philippine presidents authobiography

7/27/2019 Philippine Presidents Authobiography

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PHILIPPINE

PRESIDENTS

AUTHOBIOGRAPHY

Submitted By:VALDEZ, LIZA GRACE

Submitted To:Mr. Alvin Cammas


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PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTS AUTHOBIOGRAPHYA. MANUEL L. QUEZON (1935-1944)

BORN: August 19,1878DIED: August 1,1944BORN IN: Tayabas, BalerPARENTS: Mr. Lucio Quezon and Mrs. Maria DoloresMolina

First President of the Commonwealth

Filipino statesman, leader of the independence movement, and first
http://www.charleskeng.com/president.htm#Presidents%20of%20the%20Philippines


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president of the Philippine Commonwealth established under United

States tutelage in 1935.

His mother is a school teacher and small landholder of Tagalogdescent on the part of southern Luzon. Manuel spent the early years of

his childhood in his hometown among the common people. His firstteacher was his mother. He enrolled at the San Juan de Letran College,

one of the leading institutions of learning in the capital city. Quezon

years at San Juan de Letran as a self-supporting student brought out of

his latent potentialities. He finished Bachelor of Arts degree at the age

of sixteen.

He cut short his law studies at the University of Santo Tomas inManila in 1899 to participate in the struggle for independence against

the United States, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. After Aguinaldosurrendered in 1901, however, Quezon returned to the University,

obtained his degree (1903), landed fourth place in the 1903 bar

examinations, and practiced law for a year. Convinced that the only

way to independence was through cooperation with the United States,

he ran for governor of Tayabas province in 1905. Once elected, he

served for two years before being elected as representatives in 1907 to

the newly established Philippine Assembly.

In 1909, Quezon was appointed resident commissioner for thePhilippines, entitled to speak, but not vote in the U.S. House of

Representative; during his years in Washington D.C., he fought

vigorously for a speedy grant of independence by the Unites States.

Quezon played a major role in obtaining Congress passage in 1916 of

the Jones Act, which pledged independence for the Philippines without

giving a specific date when it would take effect. The act gave the

Philippines greater autonomy and provided for the creation of a

bicameral national legislature modeled after the U.S. Congress. Quezon

resigned as a commissioner and returned to Manila to be elected to thenewly formed Philippines senate in 1916; he subsequently served as its

president until 1935. In 1922 he gained control of the Nacionalista

party, which had previously been led by his rival Sergio Osmea.

Quezon fought for passage of the Tydings McDuffie Act (1934)which provided for full independence for the Philippines ten years after


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the creation of a constitution and the establishment of a commonwealth

government that would be the forerunner of an independence republic.

Quezon was elected president of the newly formulated commonwealth

on November 15, 1935. As president he reorganized the island military

defense (aided by General Douglas McArthur as his special adviser).Tackled the huge problem of landless peasants in the countryside who

still worked as tenants on large estates, promote the settlement and

development of the large southern island of Mindanao, and fought graft

and corruption in the government. A new national capital, later known

as Quezon City, was built in the suburb of Manila.

Quezon was reelected president in 1941. After Japan invaded andoccupied the Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States, where

he formed a government in exile, served as a member of the Pacific warcouncil, signed the declaration of the United Nations against the fascist

nation, and wrote his autobiography, "The Good Fight" (1946). Quezon

died of tuberculosis before full Philippine independence was

established.

He died quietly in Saranac Lake, USA on August 1, 1944 at the ageof sixty six.

Married to Doa Aurora Aragon Quezon, now deceased. Of theirthree children, two are alive, they are; Zenaida Quezon Avancea andManuel Quezon Jr.

Manuel L. Quezon best remembered as the "Father of PhilippineLanguage" (Ama ng Wikang Filipino).


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B. JOSE P. LAUREL (1943-1945)BORN: March 9, 1891DIED: November 6, 1959BORN IN: Tanawan BatangasPARENTS; Mr. Sotero Laurel And Mrs. Jacoba Garcia

President of the Japanese Sponsored Republic

Become the President of the Philippines during the Japaneseoccupation of World War II.

After receiving law degrees from the University of the Philippines(1915) and from Yale University (1920), he was elected to the

Philippines Senate in 1925 and appointed associate justice of the

Supreme Court in 1936.

After the Pearl Harbor attack. Laurel remained in Manila afterPresident Manuel Quezon escaped first to Bataan and then to the


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United States. He offered his services to the Japanese; and because of

his criticism of U.S. rule of the Philippines, he held a series of high

posts in 1942-43, climaxing in his selection as President in 1943.

