Filipino Presidents

Joseph E. Estrada

13th President of the Philippines

(born 1937; president 1998 - 2001)

President of the Poor and the Underprivileged

     Joseph "Erap" Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the only president to have resigned from office and was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.

    Jose Marcelo Ejercito was born on April 19, 1937 in Tondo, the poorest district of Manila. He belonged to an upper middle class family, and was the eighth of 10 children of Emilio Ejercito, a government engineer, and his wife Maria Marcelo.He finished his primary studies at the Ateneo de Manila University. He went to Mapúa Institute of Technology to continue schooling with an engineering course, but dropped out from studies altogether two years later.

     In his twenties, he began a career as a film actor. He adopted the screen name "Joseph Estrada", as his father objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling. He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on the Tagalog word "pare", meaning buddy) from his good friend Fernando Poe, Jr..

     Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in an acting career spanning 33 years. He leveraged his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor of San Juan for seventeen years, as Senator for one term, then as Vice President of the Philippines under the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

    He played the lead role of Jesse Mcchesky in more than 100 movies, and was producer of over 70 films. He was the first FAMAS Hall of Fame recipient for Best Actor (1981) and also became a Hall of Fame award-winner as a producer (1983). He often played heroes of the downtrodden classes, which gained him the admiration of a lot of the nation's many unschooled and impoverished citizens. This later proved advantageous to his political career.

     In 1974 he founded the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND) which helps movie makers through medical reimbursements, hospitalization, surgery and death benefits, livelihood, and alternative income opportunities and housing. Its educational arm, the MOWELFUND Film Institute, has produced some of the most skilled and respected producers, filmmakers, writers and performers in both the independent and mainstream sectors of the industry since its inception in 1979. He also founded, together with Dr. Guillermo De Vega, the first Metro Manila Film Festival in 1975.

     Estrada entered politics in 1967 when he ran for mayor of San Juan, a municipality of Metro Manila and succeeded only in 1969 after winning an electoral protest against Dr. Braulio Sto. Domingo. When Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency in 1986, all elected officials of the local government were forcibly removed and replaced by appointed officers-in-charge including then Mayor Estrada.

    The following year, he won a seat in the Senate under the Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) placing 16th in the elections (out of 24 winners). As senator, Erap denounced the presence of US military bases in the country. He became chairman of the senate committee on cultural minorities and passed a bill on commission on ancestral domain.

     In 1992, Joseph Estrada ran for vice-president as the running mate of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. under the Nationalist People's Coalition party. Though the latter lost to former National Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos, Estrada won the vice-presidency garnering more votes than his closest opponent, Ramon Mitra, Jr.'s running mate, Marcelo Fernan.

     As Vice-President, he was the chairman of President Ramos' Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC). Estrada arrested criminal warlords and kidnapping syndicates. He resigned as chairman of the PACC on 1997. In 1997 Vice-President Estrada, together with former President Corazon Aquino, Cardinal Jaime Sin, Senator Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other political leaders, led an anti-charter change rally brought in an estimated half a million people to Rizal Park against the charter change moves by supporters of President Fidel Ramos.

     The 1998 presidential election campaign, like most presidential election campaigns in the Philippines, had hardly anything to do with a contest between political platforms and programs. Estrada’s political strategists and financial backers were aware that a large share of the Philippine electorate, the "masa" (the poor and undereducated masses), were looking for a leadership they could relate to. Estrada’s financial backers designed a campaign strategy that reflected Estrada’s pro-poor image that he had built up throughout his movie career. Central in the was the slogan "Erap para sa Mahirap"(Erap for the poor) that inspired the masses in the hope that Estrada would be the President of and for the masses. Estrada's running mate,   Edgardo Angara, was defeated by Gloria Macapacal-Arroyo.

    Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other challengers, and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. Estrada was inaugurated in the historical town of Malolos in Bulacan province in paying tribute to the cradle of the First Philippine Republic. That afternoon the new president delivered his inaugural address at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. He assumed office amid the Asian Financial Crisis and with agricultural problems due to poor weather conditions, thereby slowing the economic growth to -0.6% in 1998 from a 5.2% in 1997. The economy recovered by 3.4% in 1999 and 4% in 2000.[12] In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured it's headquarters and other camps. However, allegations of corruption spawned a railroaded impeachment trial in the Senate courtesy of house speaker Manuel Villar, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from a coup after the trial was aborted.

