Presidents of the

Philippines: Their
Achievements and
Contributions
Since independence in 1898 and the ratification of the Philippine Constitution in the First
Republic, there have been 15 presidents. Starting with General Emilio Aguinaldo all the
way to current president Benigno Aquino, this article details each president's particular
contributions and achievements while in office.

1. Emilio Aguinaldo 1899-1901

 One way to remember the first president of the Philippines First Republic is to look at
the five peso coin. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's face used to grace the five peso bill (which
is not used anymore). The back of the bill shows him holding the Philippine flag at the
celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.

Contributions and Achievements:

 first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolos 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

2. Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944

After 34 years of Insular Government under American rule, Philippine voters elected
Manuel Luis Quezon first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. He is
known as the “Father of National Language” (Ama ng Wikang Pambansa). He died of
tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York.

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 women’s 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

3. José P. Laurel, 1943-1945

José P. Laurel's presidency is controversial. He was officially the government's

caretaker during the Japanese occupation of World War II. Criticized as a traitor by
 some, his indictment for treason was superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in
1948.

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

4. Sergio Osmeña, 1944-1946

 Sergio Osmeña was the second president of the Commonwealth. During his
presidency, the Philippines joined the International Monetary Fund.

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

5. Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948

Manuel Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines: the third (and last) president
under the Commonwealth, and the first president of the Third Republic of the
Philippines. He held office for only one year, 10 months, and 18 days.

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

6. Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953

Elpidio Quirino served as vice president under Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died in
1948, Quirino became president.

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

7. Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957

Ramon Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales. He was a military governor and an
engineer. He died in an aircraft disaster while boarding the presidential plane.

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 Asia’s clean and well-governed countries during his
presidency
 established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) among
other agrarian reforms

8. Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961

A lawyer, poet, and teacher, Carlos P. Garcia also served as a guerrilla leader during
the Pacific War. Born in Bohol, Garcia serviced as vice president under Ramon
Magsaysay and as secretary of Foreign Affairs for four years. He became president
when Magsaysay died in 1957.
 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

9. Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965

Born in Lubao, Pampanga, Diosdado Macapagal was a lawyer and professor. His
daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14 th, and second female, president of the
Philippines.
 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 Veteran’s Bank

10. Ferdinand Marcos, 1965-1986

Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was a lawyer and Senate
President for three years. He was president for 21 years. He ruled under martial law and
 his dictatorship was known for its corruption and brutality. Marcos was removed from
office after the People Power Revolution.

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

11. Corazon Aquino, 1986-1992

 The first woman president of the Philippines and the first woman to become president of
an Asian country, Corazon Aquino was born in Paniqui, Tarlac. She was a prominent
figure in the People Power Revolution that brought down Ferdinand Marcos'
dictatorship. Her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., was a senator during the Marcos regime
and its strongest critic. He was assassinated while Marcos was still in power.

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

12. Fidel V. Ramos, 1992-1998

 Fidel V. Ramos was the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he
became president. He was also a civil engineer. As president, he restored economic
growth and stability in the country, even during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He is
the first, and so far the only, non-Catholic president of the Philippines.

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

13. Joseph Estrada, 1998-2001

Known as Erap, Joseph Estrada was the first president who had been a famous film
actor. His presidency was controversial. During his years in office economic growth was
slow and he faced impeachment proceedings. He was ousted from the presidency in
2001. He was later convicted of stealing from the government but was pardoned. He ran
unsuccessfully for president in 2010.
 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

14. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001-

2010
 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14th, president of the Philippines (and the second
female president). The Oakwood Mutiny occurred during her term. Arroyo oversaw road
and infrastructure improvements and higher economic growth that presidents before
her, but there was also controversy. The so-called "Hello Garci" controversy involved
recordings that allegedly captured Arroyo ordering the rigging of the election that put her
in office. In 2005 Arroyo faced impeachment proceedings related to the recordings but
the impeachment failed. After she had left office Arroyo faced additional charges of
election fraud and misuse of state funds.

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 University’s Walsh
School of Foreign Service, where she maintained Dean’s 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

15. Benigno Aquino III, 2010-present

 Benigno Aquino III joined the House of Representatives and the Senate before his
presidency. He is the first president who is a bachelor; he is unmarried and has no
children.

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

16. Rodrigo Duterte, also called Digong, (born March 28, 1945,

Maasin, Philippines), Filipino politician who was elected president of
the Philippines in 2016.

Early life and mayor of Davao City

Duterte’s father served as governor of the province of Davao, and his
mother was a community activist who had a prominent role in the
“people power” movement that deposed
the authoritarian president Ferdinand Marcos and restored
democratic rule to the Philippines. Duterte earned a political
science degree (1968) from Lyceum of the Philippines University
in Manila and a law degree (1972) from San Beda College. In 1977 he
joined the Davao City prosecutor’s office, where he remained until he
was appointed (1986) vice mayor of that city.