Twice in that year he was shot by Philippine guerrillas but recovered,

after the incident Laurel still held his post to served the Filipinopeople. It adds his eagerness and willingness to be of service to his

countrymen.

Laurel administration did not last long because when the Japaneseoccupation near to collapse, Yamashita, a Japanese leader ordered his

troops to bring Laurel out from the Philippines, he was brought to

Japan.

In August 15, 1945, Japanese surrendered to Americans. GeneralMcArthur orders Lt. Col. Turner to arrest Laurel and company for acase of "Collaboration". They finally arrested in the City of Nara,

Japan and temporary jailed at Sugano Prison near Tokyo, Japan. In

July 1946 he was charged with 132 counts of treason, but was never

brought to trial; he shared in the general amnesty in April 1948.

As the Nationalist Party's nominee for the presidency of thePhilippines in 1949, he was narrowly defeated by the incumbent

president, Elpidio Quirino, nominee of the Liberal Party. Elected to

the Senate in 1951, Laurel helped to persuade Ramon Magsaysay,then secretary of defense, to desert the Liberals and join the

Nationalist. When Magsaysay became president, Laurel headed an

economic mission that in 1955 negotiated an agreement to improve

economic relations with the United States. He retired from public life

in 1957.

Married to Mrs. Pacencia Hidalgo, of their nine children, most ofthem are alive and active in politics like, former vice president

Salvador P. Laurel, former senator Sotero Laurel and ex-speaker Jose

Laurel Jr.


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C. SERGIO S. OSMEA ( 1944-1946)BORN: September 9, 1878DIED: October 19, 1961BORN IN: CebuPARENT: Mrs. Juana Osmena Y. SuicoSecond president of the Commonwealth

Filipino statesman, founder of the Nationalist Party (PartidoNacionalista)

He was born in Cebu, on September 9, 1878. Son of Juana Osmea Y.Suico. His birth place was a medium sized house of wood with tin can

roofing. He was brought up in a wholesome atmosphere. He was enrolled

by his mother in a private school of Miguel Logarta, a local lawyer-educator, not long before the latter discovered how intellectually gifted hisyoung pupil was, later he entered the Seminary College of San Carlos for

his secondary course. In 1892, he finished his studies in San Carlos. To

pursue his studies he come to Manila and studied at Letran, he first met

Manuel L. Quezon, one of his classmates. He took up law at the


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University of Santo Tomas, although his studies was interrupted by thewar conflict between Spain and America, he and the rest of his classmates

were allowed by the Supreme Court to take the examinations in that year

of 1903, he got an average of 95.66% second place in the bar examination.

A lawyer, he espoused the cause of independence through peacefulmeans as editor of the Cebu newspaper El Nuevo Dia (New Day), whichhe founded in 1900. Upon the return of governor Climaco from the United

States, in 1904 the United States colonial administration appointed him

governor of the province of Cebu and fiscal (district attorney) for the

province of Cebu and Negros Oriental. Two years later he was elected

delegate to the Philippine National Assembly and founded the Nationalist

Party, which come to dominate Philippine political life.

Osmea remained leader of the Naitonalists until 1921, when he wassucceeded by Manuel L. Quezon, who had joined him in a coalition. Madespeaker of the House of Representative in 1916, he served until his

election to the Senate in 1923. In 1933 he went to Washington D.C. tosecure passage of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting independence bill, but Quezon

differed with Osmea over the bill's provision to retain U.S. military bases

after independence. The bill, vetoed by the Philippine Assembly, was

superseded by the Tydings McDuffie Act of March 1934, making the

Philippines a commonwealth with a large measured of independence. The

following years Osmea became vice president, with Quezon as president.

He remained vice president during the Japanese occupation when thegovernment was in exile in Washington D.C. On the death of Quezon in

August 1944, Osmea became president. He serve as president until the

elections of April 1946, when he was defeated by Manuel Roxas, who

became the first president of the independent republic of the Philippines. Osmea thereafter retired to his hometown in Cebu, where he spent the

remaining of his life, until he died on October 19, 1961 at the age of 83,

with his death the nation lost a towering Molave of the race.

First wife Doa Estefania Veloso. Most of their eight children are nowdeceased. One of those alive is Mrs. Paloming Osmea Charnley, retired

in Cebu City. For his second wife, Doa Esperanza Limjap, are Rosie

Osmea Valencia is involved in Manila Society. Ramon and Victor live in

Cebu.


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D. MANUEL A. ROXAS (1946-1948)BORN: January 1, 1892DIED: April 15, 1948BORN IN: Capiz

PARENTS: Mr. Gerardo Roxas Sr. and Mrs. RosarioAcunaLast President of the CommonwealthFirst President of the 3rd Republic of the Philippines

.