In his Inaugural Address, Estrada said:

     "One hundred years after Kawit, fifty years after independence, twelve years after EDSA, and seven years after the rejection of foreign bases, it is now the turn of the masses to experience liberation. We stand in the shadow of those who fought to make us free- free from foreign domination, free from domestic tyranny, free from superpower dictation, free from economic backwardness."

      In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and captured its headquarters and other camps. However, allegations of corruption spawned an impeachment trial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted from a power grab after former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. allowed the prosecution to walk out of the impeachment court when the Senator Judges voted no in the opening of the second envelope which is not part of the impeachment complaint.

     In 2007, he was sentenced by the special division of the Sandiganbayan to reclusion perpetua for plunder, but was later granted pardon by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
     In 2013, he became the mayor of the city of Manila. 

Source: Wikipedia

Filipino Presidents

Fidel V. Ramos

12th President of the Philippines

(born 1928; president 1992 - 1998)

Most Travelled President

       Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.

      Fidel Ramos was born on March 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. His father, Narciso Ramos (1900–1986), was a lawyer, journalist and 5-term legislator of the House of Representatives, who eventually rose to the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. As such, Narciso Ramos was the Philippine signatory to the ASEAN declaration forged in Bangkok in 1967 and was one of the founding fathers of the Liberal Party. His mother, Angela Valdez-Ramos (1905–1977), was an educator, woman suffragette and daughter of the respected Valdez clan of Batac, Ilocos Norte making him a second degree cousin to Ferdinand Marcos.

Ramos was educated at the United States Military Academy and University of Illinois, where he earned a master's degree in civil engineering. He also holds a master's degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the Ateneo de Manila University.

       Ramos went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he graduated in 1950. Ramos, along with the Philippines' 20th Battalion Combat Team and his fellow West Point graduates of the 1950s, fought in the Korean War. Ramos was one of the heroes of the Battle of Hill Eerie, where he led his platoon to sabotage the enemy in Hill Eerie. He was also present in the Vietnam War as a non-combat civil military engineer and commanding officer of the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAGV). It is during this assignment where he forged his life-long friendship with his junior officer Maj. Jose T. Almonte, who went on to become his National Security Advisor all through out during his administration from 1992-1998.

       Ramos has received several military awards including the Philippine Legion of Honor, the Distinguished Conduct Star, Philippine Military Merit Medal, the United States Legion of Merit, the French Legion of Honor and the U.S. Military Academy Distinguished Graduate Award.

       After Aquino assumed the Presidency, she appointed Ramos Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and later Secretary of National Defense. During this time, Ramos personally handled the military operations that crushed nine coup attempts against the Aquino government. During Ramos' presidency, the National Unification Commission was created, and its chairman Haydee Yorac, together with Ramos, recommended to President Aquino that she grant amnesty to the rebel military officers of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) led by Col. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

       In December 1991, Ramos declared his candidacy for President. He however, lost the nomination of the dominant party Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) to House Speaker Ramon Mitra, Jr. Days later, he bolted LDP and founded the Partido Lakas Tao (People Power Party), inviting Cebu Governor Emilio Mario Osmeña as his Vice President. The party formed a coalition with the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD) of Senator Raul Manglapus and the United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines (UMDP) of Ambassador Sanchez Ali. Ramos and Osmeña, together with Congressman (later House Speaker) Jose de Venecia, campaigned for economic reforms and improved national security and unity.

      He won the seven-way race on May 11, 1992, narrowly defeating populist Agrarian Reform Secretary Miriam Defensor Santiago. Despite winning, he garnered only 23.58% of the vote, the lowest plurality in the country's history. The election results were marred by allegations of fraud, though cheating on a large scale has not been proven. However, his running mate, Governor Osmeña, lost to Senator Joseph Estrada as Vice President.

      Prior to his election as president, Ramos served in the Cabinet of President Corazon Aquino first as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and, later on, as Secretary of National Defense from 1986 to 1991.

