Filipino Presidents

Emilio Aguinaldo

(1869-1964; President 1898-1901)

First President of the First Republic of the Philippines

“We may be losing our hope to succeed in the present battle because of lack of warfare manpower, however what we cannot lose is our hope to die for the sake of freedom.”



      Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President of the First Republic was born in Kawit, Cavite on March 22, 1869. His father is Carlos Aguinaldo and his mother is Trinidad Famy y Valero.
Emilio was nicknamed Miong. At age three, he almost died because he became ill of smallpox and his parents were afraid of his condition.
      Miong’s first teacher was his aunt Sotera. He first attended school at the National School in Kawit, and his first teacher is Felipe Canda of Baliuag, Bulacan. Miong is a bright student and likes to study which makes his teacher fond of him.
      He continued his studies at San Juan de Letran College. After three months, he went home and quit his studies. Upon his return to his hometown, he was appointed as Cabesa de Barangay or Village Chieftain and it wasn’t long because of his great leadership skill, that he was invited by a friend, Santiago Alvarez to join Katipunan. The Katipunan is a secret organization of Filipinos who were against the grave abuse of power of the Spanish government in the Philippines. This organization also started the revolution against the Spanish. The Katipuneros, including Emilio Aguinaldo revolted against the Spaniards in 1896. Because of his bravery and valor, he led the revolt and he became the President in Tejeros convention because of a conspiracy and his persuasion of the officials and leaders to vote for him instead of Bonifacio because Aguinaldo said that Bonifacio has no formal education, illiterate and poor.
        In the said convention, Emilio Aguinaldo have said: “My Filipino countrymen, open your eyes. Let the blood of our fellow Filipino that was oppressed by the Spanish lingers in your hearts so that we may not surrender to the Spaniards. We haven’t committed any wrongdoings to not obtain freedom.”
       Aguinaldo ordered the execution of his biggest rival, Bonifacio brothers, Andres and Procopio at Mt. Buntis, Maragondon, Cavite on May 10, 1897.
       After the pact in Biak-na-Bato, the Filipinos and the Spanish agreed to halt the war. The treaty were to obliged the Spanish government to forgive the Filipino revolutionist. It is also obligatory for the Spanish to pay in the amount of one million, seven hundred thousand pesos (P1,700,000) for te damaged properties during the revolution.
        Emilio Aguinaldo and other Filipino leaders escaped to Hong Kong. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo deposited one million, seven hundred thousand pesos, paid by the Spanish government to the Filipinos, in Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank on January 2, 1898. However, the Spanish betrayed and followed the treaties in Biak na Bato (Halved Stones). Filipinos too advantage of the Spanish-American War in Cuba. They have decided to return to the Philippines and continue the movement for freedom. Gen. Aguinaldo made connections with the Americans. He had entrusted to the American consulate in Hong Kong, the amount used to purchase arms and weapons. However, Gen. Aguinaldo was deceived again. No help came from the Americans.
        Upon Gen. Aguinaldo’s return to the Philippines on May, 1898, a battle between the Filipinos and the Spanish erupted. Aguinaldo successfully declared the Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite. On this occasion, as the First President of First Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo uttered:
        “We are free now. We don’t just obey. We are people who recognize the law, make friends and respect other countries. We have enough abilities to be independent and to be fee.” I am congratulating all the Filipinos. From now on, we already have our own rights to freedom to be known as the “Republic of the Philippines.”
         President Aguinaldo appointed Felipe Agoncillo to be the Philippine representative in United States. Agoncillo tried to talk with President McKinley but he failed. The Americans ignored the desire of the Filipinos to recognize the Philippines as a free country. Instead, on December 10, 1898, in the Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United States, the Philippines was ceded to the United States by Spain in the amount of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
          The Filipinos started killing Americans in the Philippines. The Americans thought that in the amount they gave to Spain, they will capture the hearts and minds of the Filipinos. Aguinaldo tries to stop the war. Due to lack of skill and power, Filipinos were easily defeated by the Americans. During the battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Norte province on December 1899, Gen. Aguinaldo narrowly escapes the tragic battle of the Filipinos against Americans by heeding the warning of one of his troops not to come to the losing battle.
            Finally, Aguinaldo captured by the Americans on March 23, 1901 in Palanan, Isabela. He was made to swear allegiance to America on April 1, 1901.
           In 1935, President Aguinaldo run for election as President of a Commonwealth government. His opponents include Manuel L. Quezon and Gregorio Aglipay. Aguinaldo was easily defeated and the presidency was won by Manuel L. Quezon.
          When the Japanese occupied Philippines in 1941, Aguinaldo doesn’t have enough strength to lead. Through radio transmitter, he made announcements to Gen. Douglas MacArthur on February 6, 1942 to surrender the Philippines to Japan to avoid the increase in casualties of Filipinos and damage of properties. President Aguinaldo is one of the signatories of the Constitution of the Republic under Japan.
          Aguinaldo’s first wife is Hilaria del Rosario with which he has five children namely Miguel, Carmen, Maria, Emilio and Cristina. Nine years after his wife’s death, President Aguinaldo remarried and his second wife is Maria Agoncillo. President Emilio Aguinaldo died on February 6, 1964.