Political leader and first president of the independence republic ofthe Philippines.

The silver tongued genius- for a genius indeed. His parents were Gerardo. After graduating his early education in

the public school of Capiz. He went to Hong Kong to study for sometime, later he transferred to Manila High School to finish his

secondary course. He took up law at University of the Philippines

and graduated in 1913.

In 1913 to 1916, after his bar exam whom he got 1st placer, hethen became professor at the Philippine Law School and National


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University. Upon learning the excellent records of Roxas former

chief justice Cayetano S. Arellano, offered him to be his secretary o

the Supreme Court.

Roxas began his political career in 1917 as a member of themunicipal council of his hometown Capiz in Panay Island. He was

governor of the province of Capiz in 1919-1921 and was then elected

to the Philippine House of Representative, subsequently serving as

Speaker of the House and a member of the Council of State. In 1923

he and Manuel Quezon, the president of the senate, resigned in

protest from the Council of State when the U.S. governor-general

(Leonard Wood), began vetoing bills passed by the Philippine

legislature. In 1932 Roxas and Sergio Osmea, the Nacionalista

Party leader, led the Philippine independence mission to WashingtonD.C., where they influenced the passage of teh Hare-Hawes-Cutting

Act. Roxas was later opposed by Quezon, who held that the act

compromised future Philippine independence; the Nacionalista Party

was split between them on this issue. In 1934, however, Roxas was a

member of the convention that drew up a constitution under the

revised Philippine Independence and Commonwealth Act (Tydings

McDuffie Act). Roxas also served as Secretary of Finance in the

Commonwealth government (1938-1940). During World War II Roxas served in the pro-Japanese

government of Jose Laurel by acquiring supplies of rice for the

Japanese Army. Although a court was established after the war to try

collaborators, Roxas was defended by his friend General Douglas

McArthur. Roxas was elected president of the commonwealth in

1946 as the nominee of the liberal wing of the Nacionalista Party

(which became the Liberal Party), and when independence was

declared on July 4 he became the first president of the new republic.

Although Roxas was successful in getting rehabilitation fundsfrom the United States after independence, he was forced to concede

military bases (23 of which were leased for 99 years), trade

restriction for the Philippine citizens, and special privileges for U.S.

property owner and investor. His administration was marred by graft


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and corruption; moreover, the abuses of the provincial military

police contributed to the rise of the left-wing Hukbalahap (Huk)

movement in the countryside. His heavy-handed attempts to crush

the Huks led to widespread peasant disaffection.

Roxas did not stay long in office because of heart attack upon aspeech in an occassion in the Clark Air Base in April 15, 1948 and

was succeeded by his vice president Elpidio Quirino.

Manuel Roxas bereaved wife Doa Trinidad de Leon andchildren Ruby and Gerardo Roxas who became congressman,

senator, and a leader of Liberal Party.

He died at the age of 44. Married to Doa Trinidad de Leon Roxas. Who is very active in

the Philippine society? Their two children Ruby, who is active andinvolved in functions commemorating the memory of her late father

and former senator Gerry Roxas, their only son, died several yearsago.


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E. ELPIDIO R. QUIRINOBORN: November 16, 1890DIED: February 28,1956BORN IN: Vigan Ilocos SurPARENTS: Don Mariano and Dona Mendoza Quirino

Second President, Third Republic of the Philippines

Political leader and second president of the Independence Republicof the Philippines.

After obtaining a law degree from the University of the Philippines in1915, Quirino practiced law until he was elected as member of

Philippine House of Representative in 1919-25 and as senator in 1925-1931. In 1934 he was a member of the Philippine Independence mission

to Washington D.C., headed by Manuel Quezon, which secured the

passage in Congress of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, setting the date for

Philippine independence as July 4, 1946. He was also elected to the

convention that drafted a constitution for the new Philippine


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Commonwealth. Subsequently he served as secretary of finance and

secretary of the interior in the Commonwealth government.

After World War II, Quirino serve as secretary of state and vicepresident under the first president of the independence Philippines,

Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died on April 15, 1948, Quirino suceededto the presidency. The following years, he was elected president for a

four-year term on the Liberal Party ticket, defeating the Nacionalista

candidiate.

President Quirino's administration faced a serious threat in the formof the Communist led Hukbalahap (Huk) movement. Though the Huks

originally had been an anti-Japanese guerrilla army in Luzon, the

Communists steadily gained control over the leadership, and when

Quirino's negotiation with Huk commander Luis Taruc broke down in

1948, Taruc openly declared himself a Communist and called for the

overthrow of the government. By 1950 the Huks had gained control

over a considerable portion of national defense to suppress the

insurrection.