      During the historic 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Ramos, along with then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, was hailed as a hero by many Filipinos for his decision to breakaway from the administration of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and pledge allegiance and loyalty to the newly-established revolutionary government of President Aquino, following the downfall of Marcos from power in February 1986. Previously, he was the AFP vice chief-of-staff under President Marcos.

     Under Ramos' leadership, the Philippines experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion, as a result of his policies and programs designed to foster national reconciliation and unity. Ramos was able to secure major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy. Ramos also aggressively pushed for the deregulation of the nation's major industries and the privatization of bad government assets. As a result of his hands-on approach to the economy, the Philippines was dubbed by various international magazines and observers as Asia's Next Economic Tiger.

      However, the momentum in the economic gains made under the Ramos Administration was briefly interrupted during the onset of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, during the last year of Ramos' term, the economy managed to make a rebound since it was not severely hit by the crisis as compared to other Asian economies.

      To date, Ramos is the first and only non-Catholic President of the Philippines. He belongs to the Protestant United Methodist Church.

Source : Wikipedia

Filipino Presidents

Corazon C. Aquino

11th President of the Philippines

(1933-2009; president 1986 - 1992)

Mother of Democracy

          Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office. Aquino was also the first popularly and democratically-elected female president and head of state in Asia. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled the authoritarian regime of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines. "Tita (Auntie) Cory", as she was affectionately known, is revered by many Filipinos as an icon of democracy and was hailed by TIME Magazine in 1986 as its 'Woman of the Year.

         Corazon Cojuangco was born on January 25, 1933 in the town of Paniqui in the province of Tarlac. Cory Aquino was the 6th child of Jose Cojuangco (Don Pepe), nephew of the legendary Ysidra Cojuangco (Doña Sidra), and Demetria Sumulong (Doña Metring), a daughter of ex-Cojuangco family lawyer turned senator Juan Marquez Sumulong of Antipolo City, Rizal province. The Cojuangcos were big landowners while the Sumulongs were influential politicians in both Lower and Upper Chambers of the Philippine Congress. She, like her sisters Josephine, Teresita ("Terê") and Maria Paz, as well as their uncle Eduardo's wife Josephine "Nene" Murphy, studied in Saint Scholastica's College, Manila, an all girl's Catholic school run by German nuns in pre-war Manila. Unlike her siblings, the young Cory was unassuming and simple. She wore hand-me-down uniforms used by her sister Terê. Her favorite subject was Mathematics, and upon graduating from elementary school, she received the highest honors. Her studies were interrupted when the Japanese invaded Manila. After World War II, she and her siblings as well as her cousins Ramon Cojuangco and Lourdes (now Mrs. Luis Tirso Rivilla) was sent by her father to the United States. The young Ms. Cory divided her time between the Cojuangco homes in New York (USA), Pasay, Ermita, Punta in Santa Ana district, Dasmarinas Village (in Makati), the northern city of Baguio, the Hacienda Luisita and their hometown of Paniqui, Tarlac. For some summers in the United States, she was treated by her father, Don Pepe, to excursions to Washington, DC and trans-Atlantic voyages aboard the RMS Queen Mary. While studying in New England, she would develop a love of the French language. Besides English, Tagalog, and Kapampangan, she would also remain fluent in French for the rest of her life. Upon her own choosing, her secluded and easy years ended with her marriage to the grandson of Genera Servillano Aquino, Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.

         A self-proclaimed "plain housewife",Aquino was married to Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., the popular opposition leader and staunchest critic of then President Ferdinand Marcos. Senator Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines after three years in exile in the United States.

After her husband's assassination, the widowed Aquino became the reluctant leader of the opposition against the authoritarian rule of the Marcos regime. She united the fragmented opposition and strengthened its moral crusade against the abuses and excesses of President Marcos' martial rule. In late 1985, when President Marcos called for a snap election, Cory Aquino challenged his regime. Aquino thrust herself into the political arena after one million signatures urging her to run for president were presented to her.

