Filipino Presidents

Manuel A. Roxas

(1892 -1948; president 1946-1948); 
5th President of the Philippines

Defender of Freedom

“The greatest politics now in our country, and in other times, is service to the people, gives justice to every citizen, do your share not only to strengthen and fortify our nation but also to bring joy to every individual in their respective homes and give them freedom to plow their own soil.”


         Manuel A. Roxas was born on January 1, 1892 in Pan-ay, province of Capiz. His parents were Gerardo Roxas and Rosario Acuña. His father died eight months before Manuel saw the light. Rafael Lozada became his first teacher. After studying at Lozada’s school, Manuel secretly rode the ship to Manila with only eleven pesos in his pocket. Unfortunately, he was discovered by his grandfather before the ship set sail. He confessed to his understanding grandfather Eleuterio that he just wants to pursue his studies the reason why he planned to leave without asking permission.
         At the age of 12, Manuel enrolled at St. Joseph’s Academy in Manila, however he returned to Capiz soon thereafter. He became homesick so he decided to just study in Capiz. When returned to Manila, he studied at Manila High School. In 1909, he finished with the highest honors. He still finished first in the College of Law of the University of the Philippines. He also passed the bar examination that year.
         When his grandfather died, Manuel was forced to return home to his province. Later, he became a councilor of a municipality in Capiz. He was elected governor of Capiz in 1916 at the age of 24. He became a representative in the Congress in 1922. On December, 1931 along with Senator Osmeña, Roxas went to the United States to walk the enactment of legislation in Hare-Hawes Cutting Law. According to the law, the Philippines will be given freedom at the right time. The law was signed at the United States Congress. Unfortunately the said law was not approved by the Philippine Senate. Later it was followed by signing into law at the United States Congress the Tydings-McDuffie Law.
          Roxas was again elected representative of Capiz in 1934. He is also a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. Roxas has a major role in making the constitution of the nation. When the Commonwealth government was established, Roxas helped wholeheartedly and cooperate with the Quezon administration. In 1939, Roxas was appointed as Finance Secretary by President Quezon. He is one of the most trusted advisers of the president.
          During the war, Roxas has the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East). He became the adjutant of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. When the Commonwealth government was evacuated, Roxas refused the invitation of President Quezon. He chose to stay to boost the morale of our soldiers. Roxas was captured by the enemies in the mountains of Mindanao. When the Japanese realized that they capture Roxas, they set him free and seek his help of reaching out to the Filipinos. To keep his secret as a guerilla, Roxas accepted the position of president of the Economic Planning Board of President Laurel.
          After the American landing on Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, Roxas and President Laurel both climbed together to Baguio City upon order of the Japanese. Roxas has been successful in evading and escaping the Japanese when he joined the troop of freedom on April 15, 1945.
          On June 9, 1945, Roxas took office as Senate President. On April 23, 1946, he was elected President of the Philippine Commonwealth. He is the last Commonwealth president and the First President of the Third Republic.
          Manuel Roxas other half is Trinidad de Leon, daughter of former senator Ceferino de Leon. Their only child, Gerardo, is a former senator. Grandson Mar Roxas III is a foremer senator and former Department of Trade and Industry secretary under the Arroyo administration.

         President Roxas died of a heart attack while having a speech at Clark Field, Pampanga on April 15, 1948.

Major World Events During Roxas’ Administration

Germany. Berlin airlift emphasizes Cold War, 1948

India. Gandhi assassinated, 1948

United Kingdom. London Olympics. First gold medal for the Philippines won by Victoria Manalo in diving, 1948

Manuel A. Roxas Images

President Manuel A. Roxas

President Roxas while having a speech.

On the left can be seen Manuel A. Roxas when he was still a senator. Picture identified former President Quezon and Osmeña.





Shown in the picture, President Manuel A. Roxas is joined by Vice-President Elpidio Quirino and General Douglas MacArthur in celebration of the Independence of the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 1946.

Filipino Presidents

Sergio Osmeña

(1878 – 1961; president 1944-1946); 
4th President of the Philippines

Gentleman President

“What goodness will freedom and independence gives us, if we don’t maintain such independence, and if we don’t provide our citizen with peace, happiness and prosperity?”


