President of the Philippines

The President is the head of state and of the government of the Republic of the Philippines. The president heads the Executive branch of the government, which includes the Cabinet, and is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

According to the current constitution (1987), the President must be at least 40 years of age, a Filipino citizen by birth, and is a resident of the Philippines for the past 10 years prior to election. The Filipinos directly elect the president who wins on a plurality vote. The president serves a term of six years and may no longer run for re-election, unless he/she becomes president through constitutional succession and have served for no more than 4 years as president.

The Presidents

The Philippines has had a total of fourteen presidents. Despite the differences in constitutions and government, the line of presidents is considered to be continuous. For instance, the current president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is considered the 14th president.

While the Philippines recognizes Aguinaldo to be the first president, he is not internationally recognized because the First Republic fell under the United States following the Philippine-American War. Manuel L. Quezon is considered to be the first president (and the first to win an election — Aguinaldo was appointed) by the United States and in international diplomatic and political circles.

The Philippines had two presidents at one point during WW2 representing the two governments. One was Quezon representing the common wealth government and the other was J. P. Laurel representing the Japanese sponsored government.

First Republic (1899–1901)

• Emilio F. Aguinaldo : 1899–1901 — recognised by the Philippines as the first president.

Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1946)

• Manuel Luis M. Quezon : 1935–1941, 1941–1944 (died from Tuberculosis)
• Sergio Osmeña, Sr. : 1944–1946 (assumed the presidency on Quezon's death)
• Manuel A. Roxas : 1946

Second Republic (1943–1945)

• Jose Paciano G. Laurel : 1943–1945

Third Republic (1946–1973)

• Manuel A. Roxas : 1946–1948 (died from a heart attack)
• Elpidio R. Quirino : 1948–1949 (assumed the presidency on Roxas' death), 1949–1953
• Ramon F. Magsaysay : 1953–1957 (died in a plane crash)
• Carlos P. Garcia : 1957 (assumed the presidency on Magsaysay's death), 1957–1961
• Diosdado P. Macapagal : 1961–1965
• Ferdinand E. Marcos : 1965–1969, 1969–1972 (proclaimed martial law)

Fourth Republic (1973–1981)

• Ferdinand E. Marcos : 1972–1981 (ruled as dictator by presidential decree)

"New Republic" (1981–1986)

• Ferdinand E. Marcos : 1981–1986, 1986 (deposed)

Fifth Republic (1987–Present)

• Corazon C. Aquino : 1986–1992
• Fidel V. Ramos : 1992–1998
• Joseph Ejercito Estrada : 1998–2001 (stepped down from office)
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo : 2001–2004 (assumed the presidency on Estrada's step down), 2004–present