This list starts from the ratification of the Philippine Constitution in the First Republic ─ after the independence of the country in 1898. Thus, this list starts from the ratification of 1899 Constitution where Emilio Aguinaldo was the President of the Republic of the Philippines. The dates followed by their names are the dates of their terms:
Presidents of the Philippines from Past to Present:
1. General Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 – April 01, 1901) * First President * Youngest President – he became the country’s leader at the age of 28 * Longest-lived president – he died when he was 94 * One of the active leaders of KKK * Signed the Pact of Biak na Bato * Known as the President of the Revolutionary Government * He fought against the Spanish and American to retain our independence
2. Manuel L. Quezon (November 15, 1935 – August 01, 1944) * First Senate President elected as President of the Philippines * First President elected through a national election * First President under the Commonwealth * He created National Council of Education * He initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth * He made Tagalog / Filipino as the National Language of the Philippines
3. Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945) * He was considered as the Legitimate President of the Philippines * He organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas) * He declared Martial Law in 1944 * He and his family developed the establishment of Lyceum of the Philippines
4. Sergio Osmeña (August 01, 1944 – May 28, 1946) * He was 65 when he became President ─ making him the oldest President to hold the office * He was the First Visayan to become President * He joined US General Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 starting the freedom of the Philippines from the Japanese during