Quirino's six years as president were marked by notable postwarreconstruction, general economic gains, and increased economic aid

from the United States. Basic social problems, however, particularly in

the rural areas, remained unsolved; Quirino's administration was tainted

by widespread graft and corruption. The 1949 election, which he hadwon, were among the most dishonest in the country's history.

Magsaysay, who had been largely successful in eliminating the threat of

the Huk insurgents, broke with Quirino on the issue of corruption,

campaigning for clean elections and defeating Quirino as the

Nacionalista candidate in the presidential election of 1953.

Subsequently, Quirino retired to private life, in his new country home in

Novaliches where he died of heart attack on February 28, 1956. His

bereaved wife Alicia Syguia and children Tomas, Victoria and victims

of Massacre of World War II: Armando, Norma and Fe. His wife Alicia

also died during World War II and already dead when Quirino become

president. Of their children only Victoria is alive and re-married to Paco

Delgado.


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F.RAMON F. MAGSAYSAYBORN: August 31, 1907DIED: March 17, 1957BORN IN: Iba ZambalesPARENTS: Mr. Exequel Magsaysay and Mrs.

Perfecta Del FieroThird President of the Third Republic of the Philippines

Best known for successfully defeating the communist led Hukbalahap(Huk) Movement. Idol of the masses, champion of democracy, and

freedom fighter... He was born in the capital of Iba, Zambales on August 31, 1907.

His parents are Exequel Magsaysay and Perfecta Del Fiero.

Magsaysay finished his elementary at the Castillejos, However hissecondary course at the Zambales Academy both in his hometown

Zambales.


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Though most Philippine political leaders were of Spanish descent,Magsaysay was of Malay stock, like most of the common people. He

took up mechanical engineering at University of the Philippines but

ended up with a commerce degree from Jose Rizal College in Manila

in 1933 and became general manager of a Try-Tran transportationcompany before starting as a mechanic. After serving as a guerrilla

leader on Luzon during World War II, he was appointed military

governor of his home province, Zambales, by MacArthur, when the

United States recaptured the Philippines. He served two terms (1946-

50) as a Liberal Party congressman for Zambales, his first experience

in politics.

President Elpidio Quirino appointed Magsaysay secretary ofdefense to deal with the threat of the Huks, whose leader, Luis Taruc,in February 1950 established a People's Liberation Army and called

for the overthrow of the government. Magsaysay then carried out

until 1953 one of the most successful anti-guerrilla campaigns in

modern history. Realizing that the Huks could not survive without

popular support, he strove to win the trust of the peasants by offering

land and tools to those who came over to the government side and by

insisting that army units treat the people with respect. Reforming the

army, he dismissed corrupt and incompetent officers and emphasizedmobility and flexibility in combat operations against the guerrillas.

By 1953, Huks were no longer a serious threat, but Magsaysay's

radical measures had made many enemies for him within the

government, compelling him to resign on February 28, when he

charges the Quirino administration with corruption and incompetence.

Although Magsaysay was a Liberal, the Nacionalista Partysuccessfully backed him for the presidency against Quirino in the

1953 elections, winning the support of Carlos P. Garcia, who had

organized a third party. Magsaysay promised reform in every segmentof Philippine life, but he was frustrated in his efforts by a

conservative congress that represented the interest of the wealthy.

Despite initial support of Congress in July 1955.

Magsaysay was unable to pass effective land reform legislation;government indifference to the plight of the peasants then undid most


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of his good work in gaining the support of the people against the

Huks. Neverthless, he remained extremely popular and had a well

deserve reputation for incorruptibility.

In foreign policy, Magsaysay remained a close friend andsupporter of the United States and a vocal spokesman againstcommunism during the Cold War. He made the Philippines a member

of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, which was established in

Manila on September 8, 1954. Before the expiration of his term as

president, Magsaysay was killed when his airplane crashed at Mount

Pinatubo in the early morning of March 17, 1957; he was succeeded

by the vice president, Carlos P. Garcia. The nation was shocked upon

learning of Magsaysay sudden death, most of the Filipino people

mourned because the nation lost a well loved leader, who in hislifetime become a legendary figure in Philippine politics.

He left his bereaved wife Luz Banzon, children Teresita, MilagrosMagsaysay Valenzuela and Ramon Magsaysay Jr., a proclaim winner

in May 8, 1995 Senatorial election.

Magsaysay died at the age of 50 years old.


