EMILIO AGUINALDO (1869-1964)

Emilio F. Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite. He was the
seventh among eight children of Carlos Jamir Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy –
Aguinaldo. His father, Carlos Aguinaldo y Jamir, was the town mayor,
or ​gobernadorcillo​, of Old Cavite. Emilio's mother was Trinidad Famy y Valero.

He took up his secondary course at the Letran de Manila where he finished only
three years of high school. His favorite subject was geography. He did not finish the
secondary course education.

On January 1, 1895, at the age of 17, Emilio was elected as cabeza de barangay
of Binakayan, the most progressive barrio of Kawit, Cavite. He served for his
town-mates for eight years. He also engaged in inter-island shipping, travelling as far as
Visayas and even Jolo, Philippines. On January 1, 1895, he was elected capitan
municipal of Kawit the first to bear that title in accordance with the Mauro Law. At that
time a capitan municipal received no salary except 3% of taxes he could collect.

In 1894, Andres Bonifacio himself inducted Aguinaldo as the leader of the

Katipunan, a secret anti-colonial organization. The Katipunan called for the removal of
Spain from ​the Philippines​, by armed force if necessary. In 1896, after the Spanish
executed the voice of Filipino independence, ​Jose Rizal​, the Katipunan started their
revolution. Meanwhile, Aguinaldo married his first wife, Hilaria del Rosario, who would
tend to wounded soldiers through her ​Hijas de la Revolucion​ (Daughters of the
Revolution) organization. In March 1897, the two Katipunan factions met in Tejeros for
an election. The assembly elected Aguinaldo president in a possibly fraudulent poll,
much to the irritation of Bonifacio. He refused to recognize Aguinaldo's government; in
response, Aguinaldo had him arrested two months later. Bonifacio and his younger
brother were charged with sedition and treason and were executed on May 10, 1897, on
Aguinaldo's orders. In December 1897 he signed an agreement called the Pact of
Biac-na-Bato with the Spanish governor-general. He agreed to leave the Philippines
and to remain permanently in exile on condition of a substantial financial award from
Spain coupled with the promise of liberal reforms. While in Hong Kong and Singapore
he made arrangement with representative of the American consulates and of
Commodore George Dewey to return to the Philippines to assist the United States in the
war against Spain.

Aguinaldo return to the Philippines on May 19, 1898 and announced renewal of
the struggle with Spain. Upon the advice of Apolinario Mabini to Aguinaldo he should
change the form of dictatorship to president of revolutionary government. The Filipinos,
who declared their independence of Spain on June 12, 1898, proclaimed a provisional
republic, of which Aguinaldo was to became president, and in September a
revolutionary assembly met and ratified Filipino independence. However, the Philippines
along with Puerto Rico and Guam were ceded by Spain to the United States by the
Treaty of Paris, December 10, 1898.

In 1935 when the commonwealth government of the Philippines was established

in preparation for independence, Aguinaldo ran for president but was decisively beaten.
He returned to private life until the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941. The
Japanese used Aguinaldo as an anti-American tool. They caused him to make
speeches, to sign articles, and to address a radio appeal to General Douglas McArthur
on Corregidor to surrender in order to spare the flower of Filipino youth.

When the Americans returned, Aguinaldo was arrested and together with the
others accused of collaboration with the Japanese was held for several months in Bilibid
Prison until released by presidential amnesty. As a token vindication of his honor, he
was appointed by president Elpidio Quirino as a member of the Council of State in
1950. In the latter years of his life, he devoted his major attention to veterans affairs, the
promotion of nationalism and democracy in the Philippines, and the improvement of
relation between the Philippines and the United States.

Aguinaldo resumed his life of retirement. In June 12, 1963, on the occasion of the
celebration of Philippine independence, Aguinaldo veiled his historic mansion in Kawit,
together with all the relics contained therein, to the Philippine government. On February
6, 1964, he died at the age of 95 years old.
Contributions and Achievements:

● first (and only) president of the First Republic (Malolo Republic)

● signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, creating a truce between the Spanish and
Philippine revolutionaries
● known as the President of the Revolutionary Government
● led the Philippines in the Spanish-Philippine War and the American-Philippine War
● youngest president, taking office at age 28
● longest-lived president, passing away at 94

● President of the Revolutionary Government ( Tejeros Convention )

23 March 1897 - 1 November 1897
● President of the Biak-na-Bato Republic
2 November, 1897 - 15 December, 1897
● Dictator of the Philippines
24 May 1898 - 23 June 1898
● President of the Revolutionary Government
23 June, 1898 - 23 January 1899

