal on the island of Cebu in the Philippines.
Contributions and Achievements of Ramon Magsaysay:
- popularized mambo Magsaysay song and dance
- was a chairman of the Committee on Guerilla Affairs
- Popularly known as the "president of the masses"
- was the first president sworn into office wearing Barong Tagalog in his inauguration
- his presidency was referred as the Philippines’ Golden Years for it was the cleanest and zero-corruption
- the Philippines was ranked 2nd in Asia’s clean and well-governed countries
- allowed common Filipino masses to enter the president's house
- he established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among his agrarian reforms
Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961)
A well renowned country lawyer in his time, Carlos P. Garcia was a critically acclaimed poet, teacher and self-proclaimed guerilla leader.
Born in the province of Bohol, like Elpidio Quirino, he was the vice president of the former Philippine president in his time, Magsaysay.
He also served as the secretary of Foreign Affairs for 4 years until he became president when Magsaysay died in 1957.
Contributions and Achievements:
- adopted the “Filipino First Policy”
- he established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce
- recognized and dubbed as the “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “bard from Bohol”
- cultural arts was strongly promoted during his term of tenure which was his nature as a leader
- the first president whose remains were buried in the "Libingan ng mga Bayani"
Diosdado Macapagal (December 30, 1961 – December 30, 1965)
Born in Lubao, Pampanga, like his latter clan, the 2nd female Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Diosdado Macapagal, was another lawyer and a professor in his time.
Contributions and Achievements:
- established the first Land Reform Law
- was popular with farmers in his time
- he placed the Philippines currency – peso, on the currency exchange market
- declared June 12 in 1898 as the Philippines’ official Independence Day
- Minimum Wage Law signatory
- signatory to the creation of the Philippine Veteran’s Bank
Ferdinand Marcos (December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986)
Born from Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was a lawyer, Senate President for 3 years who defended himself in his own few cases was also the longest running dictator Philippine president ever know in Philippine and world history.
He was president for 21 years and was sent out of his office after the People Power Revolution. His wife, Imelda Marcos was a popular icon in his reign for owning so much of a signature shoe collection from all over the world.
He had the most controversial terms of all Philippine presidents especially during his time when he declared and used Martial Law to remain in tenure as the highest government official in the country. He was the first ousted president due to excessive and oppressive use of power and was the first to voluntarily flee out of office because of EDSA People Power.
He was indeed one of the best military and political tactician and brightest president who ever lived to retain the longest reign using his power and knowhow in Philippine laws as a lawyer. His wealth, still unknown even to his grave. He was ousted and so are his alleged ill-gotten wealth rumored and found in numerous Swiss accounts.
Contributions and Achievements:
- awakened the Filipino to put up the EDSA revolution during the 80's
- the first president to win a second term
- he declared Martial Law on Sept. 22, 1972 to which in my time I am born and called martial law baby
- empowered and increased military population to fuel his dictatorship intents in the armed forces
- led the Philippines in 1986 to become one of the most indebted countries in Asia thru IMF Worldbank funds
- the only president who had a record of building more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals and infrastructures than all former presidents did, combined
- the only president whose remains interred inside a refrigerated crypt to preserve his legacy by the family
Corazon Aquino (February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992)
The first woman president of the Philippines and Asia at the same time, Cory Aquino is the wife of Benigno Aquino Jr. (who was assassinated during the Marcos regime allegedly for fueling the desire of Filipinos to free themselves from bondage of a dictator). She was born in Paniqui, Tarlac and of wealthy decent belonging to the haciendero Cojuangco clan.
Contributions and Achievements:
- was named Time Magazine's “Woman of the Year” in 1986 after EDSA revolution (People Power)
- brought back the song "tie a yellow ribbon" and turned the color yellow as a symbol for freedom and democracy
- first female president of the Philippines and Asia simultaneously
- she’s known to bring back democracy in the country through a peaceful revolution known in world history as EDSA revolution
- initiated the abolition of the repressive 1973 Marcos Constitution and brought about the making of the new Constitution of the Philippines for the FIlipino people
- became popular with the term "filipino people" in her reign as Philippine president
- signatory to Family Code of 1987 and 1191 Local Government Code
- she always initiated charitable and social activities helping the poor and the needy
- being compared and cited as a modern-day Joan of Arc by political critics
- her face appears in the latest 500 peso bill together with her husband Ninoy Aquino
- one of 100 Women of the world Who Shaped History
- 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century
- one of 65 Great Asian Heroes
- recipient of J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding
Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998)
A military general in his time when the former first female president resumed power over EDSA revolution, the popular name for this Philippine president is FVR. He was the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during Cory's regime before he became president. A civil engineer by college career, Ramos is a PMA bred elite. He brought back economic growth and stability in the country in spite of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He is the first and only non-Catholic (protestant) president of the Philippines.