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G.CARLOS P. GARCIA

BORN: November 4, 1896

DIED- June 14, 1971

BORN IN: Taliban Bohol

PARENTS: Mr. Policronio Garcia and Mrs.

Ambrosia Polistico.

Fourth President of the Third Republic of the Philippines

Famous for his austerity program and policy. Aftergraduating from Philippine Law School in Manila in 1923,

he was among the top ten in the bar examination. He became


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successively, a school teacher, representative in the

Philippine Congress, governor of his province (Bohol), and

then senator (1941-1953).

Garcia was the one who commissioned the Philippinerehabilitation at war damage claims in 1945 in the UnitedStates. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in

World War II, Garcia was active in the resistance movement.

He was elected vice president on the ticket of the

Nacionalista Party in 1953 and was also minister of foreign

affairs (1953-1957). He became president of the Philippines

in March 1957 for eight months, upon the death of President

Ramon Magsaysay, and was elected to a full four-year term

the same year (The noisiest and the most expensive in

Philippine history). He maintained the strong tradition ties

with the United States and sought closer relation with non-

communist Asian countries. In the election of November

1961 he was defeated by the vice president Diosdado

Macapagal.

He left his bereaved wife, Leonila Dimataga and the onlydaughter Linda Garcia Campus.

He died on June 14, 1971 at the age of seventy five (75).


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H. DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGALBORN: September 28, 1910BORN IN: Barrio San Nicolas, Lubao, PampangaPARENTS: Mr. Urbano Macapagal and Mrs. Romana

Pangan Fifth President of the Third Republic of the Philippines

Filipino reformist president of the Republic of the Philippines.Best known as the "Champion of the Common Man."

Their family was a middle class and a law abiding citizen, Macapagalpursue his studies in order to reach his goal in the future.

Nevertheless, Macapagal finish his elementary at the Lubao ElementarySchool, he received an honor of being the valedictorian and in 1929 in thePampanga High School for his secondary course, he is the salutatorian.

He entered Philippine Law School to get his law degree.In this law schoolhe become well-known as the best orator and debater. After two years he


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transferred to the University of Sto. Tomas. After receiving his law degree, Macapagal was admitted to the bar in

1936. During World War II, he practiced law in Manila and aided the anti-

Japanese resistance. After the war he worked in a law firm and in 1948

served as second secretary to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.The following year was elected to a seat in the Philippine House of

Representatives, serving until 1956. During this time he was Philippine

representative to the United Nations General Assembly three times. From

1957 to1961, Macapagal was a member of the Liberal Party and vice

president under Nacionalista President Carlos P. Garcia. In the 1961

elections, however he ran against former president Carlos P. Garcia forging a

coalition of the Liberal and progressive parties and making a crusade against

corruption a principal element of his platform. He was elected by a wide

margin. While president, Diosdado Macapagal worked to suppress graft andcorruption and to stimulate the Philippine economy. He placed the Peso in

the free currency-exchange market, encouraged wealthiest families, which

cost the treasury millions of pesos yearly. His reforms, however, were

crippled by a House Representatives and Senate dominated by theNacionalistas, and he was defeated in the 1965 elections by Ferdinand E.

Marcos.

Macapagals administration (1961 - 1965) is best remembered forresetting the date of the celebration of Philippine Independence Day from

July 4 when the U.S. turned over the reins of government in 1946 to the morecorrect date of June 12 when Aguinaldo declared independence in 1898.

In 1972 he chaired the convention that drafted the 1973 constitution onlyto question in 1981 the validity of its ratification. In 1979 he organized the

National Union for Liberation as an opposition party to the Marcos regime.

He had two children from first wife Purita dela Rosa (deceased); Maria Cielo

and Arturo. For his second wife Doa Evangeline Macaraeg Macapagal,

their children are Maria Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a winner in the 1995

senatorial race and Diosdado Macapagal Jr. who served the government

under Corazon's administration. As of this writing (February 1996) Macapagal is still alive and a regular

writer/columnist in a leading newspaper. In his retirement, although he still

heartily and devoted a good part of his time to reading and writing.

The good president always remembered those past days serving his


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country with love and honor with peace in his heart.

I. FERDINAND E. MARCOSBORN: September 11, 1917DIED: September 28, 1989BORN IN: Sarrat, Ilocos NortePARENTS: Don Mariano Marcos and Doa Josefa Edralin

Sixth President of the Third Republic of the Philippines

Philippine lawyer and politician who, as head of the States from 1966 to1986

His father is a politician, while his mother is a teacher in their hometown. Marcos attended school at the age of five years old in Sarrat Central School,

later he transferred to Manila. According to his scholastic records, Marcos

always got an honor from his elementary and secondary course. He is best inoratory speeches as well as in debate and declamatory speeches.