Duterte was elected mayor in 1988, and he was reelected to that post
twice over the subsequent decade. Because of term-limit restrictions,
he was barred from seeking reelection in 1998, but he successfully ran
for a seat representing Davao in the Philippines House of
Representatives. Upon the completion of that term in 2001, he
returned to Davao City and was once more elected mayor. Because the
term-limit restriction again came into force in 2010, he was elected
vice mayor, and his daughter Sara served as mayor. In 2013 Duterte
returned to the mayor’s office, this time with his son Paolo (“Pulong”)
serving as vice mayor.

During his more than two decades as mayor of Davao City, the
controversial politician transformed the city from a haven of
lawlessness into one of the safest areas in Southeast Asia. Duterte’s
harsh crime-fighting tactics earned him the nicknames “the Punisher”
and “Duterte Harry” (in reference to the film character Dirty Harry,
the ruthlessly effective police inspector portrayed by actor Clint
Eastwood), but critics such as Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch claimed that Duterte was responsible for more than
1,000 extrajudicial killings. Rather than denying such allegations, he
embraced them. The death squads that had carried out the killings
operated with an impunity that implied official sanction, and Duterte
openly praised both their methods and their apparent results. In that
way he cultivated the image of a coarse pistol-toting vigilante in the
months leading up to the presidential election. His antiestablishment
message took hold among a Filipino public weary of official
corruption, and his brash over-the-top rhetoric led to comparisons of
him to U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

Duterte’s position on the contested Spratly Islands—arguably the

Philippines’ most-pressing foreign policy issue—caused consternation
among the country’s allies. He wavered unpredictably between a
negotiated settlement with China and a claim that he would ride a jet
ski to one of the disputed islands and plant a Filipino flag on it. On
May 9 nearly 80 percent of eligible voters turned out for the election,
and Duterte captured nearly as many votes as his two closest
competitors combined. Within days of his landslide victory, Duterte
vowed to reintroduce the death penalty—abolished in the Philippines
in 2006—in concert with his promise to “fatten all the fish” in Manila
Bay with the bodies of criminals. In a televised address in June,
he endorsed vigilantism by members of the public, stating that he
would personally reward anyone who shot and killed a drug dealer.

The Duterte presidency

On June 30, 2016, Duterte was inaugurated as president of
the Philippines. In his first six months in office, more than 6,000
people were killed in Duterte’s “war on drugs.” A fraction of those
deaths occurred during police operations. The overwhelming majority
were extrajudicial killings by death squads. Metro Manila’s funeral
parlours were strained beyond capacity, and hundreds of unidentified
or unclaimed bodies were interred in mass burials. Human
rights organizations and Roman Catholic officials spoke out against
the bloodshed, but Duterte responded by accusing the church of
corruption and the sexual abuse of children.

When Western governments expressed concern over the rampant

vigilantism, Duterte said that the West could offer the Philippines only
“double talk,” and he sought to strengthen ties with Russia and China.
The United States had suspended the sale of 26,000 assault rifles to
the Philippines as a result of the human rights abuses, and in May
2017 Duterte met with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin to discuss the
prospect of an arms deal. While Duterte was in Moscow, a series of
deadly clashes erupted in Marawi between Filipino troops and Islamist
fighters linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL; also
called ISIS). Duterte cut short his trip and declared a state of martial
law covering the entire island of Mindanao. Although government
forces retook Marawi and quashed the rebellion, the declaration was
renewed through the end of 2019, making it the longest period of
martial law in the Philippines since the Marcos era.

In February 2018 the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a

preliminary investigation into the more than 12,000 deaths that had
occurred during Duterte’s “war on drugs.” The following month
Duterte responded by announcing his intention to withdraw the
Philippines from the ICC; that withdrawal became official in March
2019. International and domestic human rights organizations
continued to remain sharply critical of Duterte, but he dismissed
them, going so far as to instruct police to shoot activists if they were
“obstructing justice.” Press freedoms were also curtailed, and Maria
Ressa, the cofounder of a news Web site that had documented the
worst excesses of Duterte’s antidrug campaign, was arrested numerous
times on questionable charges.

Duterte remained widely popular with the Filipino public, however,

and voters in May 2019 delivered a resounding endorsement of the
president’s agenda by backing a slate of pro-Duterte candidates.
Duterte maintained his hold on the House of Representatives, and, by
taking control of the Senate, he removed what was the only effective
check remaining on his administration.