Major World Events During Aguinaldo’s Administration

Netherlands. First Hague Peace Conference, 1899

China. Boxer uprising against foreign domination, 1900

Australia. Commonwealth of Australia established, 1901

South Africa. Boer War 1899 – 1902

Emilio Aguinaldo Images

General Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the First Republic of the Philippines

President Aguinaldo on his last visit to Malolos, Bulacan.

Emilio Aguinaldo Images

Taken this image of President Aguinaldo while being interviewed by a writer in the historic home in Cavite. Seated on a wheel chair because of an illness.

President Aguinaldo looking at President Elpidio Quirino doing a handshake with Mr. Thomas Lockett of America

A rare picture taken of President Aguinaldo and President Manuel Quezon.

General Aguinaldo at the age of 29 when he installed or declared Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, after the bloody battle or paglalaban. This image was taken in Cavite.

The historic porch of their home in Kawit, Cavite, beside President and Mrs. Emilio Aguinaldo were Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko of Japan.

Malacanan Palace

Home of the Philippine Presidents

            The home of the Philippine presidents is a building called – Malacanan. However, many believe that the word came from the three Tagalog words, “may lakan diyan” which literally translates “there’s a nobleman there.” It is told in the history of the Philippines before the Spanish arrived that a Filipino local leader is called “lakan or nobleman.” Being defined, the word Malacanan is a shortened word which means “there is a nobleman or aristocrat there.” It is considered an aristocrat a leader of a certain territory during those times.
           Two hundred seven years ago, Malacanan Palace is only known by its nickname  "bahay na bato" or “house of stone.” The “house of stone” is owned by Don Luis Rocha. Soon, the “house of stone” is purchased by Col. Luis Miguel Formento, a Spaniard, in the amount of one thousand one hundred pesos (P 1,100). The purchase took place on November 16, 1802.
          On January 22, 1825, the house of stone was purchased by the Spanish government in the Philippines in the amount of five thousand one hundred pesos (P5,100). Don Clemente Cobarruvias, a government official, managed the purchase negotiation. An ordinance issued on August 27, 1847 establishes the house of stone as a summer residence of the governor general in the Philippines. It will also house the guests of the government.
         When an earthquake destroyed the original residence of the governor general in Intramuros on June 3, 1863, the house of stone became the official residence of Governor General Rafael de Echague. He called it Posicion de Malacanan.
          There are lots of changes at the palace. Additional rooms and offices are made along the corners of the “house of stone.” However the palace was destroyed by a strong earthquake of 1869. Massive renovations are again being done and also undergone changes to deliver the basic necessity at the palace. Reconstruction finished on December, 1870.
          Less than two years passed, when a strong storm destroyed again the Palace last October 13, 1872.The worse damage of the calamity was the office of the governor general. While the palace is being rebuilt, the kitchen was destroyed by a fire when its reconstruction is almost finished. They are enforced to make stringent measures and changes to avoid fire in the future.
         The palace was destroyed again by a typhoon again on May 29, 1873. The main building of the palace was severely devastated. It was reconstructed again and therefore, balcony was added and made improvements to the original hall. Extensive reconstruction to broaden and widen the main office was undertaken. The total cost of reconstruction amounted to twenty-four thousand three hundred sixty-three ($24,363).
         A strong earthquake occurred on July 1880 brought down again the vulnerable palace. After a done to all damages, the total cost reached to a hefty thirty six thousand dollars ($36,000). Renovations and beautification were done in 1885 during the state visit to the Philippines of Prince Oscar of Sweden. The flag pole was transferred at the main door of the palace. It was implanted in a concrete stone that has a steel wire.
        Through the years, additional facilities supplemented to meet the needs in the Palace. It includes official car terminal, animal food storage, guard’s quarter, and fence railings on the shoreline of the social hall. Total costs spent amounted to one hundred eighty-three thousand, five hundred sixty seven dollars ($183, 567). Since 1869, this amount is the total amount of money spent for the Palace excluding other expenses.
        In 1898, the interiors of the Palace are needed to be filled so as not to be stranded by floodwater. Floodwater is the breeding ground of mosquitoes and other insects. There is another major change in the Palace after the interiors was filled.
       Soon, the government bought a tract of land that’s worth one hundred seventy six thousand pesos (P176,000). As the palace made expansions, a tennis court, swimming pool, new fences and additional rooms were built as needed by the Palace.
      After a few years, to ensure convenient and comfortable living conditions at the palace and to respond to the growing needs, changes were made to the exteriors of the Palace. The buildings were adorned with marble decorations from Romblon. Expensive wood carvings were placed in the interior walls of the apalace. Renovations were completed in 1821. Total expenses reached one million, three hundred fifty thousand pesos (P1, 350, 000).
     Many years had passed and every time a new President is sworn into office, there are lots of transformations being done at the palace. The changes made according to the preferences of the transition president and first lady.
     Every time there is a new president at Malacanan, the palace is even more beautiful in the eyes of the international community and even in the eyes of the Filipinos.
     There is a big difference in the present palace from the “house of stone” since it was officially called Malacanan, the home of the Philippine presidents.

