General Emilio Aguinaldo was the first President of the Philippine Republic from 1898 to 1901. Manuel Quezon was the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth from 1935 to 1944. His term established Pilipino as the national language and tried to solve problems inherited from previous administrations. Corazon Aquino was the first President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines and the first woman president. She established a revolutionary government and worked to restore the nation after the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos.

1. General Emilio F. Aguinaldo
First President of the Republic of the Philippines. Aguinaldo’s presidential term
formally began in 1898 and ended on April 1, 1901, when he took an oath of allegiance
to the United States a week after his capture in Palanan, Isabela. His term also featured
the setting up of the Malolos Republic, which has its own Congress, Constitution, and
national and local officialdom -- proving Filipinos also had the capacity to build.
Aguinaldo is best remembered for the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June
12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite.

2. Manuel L. Quezon
First of the Philippine Presidents of the Commonwealth. He won the elections
held in September 1935 to choose the head of the Commonwealth Government. It was
a government made possible by the Tydings-McDuffie Law, which Quezon secured
from the U.S. 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.
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. He died on
August 1, 1944, in New York. Jose P. Laurel. President of the Second Republic of the
Philippines. He was elected by the National Assembly as President of the Republic on
September 25, 1943 and inducted on October 14, 1943. This unicameral assembly was
created through the sponsorship of the Japanese authorities.

3. Sergio Osmena
Second President of the Philippine Commonwealth. He was elected Vice
President of the Philippines in 1935 and succeeded Quezon to the Presidency in-exile.

4. Manuel A. Roxas
Last of the Philippine Presidents of the Philippine Commonwealth. First President
of the Third Republic of the Philippines. In 1948, Roxas declared amnesty for those
arrested for collaborating with the Japanese during World War II, except for those who
had committed violent crimes.

5. Elpidio Quirino
Second President of the Third Republic of the Philippines. His six years as
president were marked by notable postwar reconstruction, general economic gains, and
increased economic aid from the United States. Basic social problems, however,
particularly in the rural areas, remained unsolved, and his administration was tainted by
widespread graft and corruption.

6. Ramon Magsaysay
Third President of the Third Republic of the Philippines. As president, he was a
close friend and supporter of the United States and a vocal spokesman against
communism during the Cold War. He led the foundation of the Southeast Asia Treaty
Organization also known as the Manila Pact of 1954, that aimed to defend South East
Asia, South Asia and the Southwestern Pacific from communism. He was also known
for his integrity and strength of character.
During his term, he made Malacañáng Palace literally a "house of the people", opening
its gates to the public.

7. Carlos P. Garcia
Fourth President of the Third Republic of the Philippines During his
administration, he acted on the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement which shortened the lease
of the US Bases from 99 years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five
years. He also exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy
heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investors. He was also responsible
for changes in retail trade which greatly affected the Chinese businessmen in the
country.

8. Diosdado Macapagal
Fifth President of the Third Republic of the Philippines. During his presidency, the
Philippines enjoyed prosperity and was the second most developed country in the Asian
region, next only to Japan and ahead of the future tiger economies of Asia such as
Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea. Allowed the Philippine peso to float on the free currency
exchange market. abolition of tenancy and accompanying land reform program in the
Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 which underscored his endeavour to fight mass
poverty.

9. Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Sixth and last President of the Third Republic of the Philippines. During his first
term he had made progress in agriculture, industry, and education. Yet his
administration was troubled by increasing student demonstrations and violent urban-
guerrilla activities. Initially, he had a good record as president and the Filipinos expected
him to be one of the best. However, conditions changed in later years and his popularity
with the people started diminishing. Proclaimed Martial Law.

10. Corazon C. Aquino
First President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines. First Woman among
Philippine Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines. Despite the euphoria following
the overthrow of the Marcos government, Aquino faced the massive challenge of
restoring the nation. She established a revolutionary government under the terms of a
provisional "Freedom Constitution", legally establishing the structure of the government
pending the adoption of a permanent, democratically-drafted constitution.

11. Fidel V. Ramos
Second President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines. The first few years of
his administration (1992-1995) were characterized by economic boom, technological
development, political stability and efficient delivery of basic needs to the people.
During his administration, Ramos began implementing economic reforms intended to
open up the once-closed national economy, encourage private enterprise, invite more
foreign and domestic investment, and reduce corruption.

12. Joseph M. Estrada
Third President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines. As vice president,
Estrada headed an anticrime commission from 1992 to 1997. Idolized by the poor, he
campaigned on a combination of policies that are both market-friendly and designed to
reduce widespread poverty in a population of 70 million.

13. Gloria M. Arroyo
Fourth of the Philippine Presidents of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines.
Arroyo, a practicing economist, has made the economy the focus of her presidency.
Early in her presidency, Arroyo implemented a controversial policy of holiday
economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting
domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families