Marcos attended school in Manila and studied law in the late 1930s at theUniversity of the Philippines, in Quezon City. Tried for the assassination in


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1933 of a political opponent of his politician father, Marcos was found guilty inNovember 1939. But he argued his case on appeal to the Philippine Supreme

Court, acquittal a year later. He becomes a trial lawyer in Manila. During WorldWar II he served as an officer with the Philippine Armed Forces. Captured by

the Japanese, he survived the Death March from Bataan to Central Luzon andthen escaped. Marcos subsequent claims to being an important leader in the

Filipino guerrilla resistance movement were a central factor in his later political

success, but U.S. government archives revealed that he actually played little orno part in anti-Japanese activities during 1942-45.

From 1946 to 1947 Marcos was a technical assistant to Manuel Roxas, thefirst president of the independent Philippine Republic. He was a member of

House of Representatives (1949-1959) and of the Senate (1959-1965). Serving

as Senate President (1963-1965). In 1965, Marcos, who was a prominent

member of the Liberal Party founded by Roxas, broke with it after failing to get

his party's nomination for president. He then ran as the Nationalist Partycandidate for president against the Liberal president, Diosdado Macapagal. The

campaign was expensive and bitter. Marcos won and was inaugurated aspresident. On December 30, 1969, Marcos was reelected, the first he had made

progress in agriculture, industry, and education. Yet his administration wastroubled by increasing student demonstrations and violent urban-guerilla

activities.

On September 21, 1972, Marcos imposed martial law. Holding thatcommunist and subversive forces precipitated the crisis, he acted swiftly;

opposition politicians were jailed and the armed forces became an arm of theregime. Opposed by political leaders- notably Benigno Aquino Jr., who wasjailed and held in detention for almost eight years, Marcos was also criticized

by church leaders and others. In the provinces Maoist communists (New

Peoples Army) and Muslim separatist undertook guerrilla activities intended tobring down the central government.

Under Martial Law the president assumed extraordinary powers, includingthe suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Marcos announces the end of

Martial Law in January 17, 1981 but still ruled in an authoritarian fashion

thereafter under various constitutional formats. He won election to the newly

created post of president against only token opposition in June 1981. Marcos wife from 1954 was Imelda Romualdez Marcos, a former beauty

queen. Imelda became a powerful figure in her own right after her husband

instituted martial law in 1972. She was frequently criticized for her appointmentof relatives to lucrative government and industrial position while she held thepost of Governor of Metropolitan Manila (1975-1986) and Minister of Human

Settlements and Ecology (1979-1986).


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Marcos later years in power were marred by rampant governmentcorruption, economic inequalities between the rich and the poor, and the steady

growth of a communist guerrilla insurgency active in the rural areas of thePhilippines innumerable islands.

By 1983 Marcos health was beginning to fall, and opposition to his rule wasgrowing. Hoping to present an alternative to both Marcos and the increasingly

powerful New Peoples Army. Benigno Aquino Jr. return to Manila on August

21, 1983, only to be shot dead as he stepped off the plane. The assassinationwas probably the work of the government and touch off massive anti-

government protest. An independent commission appointed by Marcosconcluded in 1984 that high military officers were responsible for Aquino's

assassination. To reassert his mandate, Marcos called for presidential election to

be held in 1986. But a formidable political opponent soon emerged in Aquino's

widow, Corazon C. Aquino, who became the presidential candidate of the

opposition. It was widely asserted that Marcos managed to defeat Aquino andretain the presidency in the election of February 7, 1986, only through massive

voting fraud on the part of his supporters. Marcos held to his presidency as thePhilippine military split between supporters of his and of Aquino's legitimate

right to the presidency. A tense standoff (EDSA Revolution, People's Power)that ensued between the two sides ended only when Marcos fled the country on

February 25, 1986 at United States urging, and went into exile in Hawaii, USA.

Evidence subsequently emerged that during his year in power, Marcos, hisfamily, and his close associates had looted the Philippines economy of billions

of dollars through embezzlements and other corrupt practices. Marcos and hiswife were subsequently indicted by the U.S. government on racketeeringcharges. After a trial a year later, Imelda won acquittal by the board of jury.

Imelda returns to the Philippines to face the charges against her and her family.

Marcos died on September 28, 1989 at Waikiki, Hawaii. His bereaved wife,Imelda R. Marcos and children Imee Marcos Manotoc, Irene Marcos Araneta

and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., a former congressman of Ilocos Sur anda senatorial candidate in May 8, 1995 election. He serve as congressman under

Ramos administration. Ferdinand Marcos died at the age of seventy two (72).