Malacanan Images

The Malacanan Palace, home of the President of the Philippines, is situated across the Pasig River.

The Press Office

Bamboo House in Malacanan

Malacanan Social Hall

The seat of the president in Malacañan

Philippine Presidents Trivia

                The current Philippine president Benigno Simeon Cojuangco III was sworn into office last June 30, 2010 at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Manila at exactly 12 noon. He is the first and only bachelor president of the country. Here are some more pieces of trivia IN NUMBERS you ought to know about the current president, Pnoy as he is fondly called, and the rest of the Philippine presidents.
           The Constitution is clear and specific; the title of the chief executive is “President of the Philippines,” and takes his oath of office as such, although in certain cases involving formal diplomatic usage, “President of the Republic of the Philippines” is used for diplomatic documents. The honorific title for the President of the Philippines is “His/Your Excellency,” but the proper form of address is “Mr. President.”
         At 42.08% Aquino’s percentage of the votes is the highest plurality since the restoration of democracy , and under the 1987 Constitution. The biggest first-term landslide was Magsaysay in 1953 (68.9%), followed by Quezon in 1935. The biggest second term landslide was Quezon in 1941 (81.78%) followed by Marcos in 1969 (61.5%).


Some relevant numbers:
1 He is the first unmarried president in the history of the country

He is the first president with no children.
The first deputy speaker of the House to later become president.

He is the first marksman to become president since Ferdinand Marcos (who belonged to the U.P. rifle team).

He will be the first president since 1992 inaugurated into office without having been vice-president first.

He is the first president since Diosdado Macapagal to be elected as the candidate of the Liberal Party; also the first president since Macapagal not to have changed political parties (three presidents had no political party membership/positions: Aguinaldo, Laurel, Cory Aquino).

Aquino is the first post-Edsa president to exceed Garcia’s 1957 plurality. Majority Presidents: Quezon (68% in 1935 and 81.78% in 1941), Roxas (54% in 1946), Quirino (51% in 1949), Magsaysay (68.9% in 1953), Macapagal (55% in 1961), Marcos (54.76% in 1965, 61.5% in 1969), Aquino (approx. 51%). Plurality Presidents: Garcia (41.3%) was the only president elected by plurality prior to 1972. The lowest plurality ever was Fidel V. Ramos in 1992 (23.6%), Estrada at 39.6% in 1998 was the first post-Edsa president to nearly match Garcia’s 1957 plurality.

He is the first to use the suffix III (there have been no Juniors or the Thirds elected president previously).

He is the first president to have a February birthday. Two presidents were born in January: Roxas (Jan. 1), Cory Aquino (Jan. 25); three in March: Laurel (Mar. 9), Ramos (Mar. 18), Aguinaldo (Mar. 22); two in April: Arroyo (April 5), Estrada (April 19); two in August: Quezon (Aug. 19), Magsaysay (Aug. 31); three in September: Osmena (Sept. 9), Marcos (Sept. 11), Macapagal (Sept. 29); two in November: Garcia (Nov. 4), Quirino (Nov. 16)

The President of the Philippines uses license plate No. 1.


2 The second child of a former president to become president in his own right (he succeeds the first presidential child to become president).

The second president from Tarlac.

He is only the second president (Aguinaldo was the only non-drinker previously) who does not drink.