Reflection

Based on what I have read and watched, the movie Goyo, I came up with the
hypothesis that Aguinaldo value his power more than the freedom of the Philippines
from the colonizers. He then joined the Americans and agreed to help them on war
against te Spain. He was also used by the Japanese as a tool to enter and colonize the
Philippines after the American Colonizations. Thus, for me, he was not really aiming for
the freedom of the Philippines against the colonizers, but for only for his power.
Manuel L. Quezon, 1935-1944

Manuel L. Quezon was born on August 19, 1878 in the small town of Baler,
Province of Tayabas. His parents are Lucio Quezon and Maria Dolores Molina, school
teacher and small landholder of Tagalog descent on the part of southern Luzon. Manuel
spent the early years of his childhood in his hometown among the common people. His
first teacher 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 in Manila in 1899 to
participate in the struggle for independence against the United States, led by Emilio
Aguinaldo. After Aguinaldo surrendered 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 the Philippines,,
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
the newly 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 Osmeña.

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

Quezon was reelected president in 1941. After Japan invaded and occupied the
Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States, where he formed a government in
exile, served as a member of the Pacific war council, 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 age of sixty
- six. He was married to Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, now deceased. Of their three
children, two are alive, they are; Zenaida Quezon Avanceña and Manuel Quezon Jr.
Manuel L. Quezon best remembered as the "Father of Philippine Language" (Ama ng
Wikang Filipino).

Contributions and Achievements:

● first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines

● first president elected through a national election
● first president under the Commonwealth
 ● created National Council of Education
● initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth
● approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines
● appears on the twenty-peso bill
● a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after him
● his body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle

▪ Fiscal of Mindoro ( appointed September 19, 1903 )

▪ Fiscal of Tayabas ( March 12, 1904 to November 1, 1904 )
▪ Municipal councilor of Tayabas, Tayabas ( 1906 )
▪ Governor of Tayabas ( March 5, 1906 to July 25, 1907)
▪ Member and Majority Floor Leader of the First Philippine Assembly, (1907 -
1909)
▪ Resident Commissioner to the U.S. Congress (elected by the Philippine
Legislature) 1909-1916
▪ Senator for the Fifth Senatorial District (Batangas, Mindoro, Tayabas, Cavite,
and Marinduque) 1916-1935
▪ 4th Legislature 1916-1919;
▪ 5th Legislature 1919-1922;
▪ 6th Legislature 1922-1925;
▪ 7th Legislature 1925-1928;
▪ 8th Legislature 1928-1931;
▪ 9th Legislature 1931-1934;
▪ 10th Legislature 1934-1935
▪ 1st President of the Philippine Senate 1916-1935

Reflection

Unlike Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon was really aiming for the independence of
the Philippines from the Americans. In order to do this, he cooperated to the United
States and ran for governor of Tayabas Province. Years later, he achieved his goal to
provide the Philippines its full independence.

José P. Laurel, 1943-1945

Jose P. Laurel was born in Tanawan, Batangas on March 9, 1891. His parents
are Sotero Laurel and Jacoba Garcia. 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 after President Manuel
Quezon escaped first to Bataan and then to the 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 serve the Filipino people. It adds his eagerness and willingness to be of
service to his countrymen.
 Laurel administration did not last long because when the Japanese occupation
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. General McArthur order Lt. Col. Turner to arrest Laurel and
company for a case 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 the Philippines 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.

He was married to Mrs. Pacencia Hidalgo, of their nine children, most of them are alive
and active in politics like, former vice president Salvador P. Laurel, former senator
Sotero Laurel and ex-speaker Jose Laurel Jr.

Contributions and Achievements:

● since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippines
● organized KALIBAPI (​Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or
​ provisional government during
Association for Service to the New Philippines), a
Japanese occupation
● declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United
Kingdom in 1944
● with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines

▪ Secretary of the Interior (Leonard Wood cabinet)

▪ Senator for the Fifth Senatorial District (Batangas, Mindoro, Tayabas, Cavite,
and Marinduque)
▪ 7th Legislature (1925-1928)
▪ 8th Legislature (1928-1931)
▪ 9th Legislature (1931-1934)
 ▪ 10th Legislature (1934-1935)
▪ Majority floor leader (1928-1931)
▪ Delegate, (1934-1935) Constitutional Convention
▪ Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1936-1941)
▪ Secretary of Justice (Quezon cabinet, 1941)
▪ Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ( 1941 )
▪ Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner of the Interior (1942-1943) (Japanese
Occupation)
▪ President, Preparatory Committee on Philippine Independence, (1942-1943)
(Japanese Occupation)

Reflection

Jose P. Laurel was also a tool for Japanese. He also offered his service to the
Japanese against the United States. Despite this, he still wanted to serve the Filipino
people, although he was under the Japanese reigns.
Sergio Osmeña, 1944-1946

He was born in Cebu, on September 9, 1878. Son of Juana Osmeña 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 his young 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 University of Santo Tomas,
although his studies was interrupted by the war 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 placer in the
bar examination.