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J. CORAZON C. AQUINOBORN: January 25, 1933DIED: August 1, 2009BORN IN: TarlacPARENTS: Don Jose Cojuangco and Doa Demetria Sumulong

Seventh and First Woman President of the Republic of the Philippines

Political leader and president from (1986 to 1992) of the Philippines.In 1983 she succeeded her murdered husband, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino

Jr.(A popular critic of the Marcos administration), as leader of the

opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos. No one could have imagined

that Cory Aquino would become a president of the Philippines. Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the first woman to become president of the

Philippines. Cory was the sixth among the eight children of theSumulong. Corazon Aquino's children are Maria Elena Aquino, Aurora

Corazon, Victoria Eliza, Noynoy and Kris Aquino, her youngest child is a

TV and movie personality.


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Corazon Cojuangco was born into a wealthy, politically prominentfamily based in Tarlac province, north of Manila. In 1946, her family left

for the U.S. and she enrolled at Ravenhill Academy in Philadelphia. She

finished her junior and senior years at Notre Dame College in New York.

She entered Mount Saint Vincent College in New York City in 1949where she finished a Bachelor of Arts, major in French. In 1953, she

returned to the Philippines to take up law at the Far Eastern University,

but then abandoned further studies in 1955 to marry Benigno Aquino,who was then a promising young politician. Cory remained in the

background during her husband's subsequent career, rearing their five

children at home and later in exile. Her husband was assassinated upon

his return to the Philippines in August 1983.

When Ferdinand Marcos unexpectedly called for presidential electionin February 1986, Corazon Aquino becomes the unified opposition'scandidate for the presidency. Though she was officially reported to have

lost the election to Marcos, Aquino and her supporters challenged theresults, charging widespread voting fraud. High officials in the

Philippines military soon publicly renounced Marcos continued rule and

proclaimed Aquino the Philippines rightful president. On February 25,

1986, both Aquino and Marcos were inaugurated as president by their

respective supporters but that same day Marcos fled the country.

In March 1986 she proclaimed a provisional constitution and soonthereafter appointed a commission to write a new constitution. Theresulting document was ratified by a landslide popular vote in February

1987. In spite of her continuous popular support, Aquino faced an

ongoing outcry over economic injustice, a problem that was only

exacerbated by continuing warfare between the communist insurgencyand a military whose loyalties to Aquino were uncertain. In general, her

economic policies were criticized for being mixed or faltering in the face

of mass poverty.

Aquinos children are Maria Elena Aquino, Aurora Corazon, VictoriaEliza, Noynoy and Kris Aquino. Her youngest child is a TV & movie

personality.


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As head of the State his administration centerpiece program is thePhilippines 2000; which aim to uplift the Philippines as a newly

industrialized country by the year 2000.

His parents are Narciso Ramos (A lawyer, a crusading journalist, alegislator and later, secretary of foreign affairs) and Angela Valdez

Ramos. Fidel V. Ramos has two sisters, Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani

and Gloria Ramos de Rodda, a diplomat. Become a Valedictorian of his graduating class at the Lingayen

Elementary School in Maniboc, Lingayan, Pangasinan, he was the

K. Fidel V. RamosBORN: March 18, 1928BORN IN: Lingayen, PangasinanPARENTS: Narciso Ramos And Angela Valdez Ramos 8th President of the Republic of the Philippines


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consistent valedictorian of his class, through his elementary grades and

through his high school at the University of the Philippines. In the year 1950, Fidel V. Ramos graduated in the U.S. Military

Academy at West Point, New York, a well know military school in the

U.S.A. He also acquired his master in Civil Engineering course at theUniversity of Illinois in the year 1951. Another course in associate

Infantry Company Officers at Fort Benning at Fort Bragg. In the year

1960 he was the topnotcher of all the 21 graduated for the "Special

Forces/Pay Operations/Airborne." Aside from those courses, he took up

Command and General Staff at Fort Santiago year 1965, where he becamethe topnotcher of all 48 graduating students.

During the administration of President Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos becamethe Presidential assistant of military tactics. (1968-1969); Assistant to the

head of State of the Civil Defense July 1, 1969- Nov. 6, 1970. Head of theIntelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Deputy

Chief of Staff for Home Defense Activities (1971-1981).

Moreover, he become a delegate of the Philippines to other countriessuch as: Delegation for the third conference of the Association foSoutheast Asian Nations, held at Malaysia (1969) and the Ministerial

conference of Southeast Asian Nations held at Kuala Lumpur (Nov. 1971).