He is the second president to be sworn in by a Filipino associate justice of the Supreme Court ( his mother was the first), but the fourth president sworn in by an associate justice of a Supreme Court (Quezon in 1943 for the indefinite extension of his term, and Osmena who succeeded into office in 1944, were sworn in by U.S. Associate Justices Felix Frankfurter and Robert H. Jackson, respectively, in Washington D.C.).

He is the second president to have studied at the Ateneo de Manila, but the first to have graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University.

Two presidents only partially resided in Malacanan Palace: Laurel, and Estrada (who stayed in the Guest House).

Two presidents were elected by the legislature and not in a national election: Aguinaldo and Laurel.

Two presidents were re-elected to second terms: Quezon and Marcos.

Two presidents were brought to power by People Power bloodless revolts: Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (our two female presidents).


3 Benigno S. Aquino III is the third president with no spouse: Quirino was a widower, Corazon Aquino, a widow. Unlike Quirino and Corazon Aquino, who had children, Aquino III has none.
Aquino at 50 is the third youngest elected president (Magsaysay remains the youngest every nationally-elected to the presidency), and the fourth-youngest president after Aguinaldo, Magsaysay and Marcos.

He is the youngest of the presidents who became chief executive in their 50s (age at inauguration/succession: Aguinaldo, 29: Quezon, 57; Laurel, 51; Osmena, 67; Roxas, 54; Quirino, 57; Magsaysay, 46; Garcia, 60; Macapagal, 51; Marcos, 48 ; Aquino, 53; Ramos, 64; Estrada, 61; Arroyo, 54).

The third to use his second given name as his middle initial (as Quezon and Laurel did)/

The third to engage in shooting as a sport (Quezon and Marcos engaged in hunting).

He will be the third president who will only hold office in, but not be a resident of, Malacanan Palace, following Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos.

He was the third generation of Aquino’s to serve in the Senate: his grandfather and father were also senators.


4 He will be the fourth president not sworn in by a chief justice: Aguinaldo was first. Quezon, when his term extended in exile in 1943, renewed his oath of office before Justice Felix Frankfurter. Osmena, who succeeded to the presidency in exile, was sworn in by Justice Hugo Jackson (thus, two presidents have been sworn in by foreign justices, both because they headed governments-in-exile). Corazon Aquino was sworn in by Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee. Eleven presidents were sworn in by a chief justice: Quezon (1935, 1941), Laurel, ROxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo.

Four presidents were not inaugurated either on December 30 or June 30: Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899), Quezon (November 15, 1935 and November 15, 1941), Laurel (October 13, 1943), Roxas (May 28, 1946)

Four vice-presidents who succeeded to the presidency also took their oaths on dates different from the traditional inaugural date: Osmena (August 1, 1944); Quirino (April 17, 1948), Garcia (March 18, 1957), Arroyo (January, 2001).

Most number of times a president has taken the oath of office: four, for Marcos (1965, 1969, the 1981 and 1986 “inaugurals”; followed by three, for Quezon 91935 in Manila, 1941 in Corregidor, 1943 in Washington D.C., also before three different individuals); Quirino (1948 in Malacanan, 1949); Garcia (1957, twice: upon succession in March Malacanan and election in December); Arroyo (2001 in Quezon City, 2004 in Cebu).


5 Aquino comes from a family of five siblings.
At age 50, is going to be the 15th President of the Philippines. He becomes president at the same age at which father, Benigno S. Aquino Jr., died.

Officially, his fourteen predecessors will be: Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Sergio Osmena, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He will be the 5th President of the 5th Republic. The present republic was established with the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. The previous republic are the First (Malolos, 1899-1901); Second (The Japanese Occupation, 1943 – 1945); the Third (from independence in 1946 to 1972); the Fourth (the “New Republic” proclaimed in 1981).

Aguinaldo was the lone President of the First Republic; Quezon was the first President of the Commonwealth and Roxas the last; Laurel was lone President of the Second Republic; Roxas was the first President of Third Republic and Marcos, the last; Marcos was the first President of the Fourth Republic but proclaimed a revolutionary government. The Fifth Republic came into being with the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, and Corazon Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo have been the presidents of the Fifth Republic.

He was elected on 05/10/10.

He received over 15 million votes; his winning margin was over 5 million.

He will be the fifth president to take his oath of office on June 30: Marcos, Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo being the others. Starting with Quezon’s second inaugural in 1941 until Marcos’ second inaugural in 1969 (with the exception of the special election called in 1946) presidents were inaugurated on Rizal Day, December 30 and June 30. Six presidents Quezon (1941), Quirino (1949), Magsaysay, Garcia (1957), Macapagal, Marcos (1965, 1969) had inaugurals on December 30.