        Despite having no prior political experience, Aquino proved to be an effective leader, inspiring orator and skilled campaigner. She ran for president with former senator Salvador Laurel as her vice-presidential running mate. After the elections were held on February 7, 1986, the Marcos-controlled Batasang Pambansa proclaimed him the winner in the elections, Aquino called for massive civil disobedience protests against him, declaring herself as having been cheated and as the real winner in the elections. Filipinos enthusiastically heeded her call and rallied behind her. These series of events eventually led to the ouster of Marcos and the installation of Aquino as President of the Philippines on February 25, 1986 through the People Power Revolution.

        As President, Aquino oversaw the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and the promulgation of a new constitution, which limited the powers of the presidency and established a bicameral legislature. Her administration gave strong emphasis and concern for civil liberties and human rights, peace talks and dialogues with communist insurgents and Muslim secessionists. Aquino's economic policies, meanwhile, centered on bringing back economic health and confidence and focused on creating a market-oriented and socially-responsible economy. Despite these achievements, Aquino's presidency was not smooth-sailing as she had to face series of coup attempts against her administration and destructive natural calamities and disasters until the end of her term in 1992.

      Succeeded by Fidel V. Ramos as President in 1992, Aquino returned to private life although she remained active in the public eye, constantly voicing her views and opinions on the pressing political issues in the country. In 2008, Aquino was diagnosed with colon cancer and after a one-year battle with the disease, died on August 1, 2009.

Source: Wikipedia

Filipino Presidents

Ferdinand E. Marcos

18th President of the Philippines

(1917 – 1989; president 1965 – 1986); 
10th President of the Third Republic 

“Challenge To Bravery”

“With sincerity in my heart is my desire to realize my long time dream; to uplift from poverty the Filipino people through a government with honest, sincere service and not selfish, and a society with only one goal – the fulfillment of dreams of a man.”


         Ferdinand E. Marcos was born in the town of Sarrat in the province of Ilocos Norte on September 11, 1917 and was baptized with the name Emmanuel Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. His father, Mariano Marcos is a lawyer-teacher who became a politician. His father became the representative of Ilocos Norte at the Lower House in 1925. His mother, Josefa Quetulio Edralin, is a teacher at a public school.
         Just like any other children, Ferdinand’s first teacher was his mother. His mother taught him the importance of time. Her mother also reminded in the young mind of Ferdinand the love of books and its importance to a man. From his father, Ferdinand learned boxing, swimming, arm wrestling and shooting. Ferdinand and his brother Pacifico was always brought by their father to his political campaign. Even as a child Ferdinand was trained and used to strive hard to be on top on all aspects. He never had been happy to place second only. It became a habit to Ferdinand once the book are given to them at school, he immediately read them and memorize. For that, it never gave a chance to his classmates to outrank him in class. Ferdinand got the highest grade on their graduation from elementary and pursues secondary education at the University of the Philippines. In law, even if he did not obtain the highest grade upon graduation, he, however, topped the civil service examination in 1939.
         As a cadet official, Ferdinand always topped the handling of firearms. His first Medal of Excellence in Military Science was given by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Ferdinand always garnered medals as a student. He is good in public speaking and inter-school debate. Ferdinand never failed the hope of his loved ones.
         Ferdinand joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines on November 15, 1941. Just like any soldier, Ferdinand played his own role in the Philippine war to be free from the hands of the enemy. At the start of the World War II, Marcos was assigned at the 21st Lightning Division of USAFFE with a rank of Lieutenant. Gen. Mateo Capinpin first noticed the bravery in war of Ferdinand when he fought at the Hacienda Abucay in Bataan on January 15, 1942. Due to valor of Marcos, he obtained the Silver Star Award. One of the medals received by Marcos is Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest and Gold Cross Medal with two bronze leaves for fighting in dangerous battles of Mt. Natib and Mt. Samat, respectively. Many believed he possess amulets the reason why he did not suffer any harm but he denied the rumors. He was also imprisoned at Fort Santiago and was punished by the Japanese.Together with brother Pacifico, Marcos created a guerilla they called Maharlika or Nobleman at a cost of 8,700 pesos. The Maharlika guerilla helped a lot to successfully carry out the secrets of the movement in Luzon.
         In 1948, Marcos decided to just continue his profession as a lawyer but he was persuaded by President Roxas to try his luck in politics. He followed the advice of President Roxas and he became successful. In three successive periods, he became the representative of Ilocos Norte in Congress. Marcos became a senator in 1960 until he run for president. In a hotly contested election of 1965, Marcos was unanimously elected by the people to the highest position that can be bestowed by Filipino people. Despite the anguish and psychological torture he and his clan suffer from his political rivals, he just consider it as a “Challenge to Bravery.”
         In his speech to the people, Marcos explained his definition of “Challenge to Bravery.” Excerpt from his speech when he sworn into office, he said the following:
        "Today, the battle is not intensely poetic and bloody but equally valuable to the challenge of our ancestors. We observed that it seems now that we slowly losing our soul, our honor and bravery….
        I call upon you for us to jointly make the law rule us. For those who violate the law, I will implement the due punishment to the best of my capacity. But this duty is not only mine but it is also for you and for all of us….
        As I’ve said and I keep on saying that our nation can become great again. This will be my mission and now that this opportunity it is bestowed upon me by the Almighty God, I am hoping that our mission will be successful.
       We should awaken the heroism innate in an individual. I am not asking for only one among you that could be a hero. I want that all of you, all of us, will become heroes.
       This is my dream. For voting me, it seems like you destined to me my duty. Let’s go and make our dreams come true.”
       President Marcos wife, Imelda Marcos has always been compared to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis for her timeless and classic beauty and Marie Antoinette of France for her lavish lifestyle. They have three children namely Imee, Irene and Ferdinand who is popularly nicknamed Bongbong, who is at present, a senator.
       President Marcos died in 1989.