As a lawyer, he espoused the cause of independence through peaceful means

as editor of the Cebu newspaper El Nuevo Dia (New Day), which he 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. Osmeña remained leader of the
Naitonalists until 1921, when he was succeeded by Manuel L. Quezon, who had joined
him in a coalition. Made speaker 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. to secure
passage of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting independence bill, but Quezon differed with
Osmeña 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 Osmeña became vice president, with Quezon as
president. He remained vice president during the Japanese occupation when the
government was in exile in Washington D.C. On the death of Quezon in August 1944,
Osmeña 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.

Osmeña 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. His first wife was Doña Estefania Veloso.
Most of their eight children are now deceased. One of those alive is Mrs. Paloming
Osmeña Charnley, retired in Cebu City. For his second wife, Doña Esperanza Limjap,
are Rosie Osmeña Valencia is involved in Manila Society. Ramon and Victor live in
Cebu.

Contributions and Achievements:

● became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold office
● first Visayan to become president
● joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to begin
restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupation
● Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the International
Monetary Fund during his presidency
● Bell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidency
● appears on the 50-peso bill

While Manuel Quezon was aide-de-camp to Gen Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898, Sergio
Osmeña was a personal aide to the Spanish governor of Cebu in 1898. He later
served as
▪ Councilor, Municipality of Cebu (1903)
▪ Provincial Fiscal of Cebu and Negros Oriental (1904)
▪ Governor of Cebu (1906)
▪ Assemblyman, then Representative, representing 2nd District of Cebu
(1907-1922)
 ▪ 1st Legislature (1907-1910)
▪ 2nd Legislature (1910-1913)
▪ 3rd Legislature (1913-1916)
▪ 4th Legislature (1916-1919)
▪ 5th Legislature (1919-1921)
▪ Speaker of the Philippine Assembly, (1907-1916)
▪ Speaker of the House of Representatives (1916-1922)
▪ Senator for the Tenth Senatorial District (Cebu) (1922-1935
▪ Sixth Legislature (1922-1925)
▪ Seventh Legislature (1925-1928)
▪ Eighth Legislature (1928-1931)
▪ 9th Legislature (1931-1934)
▪ 10th Legislature (1934-1935)
▪ Senate President Pro Tempore (1922-1934)
▪ Vice President of the Commonwealth (1935-1944)
▪ Secretary of Public Instruction (1935-1938)

Reflection

Sergio Osmeña was a very intelligent person who served the Philippine government for quite
a long time. Based on the research, there were few things that he contributed, but not that
much.
Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948

He was a political leader and first president of the independence republic of the
Philippines. The silver tongued genius- for a genius indeed, was born on January 1,
1892, in Capiz (renamed Roxas City (1949), in his honor). His parents were Gerardo
Roxas Sr. and Rosario Acuna. 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, he then became professor at the Philippine Law School and National University.
Upon learning the excellent records of Roxas former chief justice Cayetano S. Arellano,
offered him to be his secretary of the Supreme Court.

Roxas began his political career in 1917 as a member of the municipal 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 Osmeña, the
Nacionalista Party leader, led the Philippine independence mission to Washington D.C.,
where they influenced the passage of the 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 funds from 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
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 a speech in an
occassion in the Clark Air Base in April 15, 1948 and was succeeded by his vice
president Elpidio Quirino. He died at the age of 44. Manuel Roxas bereaved wife Doña
Trinidad de Leon and children Ruby and Gerardo Roxas who became congressman,
senator, and a leader of Liberal Party. Married to Doña Trinidad de Leon Roxas who is
very active in the Philippine society. Their two children Ruby, who is active and involved
in functions commemorating the memory of her late father and former senator Gerry
Roxas, their only son, died several years ago.

Contributions and Achievements:

● inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic after World War II
● reconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule began during his
presidency
● under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were
accepted by Congress
● appears on the 100-peso bill

Reflection

Manuel Roxas was also a very intelligent person. His government had a lot of
happenings specially because of the World War II. He was able to get rehabilitation fund
from the United States, but he had to make some sacrifices. Because of this, his
government was marked as a government of graft and corruption.

Elpidio Quirino, 1948-1953

He was a political leader and second president of the Independence Republic of

the Philippines. He was born on November 16, 1890 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. After
obtaining a law degree from the University of the Philippines in 1915, 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 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 vice president under the first president of the
independence Philippines, Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died on April 15, 1948, Quirino
succeeded to 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 form of 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 postwar reconstruction,

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 had won, 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. Quirino died at
the age of 66. Political leader and second president of the Independence Republic of
the Philippines.