Aquino is also the fifth public smoker to be presidents: Quezon, Roxas, Garcia, Estrada were/are all smokers.


6 He is the sixth president to have been elected to a single six-year term (Quezon in 1935 [term subsequently extended by constitutional amendment], Aquino in 1986, Ramos in 1992, Estrada in 1998, Arroyo in 2004). He will be only the second President to serve an exact 6 year term (only President Ramos has so far, served an exact 6 year term; President Quezon’s original term was modified to permit re-election for an additional two years; President Corazon Aquino’s term was extended by a few months to synchronize her term with that of new officials elected under the 1987 Constitution; President Estrada’s term was shortened by Edsa Dos; President Arroyo served the remainder of her predecessor’s term and an additional six years. Under the 1935 Constitution, only Diosdado Macapagal served an exact four year term).


7 Aquino will be the seventh president to be inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand. Six presidents were inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand: Quirino (1949), Magsaysay (1953), Garcia (1957), Macapagal (1961), Marcos (1965, etc.), Ramos (1992).

He will be the seventh to use a middle initial after Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Carlos P. Garcia, Marcos, Corazon C. Aquino (who used her maiden name as her middle initial), and Fidel V. Ramos. (Aguinaldo, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Macapagal did not use middle initials at all; Estrada uses a special name combining his real family name, Ejercito, with his screen name; Arroyo prefers to use the hyphenated Macapagal-Arroyo). Presidents Aguinaldo, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay and Macapagal did not use middle initials. The initials of President-elect Aquino are BSA III, following the practice of his father and grandfather, he uses his second given name as his middle initial, the same practice followed by Presidents Quezon and Laurel.


8 If you include the pipe/cigar smoking of Laurel, Ramos and Macapagal and his daughter Arroyo who were/are occasional (social) smokers, Aquino III is the eight president who smokes.


9 Juancho Dulay Barreto on Twitter also pointed out BSA III was proclaimed president-elect on June 9, 2010. That’s exactly 9 months after his declaration of candidacy on 09/09/09.

He is the ninth to have been proclaimed president-elect by the legislature: the first was Manuel L. Quezon, followed by Manuel Roxas, Ramon Magsaysay, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand E. Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (eight if you don’t count Arroyo’s proclamation on the basis of the Quirino and Garcia precedents). While Congress certified the election of Elpidio Quirino and Carlos P. Garcia, they had succeeded into office previously, and were already serving as president when elected to a full term: thus, were not referred to as presidents-elect. Aguinaldo and Laurel were not elected president in a national election; they were made president by a vote of the national assembly and thus never president-elect. Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency by means of the People Power Revolution and was not proclaimed by the Batasan Pambansa.

The ninth president to have served as a congressman.

Nine presidents lived in Malacanan Palace: Quezon, Osmena, Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Arroyo. Three presidents (Quirino and Garcia upon succession, Marcos in 1986) have taken oaths of office there. Four presidents have had to flee because of war or revolution: Quezon, Laurel, Marcos and Estrada.


10 The tenth senator to become a president.

He will be the tenth president to be inaugurated in Manila: the nine previously who were inaugurated in Manila: Quezon in 1935, Laurel in 1943, Roxas in 1946, Quirino in 1949, Magsaysay in 1953, Garcia in 1957, Macapagal in 1961, Marcos in 1965 etc., Ramos in 1992.

Aquino III, who used the Aquino family bible his mother used, will be the ninth president to swear on a bible and the second to use the same bible: Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo followed suit. Aguinaldo, Quezon, Laurel, Osmena, Roxas and Quirino (belonging to generations closer to the revolutionary era, did not take their oaths on a bible). Magsaysay and Marcos took their oath on two bibles each in 1953 and 1965.

Philippine Presidents

          The Republic of the Philippines is a free and independent sovereign country. Its government is being led by a President. The President of the Philippines must be a Filipino first and foremost. Aside from that, there are lots of other qualifications needed to be obtained by a Filipino to be a president of the Philippines.
        Not all Filipino can be a president. It’s nice to know what are the qualifications and qualities of Filipinos who had served as president of the Republic. In this article, Filipino Presidents, you will read the biographies of past presidents, from Emilio Aguinaldo to Ferdinand Marcos. Included in this article, is about the official residence of Philippine presidents – Malacanan Palace. The palace, which has its own history, has been the witness in the making of a Filipino president. Any Filipino can be a president in this country.