Major World Events During Marcos’ Administration


Middle East In six-day war, Israel occupies Arab lands in Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, 1967
Nigeria. In outbreak of civil war, Eastern region declares its independence as Biafra, 1967
Czechoslovakia. Soviet forces invade Czechoslovakia to suppress liberal government, 1968
Vietnam. Peace talks to end war begin in Paris, France, 1968
Rhodesia declares itself a republic, 1970
India and Pakistan go to war, 1971
China admitted to United Nations, 1971
Northern Ireland Britain imposes direct rule, 1971
South Vietnam. Last United States ground troops leave, 1973
Israel attacked by Egyptian and Syrian troops in Yom Kippur War, 1973
India suspends constitutional rights, 1976
Middle East Palestine Liberation Organization recognized by United Nations, 1974
Ethiopia Haile Selassie deposed as emperor, 1974
Papua New Guinea gains independence, 1975
Spain. Juan Carlos becomes king, 1975
Egypt. Abrogates its 1971 friendship treaty with the Soviet Union, 1976
Panama. Panama Canal treaty ratified by United States, 1978
China and United States restore diplomatic relations, 1979
Iran. Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile to declare the country an Islamic republic, 1979
Middle East Peace treaty signed between Egypt and Israel, 1979
Iran. United States embassy seized by militants, 53 American hostages taken, 1979
Afghanistan invaded by Soviet troops, 1979
Iran American hostages freed, 1981
Falkland Islands invaded by Argentine troops, 1982
Grenada invaded by United States troops, 1983
Hong Kong China and Britain agree on eventual return of Hong Kong to China, 1984

Ferdinand E. Marcos Images

President Marcos with his family hearing mass

President Ferdinand E. Marcos while doing his duties.

President Marcos and son Bongbong salute together as Boy Scouts.

Ferdinand E. Marcos Images

The Official Portrait of the First Family, President Marcos and His First Lady, Imelda Marcos together with their children, Imee, Irene and Bong bong








In the two pictures that can be seen, President Marcos is having a leisure. Golf is one of the favorite sport of President Marcos.



Even while having a haircut, President Marcos will not run out of interviews





In all the duties of President Marcos, his son Bongbong has all a part just like in the picture

Ferdinand E. Marcos Images

In confirming his son as a Boy Scout, President Marcos is beaming with pride in conferring to Bongbong the confirmation in an event at De La Salle College.

President Marcos is still fulfilling all his duties as a father. In the picture taken with his son swimming.

The President and his son while having a fervent prayer in a solemn mass

President Marcos while conferring the honor of "Doctor of Laws" (Honoris Causa) from President Teodoro Evangelista of the Far Eastern University.

President Marcos while having his communion