        Sergio Osmeña, the Gentleman President, was born in Cebu City on September 9, 1878. His mother, Juana Osmeña, is a smart and loving mother. She is the first teacher of Sergio on catechism. She has been a strong example to Sergio of good values and right conduct most especially humility.
        Sergio first studied in a private school named Primera Letras y Humanidades under the tutelage of Martin Medalle. Afterwards, he also studied at Colegio de Segunda Enseñanza under the governance of Don Miguel Logarta. In 1889, he studied at Seminario Colegio de San Carlos. He continued his studies at the University of Santo Tomas where he first met Manuel L. Quezon. They are both studying as capista or studying without charge on food or bedspace. He is the roommate of Manuel L. Quezon in one room in the university.
         Osmeña took the bar exam on February 20, 1903 and got the percentage grade of 25%. He was appointed as temporary governor of Cebu on April 15, 1904 and Provincial Fiscal on June, 1904. Osmeña ran for election as provincial governor on February 5, 1906. He won and sworn into office on March 5, 1906. As governor, Osmeña was well loved by his town mates. Osmeña is one of the founders of Nacionalista party in Manila in 1907.
Osmeña resigned as governor of Cebu province to run as congressman. He is unanimously voted as representative of the second district of Cebu in Congress. In recognition of his brilliance and skills in the field of lawmaking, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives for nine years. Osmeña was voted as the first vice president of the commonwealth and took the oath of office on November 15, 1935.
           In his last speech in Congress on June 19, 1908, Osmeña said:
“Filipinos just like before, are still passionately desiring to be real free. The desire of a temporary freedom is not a new objective, not a new concept. This desire of the Filipinos is very old and reveals their true sentiments. One real feeling that never ceases, never forgotten by the nation’s children not once despite of poverty and misery they have to endure. This desire of Filipinos has never been blurred. Despite the fact that the Philippines swore allegiance to America does not mean their desire to be free has faded. We trust the loyalty of the United States to allow us that kind of feeling and to desire of one’s freedom for his country.”
          During the World War II, the Commonwealth government evacuated to Washington D.C., United States. President Quezon’s health is now deteriorating. If Vice President Osmeña wanted to takeover, he could’ve easily been the President because of severe illness of President Quezon. However, this tested the gentleman nature of Osmeña. He proves that he is not greedy for duty and honor. He only accepted the position of a president when President Quezon died at Saranac Lake, New York, United States. Osmeña finally became President on August 1, 1944.
           When the Americans land on the Philippines, Gen. Douglas MacArthur handover President Osmeña the full responsibility of heading the government held at Palo Beach, Leyte on October 20, 1944. On February 27, 1945, the Commonwealth government was again established.
           The election of 1946 signifies the end of political career for President Osmeña. In the presidential election, he lost to Manuel A. Roxas.
           President Osmeña is married to Estefania Chiong Veloso of Cebu in 1903. They have ten children namely Vicenta, Nicasio, Jesus, Emilio, Edilberto, Teodoro, Jose, Maria Paloma, Milagros and Sergio. Mrs. Osmeña died on January 18, 1918. President Osmeña remarries and his second wife Esperanza Limjap of San Miguel, Manila bore him three children.
           President Osmeña died on October 19, 1961.

Major World Events During Osmeña’s Administration

Greece. Liberation completed, 1944.

France. Germans surrender to Allies at Reims, 1945.

Japan. Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay, 1945

President Sergio Osmeña Images

President Osmeña addressing the nation.

In one of the last celebrations held in his honor, President Osmena was captured while enjoying with the guests.

Along with photos of the Honourable Reverend Sergio Osmeña, father, were General Douglas MacArthur and Carlos P. Romulo. This picture was taken at land at Palo Beach, Leyte, Philippines the Americans.

Jose Rizal images

Rizal at 31, Hong Kong

Jose Rizal images

Rizal at 27, Paris

A painting of Rizal by Juan Luna (Paris, 1891)

Painting of Rizal by Juan Luna

Rizal at 25, Berlin

Filipino Presidents

Jose P. Laurel 
(1891-1959; President 1943-1945) 
3rd President of the Philippines
Patriotic President; Puppet Republic President

“When I took my oath as President, my primary aim is for the citizen’s welfare…And I won’t hesitate to declare war against any other countries, if those actions I made would mean the safety of our countrymen.”