Contributions and Achievements of Fidel V. Ramos
- FVR was widely credited as the most effective president because he led the Philippines to economic growth
- He promoted family-planning practices to help to solve the country’s growing population
- Hosted the 4th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader’s Summit in the Philippines in 1996
- He presided over celebrations of Philippine Independence Centennial in 1998
- Ramos reached out peace talks with the rebels such as the Moro National Liberation Front and New People’s Army
- FVR received British Knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George)
- The Philippine Stock Exchange became an international favorite during his presidency
- Ranked 8th Place in the Philippine Civil Engineering Licensure Exam (1953)
- The death penalty was reinstated while he was in office
- FVR was the only military officer who reached the rank of five-star general/admiral de jure who rose from second lieutenant up to commander-in-chief of the armed forces
- Had 29 Honorary Doctorate Degrees
Joseph Estrada (June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001)
Erap para sa mahirap is his popular slogan. Joseph Ejercity Estrada is the first film actor to become president of a country next to Ronald Reagan. Because of his winning, all sorts of showbiz politicians sprouted like happy mushrooms in the arena.
His governance had been through to numerous controversies and characterized by impeachments, slow economic growth and was later on convicted guilty of plunder case. The first president who was literally impeached and the second to flee the country by virtue of forced leave of office he was later on replaced by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in aid of the People Power III in EDSA. Philippine economy was at its worst because of his proven corrupt leadership (as stated in wikipedia for convicted plunder).
Contributions and Achievements:
- during his time, the MILF’s Camp Abubakar headquarters was reinforced by the military
- popularized the "erap para sa mahirap" slogan which played a major role to his winning the presidency after the general (FVR) reign
- supported against the Charter Change
- was cited as one of the Three Outstanding Senators in 1989
- was among the “Magnificent 12” who voted for the termination of US Military Bases Agreement and removal of US forces and all alleged armaments present in Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Base
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010)
Gloria Arroyo, a Capampangan native and daughter of ex-president Diosdado Macapagal, became the second female Philippine president. She was 14 back when she became familiar, moved and lived in the Malacanang Palace as the daughter of the president.
The Oakwood Mutiny is her most popular seige during her tenure and is one of the first serious attempts to overthrow her uprooted claim to power thru EDSA revolution. With controversies and impeachments during her term, Gloria also got involved in the popular Hello Garci scandal which was one of the biggest obvious unproven disgrace to a president.
Contributions and Achievements:
- second female president of the country
- first and only female vice-president of the Philippines so far (to date)
- first president who had oath taking outside of a president's territory in Luzon
- an ex-professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University she was one of the mentors of the current Philippine president, Noynoy Aquino
- gained higher economic growth than the past 3 presidents before her
- Philippine economy grew at its fastest in 3 decades in 2007, GDP exceeding 7% growth as claimed by Malacanang press releases
- US ex-president Bill Clinton cited Gloria’s “tough decisions” because of her brilliant strategy to make the country's economy back in shape amidst the 2008 global financial crisis
- Peso became the best performing currency of the year in Asia in 2007
- eVAT Law was implemented during her reign as Philippine president
Benigno Aquino III (June 30, 2010 – 2016)
Popularly known as PNoy, he is the son of the first female Philippine president and of Asia – Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. Real name is Simeon Benigno Aquino III a.k.a. NoyNoy or PNoy joined the House of Representatives and the Senate before his presidency.
Contributions and Achievements:
- popularized the no wang-wang policy
- responsible for getting to know the noble Jesse Robredo as the secretary of DILG in 2010.
