Part IV Philippine Presidents

• The President of the Philippine Republic


  1. Aguinaldo
  2. Quezon
  3. Laurel
  4. Osmena
  5. Roxas
  6. Quirino
  7. Magsaysay
  8. Garcia
  9. Macapagal
  10. Marcos Sr.
  11. Aquino
  12. Ramos
  13. Estrada
  14. Arroyo
  15. Aguino III
  16. Duterte
  17. Marcos Jr.
• Emilio Famy Aguinaldo


  • 1st President
  • Profession:
  • Revolutionary leader
  • Statesman
  • Military leader
  • Achievements
  • First and only Philippine president elected at a very young age.
  • Declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain
  • Malolos Constitution
• Manuel Luis Molina Quezon


  • 2nd President
  • Profession:
  • Lawyer
  • Statesman
  • Soldier
  • Politician
  • Achievements:
  • First president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
  • Credited as the Father of National Language
  • Created the National Council of Education
  • Initiated women suffrage, land reform, government reorganization, and social-justice program.
• Jose Paciano Laurel


  • 3rd President
  • Profession:
  • Politician
  • Lawyer
  • Judge 
  • Achievements:
  • First and only president of Japanese-sponsored Second Philippine Republic
  • Confronted domestic problems, food shortage, and policy towards Japanese (Philippine-Japanese Treaty Alliance and Greater East Asia Conference)
• Sergio Osmena, Sr.


  • 4th President
  • Achievements:
  • Assumed presidency upon the death of Pres. Quezon, making him the first oldest president to assume office (65) until Pres. Duterte who became president at 71.
  • Joined Gen. McArthur’s party during the famous Leyte Landing during the later part of World War II
• Segio Osmena, Sr.


  • Worked on the restoration of Commonwealth, reorganization of the government, rehabilitation of the Philippine National Bank, people’s court, send UN delegation, created the Office of Foreign Relations, accepted membership in IMF and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  • Bell Trade Act was passed in the US (8 years of free trade with the US).
• Manuel Acuna Roxas


  • 5th President
  • Domestic Policies:
  • Local economy, war reconstruction, and agrarian Reform
  • Amnesty proclamation for Philippine collaborators
  • Peace talks with the Huks (eventually led to civil war)
• Manuel Acuna Roxas


  • Last president of the Commonwealth and first president of the Third Philippine Republic before the granting of independence.
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Treaty of General Relations recognizing Philippine independence by the US
  • Forced to concede for the lease of US bases for 99 years
  • Amended Parity Rights
  • Lost Mangsee Islands and Turtle Islands to the British in 1946.
  • Strengthened political and economic ties with the US (Philippine-US Trade Act)
  • Last president of the Commonwealth and first president of the Third Philippine Republic before the granting of independence.
• Elpidio Rivera Quirino


  • 6th President
  • Profession:
  • Lawyer
  • Domestic Policies:
  • Post-war reconstruction and general economic gains
  • Social programs (insurances and labor opportunities); Social Security Commission and PACSA to extend aid, loans, and relief to less fortunate citizens.
  • Agrarian reform (EO No. 355) and Integrity Board to probe graft and corruption in high government positions.
  • Quezon City as a new Capital City of the Philippines was declared
• Elpidio Rivera Quirino


  • Foreign Policies
  • Diplomatic relations with Asian neighbors
  • Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK)
  • Mutual Defense Treaty with US to deter communism
  • Amnesty to Japanese war criminals and Philippine collaborators
  • Quirino-Foster Agreement
• Ramon Del Fierro Magsaysay


  • 7th President
  • Profession:
  • Automobile Mechanic
  • Domestic Policies:
  • Emphasis upon service to the people by bringing the government closer to the former and creation of Presidential Complaints and Action Committee
  • RA 1160 or the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)
  • RA 821 or Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA)
  • Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954
  • Land Reform Act of 1955
• Ramon Del Fierro Magsaysay


  • Foreign Policies:
  • Laurel-Langley Agreement (free trade agreement)
  • Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation through the Bandung Conference
  • Neri-Takazaki agreement on reparation for the damages of World War II by the Japanese to the Philippines and the Filipino people.
• Carlos Polestico Garcia (CPG)


  • 8th President
  • Profession:
  • Teacher, Poet, & Orator
  • Lawyer & Public Official
  • Political Economist
  • Guerilla & Commonwealth Military Leader
• Carlos Polestico Garcia (CPG)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • RA 1700 (Anti-Subversion Act of 1957) and Anti-Communism (repealed through RA 7636 during Pres. Ramos in 1992)
  • Filipino First Policy
  • The Austerity Program and comprehensive nationalist policy to boost economic independence
  • Bohlen-Serrano Agreement (shortened US bases lease to 25 years)
  • International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
  • Republic Cultural Award (to revive Filipino culture)
• Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (DPM)


  • 9th President
  • Profession:
  • Lawyer
  • Poet
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • North Borneo claim
  • MAPHILINDO Summit in Manila (confederation of Malay peoples as envisioned by Rizal)
• Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (DPM)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • A return to free and private enterprise
  • Socio-economic program and decontrolled free enterprise
  • RA 3844 or the Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963
  • Anti-corruption drive and the Harry Stonehill controversy
  • Philippine Independence Day was reverted to June 12 from July 4 
• Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos


  • 10th President
  • Profession:
  • Lawyer
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Informal diplomacy with the Soviet Bloc
  • US foreign policy
  • Withdrawal of Taiwan relations in favor of People’s Republic of China
• Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Attempt to expand Philippine military
  • Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) to Vietnam War
  • Loans for construction projects (led to balance of payment crisis and social unrest afterwards)
  • Bagong Lipunan (New Society)
  • Martial Law
• Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino


  • 11th President
  • Profession:
  • Housewife turned politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Closing of US Military Bases in the Philippines
  • Domestic Policies:
  • Transitional government and creation of a new constitution
  • Legal reforms (Family Code of 1987, reformed civil law on family relations; Administrative Code of 1987 reorganized the structure of the executive department of the government; Local Government Code of 1991 which devolved national government powers to LGUs).
• Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino



  • Domestic Policies
  • Socio-economic policies and de-monopolization
  • Paying previously-incurred debts to improve international credit ratings and attract investors’ attention
  • Agrarian and land reforms
  • Peace talks with Moro and communist insurgencies
• Fidel Valdez Ramos (FVR)


  • 12th President
  • Profession:
  • Military General
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Protest PRC over the military structures in the Spratlys
  • Migrant workers protection
• Fidel Valdez Ramos (FVR)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Philippines 2000 – five-point socio-economic program on peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development, energy and power generation, environmental protection, and streamlined bureaucracy.
  • Peace with armed groups
  • Economic reformsCharter Change
• Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada (ERAP)


  • 13th President
  • Profession:
  • Former Actor
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Adhered to foreign policy thrusts of Pres. Ramos on national security, economic diplomacy, assistance to nationals, and image-building
• Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada (ERAP)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Economic policy failed to capitalize the gains of previous administration
  • Masa format on radio, a Filipino language-based radio format.
  • Saguisag Commission to investigate former Pres. Ramos
  • Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
  • Anti-Crime Task Forces
  • Supported the reinstitution of death penalty
  • Removal of all sovereign guarantees (people assumes financial losses of private companies doing business with the government)  on contracts for public projects
  • Constitutional Correction for Development (CONCORD)
  • War against the MILF
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA/GMA)


  • 14th President
  • Profession:
  • Academician (practicing economist)
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Philippine contingents during the US-led Iraq War
  • ASEAN Summit and ratification of Philippines-Japan trade deal
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA/GMA)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Charter Change (proposal to shift from unitary presidential republic with bicameral legislature to a federal parliamentary government with unicameral legislature)
  • Started the 9-year K-12 curriculum implementation
  • Focused on Philippine economy and the Value Added Tax
  • EO 464 and calibrated preemptive response for demonstrations without permits
  • Independent commission to prove human rights abuses, amnesty proclamations (CPP, NPA, NDF), and pardons
• Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (Pnoy/Noynoy Aquino)


  • 15th President
  • Profession:
  • Politician
  • Domestic Policies:
  • Formation of the Truth Commission (EO No. 1)
  • Reforming the educational system (shift to a 12-year basic education cycle) or the K to 12 Curriculum
  • No wangwang policy
  • Bangsamoro peace process
• Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (Pnoy/Noynoy Aquino)



  • Foreign Policies:
  • Confrontational foreign policy against China concerning the Philippines’ approach to pursuing its claims in the South China Sea
  • Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on China v. Philippines; invalidating nine-dash line claim of China
  • Instituted the term West Philippine Sea for eastern South China Sea, part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD/DU30/DIGONG/RUDY)


  • 16th President
  • Profession:
  • Lawyer
  • Politician
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Limited US visiting troops in the country; reached out China and Russia to improve relations
  • Independent foreign relations and lessened dependence on traditional allies.
• Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD/DU30/DIGONG/RUDY)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Dutertenomics, a policy that include tax reform, infrastructure development, social protection programs, and other policies to promote economic growth and human development of the country
  • Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law (TRAIN Law)
  • Build, Build, Build (Infrastructure development)
• Rodrigo Roa Duterte (PRRD/DU30/DIGONG/RUDY)



  • Domestic Policies:
  • War on Drugs (campaign against illegal drugs), campaign against terrorism, Mindanao insurgency, and communist insurgency
  • Poverty reduction, Paris Agreement on Climate Change,
  • Confronted the challenges brought by COVID-19 pandemic
  • Freedom of Information, Reproductive Health Law, and Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017
• Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos, Jr. (PBBM or BBM)


  • 17th President
  • Abolished Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.
  • Foreign Policies:
  • Promised to continue Pres. Duterte’s foreign policy of ‘Friend to all, enemy to none.’
• Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos, Jr. (PBBM or BBM)


  • Domestic Policies:
  • Agriculture and land reforms
  • Strong national defense (acquisition of new and modern military hardware for AFP Modernization program
  • Opening onsite classes in post-pandemic era
  • K + 12 Curriculum Review
  • Insurgency and communist policy
  • BroadBand ng Masa Program