Contributions and Achievements:

● Hukbalahap guerrilla movement active during his presidency

● created Social Security Commission
● created Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption
● Quezon City became capital of the Philippines in 1948

Reflection

During his term, the economical state of the Philippines increased, thus, had a
big impact to the Philippines despite the graft and corruption happened in this
administration. However, despite the improvement, he was not able to handle the basic
social problems of the Philippines specially in the rural areas, and the Hukbalahap
movement.
Ramon Magsaysay, 1953-1957

Ramon Magsaysay is 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 his secondary course at the Zambales Academy
both in his hometown Zambales. 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 transportation company 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 of defense 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 emphasized
mobility 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
charge the Quirino administration with corruption and incompetence.

Although Magsaysay was a Liberal, the Nacionalista Party successfully 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
segment of 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 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 and supporter of the United
States and a vocal spokesman against communism 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 his lifetime
become a legendary figure in Philippine politics. He left his bereaved wife Luz Banzon,
children Teresita, Milagros Magsaysay Valenzuela and Ramon Magsaysay Jr., a
proclaim winner in May 8, 1995 Senatorial election. Magsaysay died at the age of 50
years old.

Contributions and Achievements​:

● Hukbalahap movement quelled during his presidency

● chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs
● first president sworn into office wearing ​Barong Tagalog ​during inauguration
● presidency referred to as the Philippines' "Golden Years" for its lack of corruption
● Philippines was ranked second in Asia’s clean and well-governed countries during
his presidency
● established National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)
among other agrarian reforms

Reflection
 There are a lot of important things that Magsaysay contributed to the Philippines.
He was a wise and just man who wanted to defeat the Hukbalahap movement, and so
he did. He made a lot of splendid things for the Philippines, thus, making him popular
and loved by the people.
Carlos P. Garcia, 1957-1961

Carlos P. Garcia is famous for his austerity program and policy. He was born in
Talibon, Bohol, on November 4, 1896. His parents are Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia
Polistico. After graduating from Philippine Law School in Manila in 1923, he was among
the top ten in the bar examination. He became 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 Philippine
rehabilitation at war damage claims in 1945 in the United States. 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. His administration was marked as the noisiest and the most expensive
administration 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 only daughter Linda Garcia
Campus. He died on June 14, 1971 at the age of seventy five (75).

Contributions and Achievements:

● known for “Filipino First Policy,” which favored Filipino businesses over foreign
investors
● established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce
● known as the “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “Bard from Bohol”
 ● cultural arts were revived during his term
● was the first president to have his remains buried at the ​Libingan ng mga Bayani
● among the founders of the Association for Southeast Asia (1963),

● the precursor of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

Reflection

Garcia was aiming to boost the economy of the Philippines and obtain greater
economic independence. He also boosted the traditional cultures of the Philippines
since the cultural arts were revived during his term. He contributed quite a lot for the
improvement of the Philippines especially in terms of economics.
Diosdado Macapagal, 1961-1965

Diosdado Macapagal is a Filipino reformist president of the Republic of the

Philippines, and best known as the "Champion of the Common Man." He was born in
Barrio San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga, on September 28, 1910. His parents are Urbano
Macapagal and Romana Pangan, their family was a middle class and a law abiding
citizen, Macapagal pursue his studies in order to reach his goal in the future.
Nevertheless, Macapagal finish his elementary at the Lubao Elementary School, he
received an honor of being the valedictorian and in 1929 in the Pampanga High School
for his secondary course, he is the salutatorian. He entered Philippine Law School to
get his law degree.In this law school he become well-known as the best orator and
debater. After two years he 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 the 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 and corruption

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 the Nacionalistas, and he was defeated in
the 1965 elections by Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Macapagal’s administration (1961 - 1965) is best remembered for resetting 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 more correct date of June 12 when
Aguinaldo declared independence in 1898. In 1972 he chaired the convention that
drafted the 1973 constitution only to 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 Doña 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.
The good president always remembered those past days serving his country with love
and honor with peace in his heart.

Contributions and Achievements:

● established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private
farmland to be distributed in inexpensive, small lots to the landless
● placed the Philippine peso on the currency exchange market
● declared June 12, 1898 to be Philippines’ Independence Day
● signed the Minimum Wage Law
● created the Philippine Veteran’s Bank

Reflection

Diosdado Macapagal also had a lot of contributions to the Philippines. Despite of

the contribtions of Macapagal, like suppressing graft and corruption, placing the peso in
the free currency – exchange market, passing the Land reform Bill, and etc., there were
still big problems during his administration like the acute problem in unemployment,
widespread mass poverty, graft and corruption, lack of treasury funds, and etc. this
means that the Philippines, during this time, was undeniable very poor and hit by
poverty.