- he initiated the K-12 education in the Philippines during his term
- he renamed the Office of the Press Secretary into Presidential Communications Operations Office and appointed new officers
- he signed an EO about suspension of allowances and bonuses of GOCCs and GFIs board members
- has paved peace in Mindanao thru the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement
- Cyber Crime Law was born during his term
- responsible for restructuring of many government systems to his "tuwid na daan" progressive move`
- Oversaw 7.1% growth of the Philippine economy in 2012
- TIME named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013
Rodrigo Roa "DIGONG" Duterte (2016-2022)
Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the 16th president of the Philippines. He’s one of the most loved presidents. He’s earned a massive fanbase after transforming one of the most dangerous cities (Davao) into one of the world’s safest when he was a mayor. At age 71, he became the oldest Filipino ever elected to the presidency.
Contributions and Achievements of Rodrigo Duterte:
- He earned Political Science Degree from Lyceum of the Philippines in 1968
- Obtained Law Degree from San Beda College in 1972
- He initiated decongesting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the country’s main gateway
- Signed the Freedom of Information Order
- Duterte launched a 24-hour complaint hotline, 8888
- He signed an order for Smoking Ban in public places
- Boracay Island was rehabilitated during his term
- Launched the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Program
- Duterte signed the TRAIN Law and Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
- One of Forbes list of World’s Most Powerful People in 2016
Ferdinand R. "BONGBONG" Marcos Jr.
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is the 17th president of the Philippines. He is the second child of former president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos and the “iron butterfly” Imelda Romualdez Marcos. His campaign is focused on unity. BBM won the presidential election by a landslide garnering over 31 million votes.
Contributions and Achievements of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr:
- BBM has been a public servant since 1980
- He served as a senator, congressman, governor, and vice-governor
- Marcos Jr. authored landmark laws such as the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law (R.A. 9522)
- He authored, co-authored, sponsored, and co-sponsored 54 bills passed into law
- BBM led the modernization of agricultural and tourism landscape of Ilocos Norte when he was a governor
INADDITION: Amazing Facts About the Presidents of the Philippines:
- Manuel L. Quezon was the first Filipino to grace the cover of TIME Magazine on November 25, 1935. If you’re featured on the cover of TIME magazine, it means you are a notable international figure
- Three from the presidents of the Philippines were Top 1 in the Philippine Bar Exam
- Manuel A. Roxas (1913 Bar Exam with a grade of 92)
- Diosdado P. Macapagal (1936 Bar Exam with a grade of 89.85)
- Ferdinand E. Marcos (1939 Bar Exam with a grade of 92.35)
- Three from the presidents of the Philippines were Top 2 in the Philippine Bar Exam
- Sergio S. Osmeña
- Jose P. Laurel
- Elpidio R. Quirino
- Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña were classmates and were both top-notchers in the Bar Exam in 1903. Osmeña was 2nd placer, Quezon was 4th placer. Nevertheless, Quezon became president before him.
- During Ramon Magsaysay’s presidency, the Philippines had its “Golden Years” for its lack of corruption. The country was also ranked second in Asia’s clean and well-governed countries.
- Ferdinand E. Marcos had an extraordinary memory, which allowed him to memorize complicated texts and recite them forward or backward quickly. He aced the Philippine Bar exam with scores so high he was accused of cheating. Upon an oral re-examination by the Supreme Court, Marcos scored even higher with his remarkable memory.
- Fidel V. Ramos was known as the most-effective president because he boosted a positive financial outlook on the economy. The Philippine Stock Exchange was one of the best in the world, and he received the top honor for World Peace Price for his achievement in realizing economic growth, political stability, and democratic freedom in Philippines and Asia Pacific region, as well as his promotion for World Peace
- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was consistently on the Dean’s List at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where she started a friendship with then-future President Bill Clinton. Arroyo was also a former Economics professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, where her eventual successor, President Benigno Aquino III, was one of her students.
- Rodrigo Duterte launched the Build! Build! Build! Program which aims for the “Golden Age of Infrastructure” in the Philippines. This project will boost the economy, accelerate transportation, increase job opportunities, and produce more income. This project includes a Tokyo-style Railway in Manila, NLEX-SLEX connector road, Cebu Bus Transit, Clark International Airport Expansion, Subic-Clark Railway Project, Mactan International Airport project, Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and many more.
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