Matrix

PresidentsY/A | Political Philosophy | Achievements | Strengths | Weaknesses | Evaluation | Threats | Laws |

GENERAL EMILIO FAMY AGUINALDOTerm: (1898- 1901) | | Aguinaldo is best remembered for the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite. Aguinaldo formally established the first Philippine republic. He also designated diplomats who were assigned in the major world capitals to seek recognition of Philippine independence | | | | | | MANUEL LUIS QUEZONTerm: (November 15, 1935- August 1, 1944) | | Quezon had emerged as the acknowledged leader of Philippine politics and possessed the kind of background and experience that appealed to Filipinos. He had a bachelor of arts degree, studied law, and landed fourth place in the 1903 Bar examinations. He served in the revolution, fighting in Tarlac, Pampanga, and Bataan, and ended up with the rank of major. He was appointed provincial fiscal of Mindoro and Tayabas, his home province. He was elected governor of Tayabas in 1905 and in 1907, first assemblyman from the province to the First Philippine National Assembly.In 1909, he was appointed resident commissioner to the U.S. and when he finished his term after eight years, he returned to the Philippines to become President of the Philippine Senate, created by the Jones Law. He was also top man of the ruling Nacionalista Party. Quezon’s term (1935 - 1944), though chiefly known for making Pilipino the national language, tried to solve nagging problems inherited from the Spanish and American administrations.He directed his main efforts to bring about political stability, build up national defense against the threat of Japanese militarism, and strengthen an economy that was extremely dependent upon the U.S. He was also remembered for taking executive and legislative actions to implement his “social justice” program aimed at the underprivileged. The Commonwealth Government was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of 1941. Quezon and his government were forced to go into exile in the U.S. | | | | | | SERGIO OSMEÑATerm: (August 1, 1944- May 27, 1946) | | Osmena served in various capacities in government. He was governor of Cebu (appointed and elected) in the first decade of American rule in the Philippines, and became Speaker of the Philippine Assembly (legislature) at age 29, in 1907. He became Vice President during the Commonwealth era for two terms. Upon the death of Manuel Quezon in 1944, he became President of the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, it was a tricky time: the Japanese were still in the country and the US under Gen. McArthur was still trying to reconquer the Philippines. The accomplishments of Osmena under these circumstances, therefore, appear modest. To be sure, the American government continued to recognize him as the rightful leader of the Philippine Commonwealth | | | | | | JOSE LAURELTerm: (October 14, 1943- August 15, 1945) | | Some of his achievements were the provision of graduate scholarships, provision of professorial chairs, the establishment of Laurel memorial building and the establishment of microfilming. | | | | The Japanese gave laurel an ultimatum, threatening to kill as many Filipinos if he did not agree. | | MANUEL ACUÑA ROXASTerm: ( May 28, 1946- July 4, 1946) | | President Manuel Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines. Some of the major accomplishments of Roxas included the ratification of the Bell Trade Act and the signing of the 1947 Military Bases Agreement. Roxas also is credited with the inclusion of the Parity Amendment in the constitution. | | | | | | ELPIDIO QUIRINOTerm: (April 17, 1948- November 10, 1953) | | | | | | | | RAMON MAGSAYSAY(Term: December 30, 1953- March 17, 1957) | | | | | | | | CARLOS POLESTICO GARCIA(Term: March 18, 1957- December 30, 1961) | | He presided over the eight months of Magsaysay's remaining term and went on to win the 1957 elections, "the noisiest and the most expensive in Philippine history." Garcia hailed from Talibon, Bohol. He finished his law studies at the Philippine Law School in Manila. He passed the Bar examinations and was among the top ten. His election as Bohol representative to the National Assemblly in 1952 marked his entry into Philippine politics and public service - one of the longest ever.He was again reelected as a representative. In 1931, he started the first of this three terms as governor of Bohol. In 1941, he was elected as a senator, but it was only in 1945 that he took office because of World War II. He was again reelected as a senator and in 1953, he became Vice President to Magsaysay.He was appointed in a concurrent capacity as secretary of foreign affairs. Garcia's administration (1957 - 1961) was anchored in his austerity program. It was also noted for its Filipino First policy - an attempt to boost economic independence | | | | | | DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL(Term: December 30, 1961 - December 30, 1965) | | | | | | | | FERDINAND EDRALIN MARCOS(Term: June 30, 1981 - February 25,1986) | |  Increased rice and corn production to the point of self-sufficiency with the initiation of the Green Revolution and the introduction of “miracle rice.”  The construction of roads and bridges, more than those built under all his predecessors combined, including a substantial portion of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway that would link Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  The construction of more school houses than under any preceding administration.  The revival of intellectual renaissance through the First Lady’s patronage and involvement in the arts.  The rehabilitation of irrigation systems; the intensification of the cooperative movement, and the vigorous implementation of land reform. - See more at: | | | | | | JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA(Term: 1998 – 2001) | | the President for the "masa" (the poor and undereducated masses). People were looking for a leadership they could relate to. Estrada’s financial backers designed a campaign strategy that reflected Estrada’s pro-poor image that he had built up throughout his movie career. Central in the campaign was Estrada’s campaign slogan "Erap para sa Mahirap" (Erap for the poor) that succeeded in inspiring the masses with the hope that Estrada would be the president of and for the masses. Estrada's running mate, Edgardo Angara, was defeated by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. During the campaign, Estrada's political rivals tried but failed to discredit him while publicizing his womanizing, drinking and gambling. Estrada was inaugurated on June 30, 1998 in the historical town of Malolos in Bulacan province. | | | | | | GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO(Term: 2001 - June 2010) | | | | | | | | Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III(Term: 2010 – Present) | | a practicing economist, has made the economy the focus of her presidency. Economic growth in terms of gross domestic product has averaged 5.0% during the Arroyo presidency from 2001 up to the first quarter of 2008. This is higher than previous recent presidents when compared to the 3.8% average of Aquino, the 3.7% average of Ramos, and the 2.8% average of Joseph Estrada. The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%. Inflation during the Arroyo presidency has been the lowest since 1986, averaging 2.5%. | | | | | |