According to his record, FVR receives award, medal and honor for hisachievements in Korea and Vietnam. Known for his disciplinarian method

in his troop but has a good faith in his heart. In his administration the good President looks forward the dream for

the Philippines as an industrialized country towards the year 2000. He alsoemphasizes for the rebels who are willing to surrender, to achieve the real

peace and order in the country.

The Ramos Administration intensify to complete the Program such as;school buildings, roads and bridges, country wide development, country's

infrastructure program for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and inviting

foreign investors to put up business in the country to help the Filipino

People. Ramos married Amelita Martinez on October 21, 1953. They had five

children.


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L. Joseph Ejercito EstradaBorn: April 19, 1937BORN IN : Tondo ManiLAPARENTS: Emilio Ejercito and Maria Marcelo

9th President of the Third Republic of the Philippines

He is the eight of the ten children of Emilio Ejercito and MariaMarcelo. His family later moved to San Juan, Rizal (now part of Metro

Manila) where he grew up.

Estrada studied at Ateneo de Manila University. He took up engineering


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at the Mapua Institute of Technology, on his second year he moved to thePolytechnic College of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Before he

could finish engineering he quit school and decided to try the movies.

Displeased with his decision to drop out of college, his parents forbadehim to use his family name, which forced him to adopt "Estrada" as ascreen name and "Erap" ("pare" or friend spelled backward) as a

nickname.

During his movie career, he played the lead role in more than hundredmovies and produced more than 70 films. In 1974, he founded the Movie

Workers Welfare Fund (MOWELFUND) that provides movie industry

workers with financial and professional assistance. He was the first

FAMAS Hall of Fame awardee for Best Actor (1981) and also became a

Hall of Fame awardee as a Producer (1983).

Estrada entered politics when he ran for mayor of San Juan in 1968. Hewas only proclaimed mayor in 1969, after he won an electoral protest

against Dr. Braulio Sto. Domingo. As mayor (1969-1986), Estrada wasnamed one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public

Administration (1972). He was also named Most Outstanding Mayor and

Foremost Nationalist (1972), and most outstanding Metro Manila Mayor

(1972). He won a seat in the Senate in 1987. At the Senate, he chaired a

Committee on Cultural Minorities and Rural Development and co-chaired

the committees on Health, Natural Resources and Ecology, and Urban

Planning. On September 16, 1991, he voted for the rejection of the Treatyof Friendship, Cooperation, and Security, which ended the stay of the

United States military bases in the Philippines.

He was elected Vice President in 1992. He was appointed chairman ofthe Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC).

He was elected President of the Philippines in 1998 but the EDSA IIRevolution cut his 6-year term short on January 20, 2001.

He is married to Luisa Pimentel, with whom he has three children.


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M. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYOBorn: April 5, 1947PARENTS: Former President Diosdado Macapagaland Dra. Eva Macaraeg.

Tenth President of the Republic of the Philippines

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or GMA was born on April 5, 1947Shegrew up in Iligan City.

GMA finished high school as Valedictorian at the AssumptionCollege. She studied at the Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

but she stopped during her third year, when she got married to Jose

Miguel Tuazon Arroyo.

She finished her course in Commerce at Assumption College,


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graduating Magna Cum Laude. She took her Masters Degree in

Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University and her Doctorate

Degree at the University of the Philippines. She worked as an

assistant secretary to President Cory Aquino in 1986, and was later

appointed as Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. GMA was elected Senator in 1992, and was re-elected in 1995. In

1998, she was elected vice-president of the Philippines, with Joseph

Estrada as President. She was appointed as Secretary of Social

Welfare and Development, but gave up the position in October 2000

when there was a public clamor for the resignation of President

Estrada. when some of the top officials of government and Armed

Forces of the Philippines withdrew their support for President Estrada

who was forced to leave Malacaang on January 21, 2001. GMA wassworn in as the new President. She chose Senator Teofisto Guingona

as Vice-President.

Estrada criticized the legitimacy of GMA's presidency; however itwas affirmed by the Supreme Court. She served the unfinished term

of Estrada. In 2004, she ran for President and won against the popular

actor, Fernando Poe Jr.

In November 2009, Macapagal-Arroyo formally declared herintention to run for Congresswoman in the 2nd district of Pampanga.She is the 2nd Philippine President after Jose P. Laurel to pursue a

lower office in the government after his presidency. Her term as

President was finished on June 30, 2010.

Gloria Makapagal-Arroyo married Jose Miguel Tuazon Arroyo in1968. They have three children Mikey, Luli and Dato.

Source: The Presidents, Republic of the Philippines by Rheno A.

Velasco. 1996. National Book Store 2009-2011

philippine presidents authobiography

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