        Jose P. Laurel, the President of the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation, is named as the Patriotic President. The trust of Filipinos to President Laurel has been endangered due to wrong beliefs. His enemies thought that his presidency during the Japanese Occupation will make him an ally of the Japanese. But soon, he proved through his service to the country his loyalty and true patriotism to the Philippines.
        The patriotic president was born in Tanauan, Batangas on March 9, 1891. His parents were Sotero Laurel and Jacoba Garcia. Laurel’s father was a former secretary of the interior during the administration of President Aguinaldo.
        Laurel was taught alphabet by his parents. When he reached the right age for formal education, he studied at San Juan de Letran College. Peping is fond of playing guitar and violin. He always missed school just to join and play with the orchestra to which he is a member. He decided to go to Manila in 1908. He studied at Manila High School. So he can earn a meager income, he worked as a chorister. Soon, he worked as an employee of the Bureau of Forestry and he earns 40 cents per day. After studying at Manila High School, Jose served at the office of Justice Thomas Atkins Street. He continued his studies in the College of Law at the University of the Philippines. He also studied Spanish at Escuela de Derecho.
         He finished law in 1915 and passed the bar exam that year. In 1918, Laurel became a government pensioner at Yale University in United States. While studying at Yale University, he studied how to cut his own hair. He bought two mirrors in which one he put at his back, the other at his front. For this, he learned how to cut his own hair and save a lot of money.
         When he returned to the Philippines, Laurel was appointed as the Chief of Executive Bureau. In 1922, Laurel was appointed undersecretary of the Department of Interior under the administration of Governor General Leonard Wood. After 10 months, he became the secretary of the Interior Department. On July 17, 1923, Laurel resigned from his position in the department. He doesn’t like the interfering of Governor Wood even in the smallest matters in the department. Instead, he established his own law office with del Rosario and Lualhati of Manila.
          Laurel was elected senator in 1925. He was also a delegate to the Constitution Convention that created the 1935 Constitution. He was appointed by President Quezon to the Supreme Court in 1935. He remained in that position until he was appointed as secretary of the Department of Justice by President Quezon.
         When the Japanese occupied Manila, some of the Filipino officials including President Quezon escaped to America. But Laurel stayed in the Philippines and took responsibilities of the welfare of the Filipinos. He refused to swear allegiance to Japan. Laurel did all he could to avert the unjust arrest of the Filipinos by the Japanese. But usually he failed to stop the cruelty of the Japanese. When Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas o ang KALIBAPI (Organization of Service to the New Philippines) was established, Laurel was appointed Commissioner of the Interior. The responsibility of keeping the peace was vested on him however severe cruelties were done by the Japanese police to Filipinos. Laurel advised the provincial chief to cooperate with the Japanese to avoid harsh treatment to the Filipinos. With this manner, Laurel was thought to be a Filipino siding with Japan.
         Because of what he did, someone plan to assassinate him. While playing golf at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong ( a part of the Rizal province at that time) on July 5, 1943, he was treacherously shot. Throughout his time of confinement at the hospital, he never waivered his faith in God. On July 16, 1943, Emperor Hideki Tojo of Japan convinced the Filipinos that he will set free the Philippines in a year. In accordance with the law that was adopted by KALIBAPI, Laurel unanimously elected as President of the Republic of the Philippines under the Japanese regime on September 25, 1943. He swore as President on October 13, 1943 in front of many people in the front lawn of the Congress building. General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the Philippine flag. Filipinos realized the betrayal of Japan when the Americans tried to invade the Philippines. Japan forced the Philippines to declare war against the United States, Burundi & Great Britain. President Laurel cannot do anything because he has no choice. The only thing he asked is not to get any Filipinos to bear arms and fight as soldiers. When peace finally returns, Laurel was accused of making alliance with Japan during the war. He asserts that he is not pro-Japanese nor pro-American but pro-Filipino. The truth is, during the dangerous years of occupation, President Laurel tried to lessen the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers.
          The court hearing for President Laurel was discontinued because on January 27, 1948, President Roxas declared the revocations as significant all the accusations considered as crimes during the Japanese occupation. In a speech with a regrettable tone, President Laurel said:
        “Look at the Filipinos who despite being educated doesn’t learn anything or maleducated, who earned distinction and title but without honor and character, modern youth but with undesirable traits, Filipinos who are ashamed of the honorable values of our nation since birth, Filipinos who measures everything with foreign standards and doesn’t consider desirable things other than foreign objects.”
            Laurel is the candidate of the Nacionalista party in the presidential election of 1949 but he lost to Elpidio Quirino.
President Laurel’s other half is Paciencia Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas. They have nine children namely Jose Bayani, Jose Sotero, Natividad, Sotero, Nita, Mariano, Rosenda, Salvador and Arsenio. President Laurel died on November 6, 1959 in Manila.

Major World Events During Laurel’s Administration

France. United States Marines invade Bougainville, 1943

Iran. Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin open Tehran conference; agree on final plans to defeat Germany, 1943

Italy. King Victor Emmanuel of Italy transfers royal power to his son, Humbert, 1944

United States. Dumbarton Oaks Conference opens in Washington D.C. , 1944

United States. Fifty nations sign charter of United Nations at San Francisco, 1945