There have been many leaders that have given the Philippines its shape and structure today. Beginning with 1946 and the gain of independence to the present day, the leaders marked history in the Philippines. Some of the leaders include the first women to be named President, as well as the ones who have been impeached.
Manuel Roxas
Manuel was the first president of the Philippine republic and the last of the Philippine commonwealth. He was elected in 1946 and faced a ruined economy in thanks to World War II. Not only did President Roxas have to set a good example as the first leader of the Philippine republic and help the economy significantly, he had to handle the communist guerrillas, or the Hukbalahap who refused the new government. There was little Mr. Roxas could do, but accept aid from allied countries. He seeked help from the Americans and worked closely with United States to bring the economy to a strong power, but there was little change that occurred. Ferdinand Marcos
Mr. Marcos was the tenth President of the Philippines, who introduced a dictatorship in 1965. During the Marcos Era, Ferdinand Marcos re-assembled the constitution giving himself more power than everyone else. He claimed to end martial law however, he ruled by decree. President Marcos instituted agricultural, industrial, and educational reforms for the citizens, but his greatest achievement was the infrastructure development, land reforms, international diplomacy, and political and social reforms he built. Marcos was all for himself, and unfortunately not for the people.Corazon Aquino
In 1986 the first female president was elected as the eleventh president of the Philippines. Corazon Aquino sought to end dictatorship and she succeeded. Corazon created a new constitution changing the Philippines back to a democracy and freeing enterprise. Her constitution limited the presidency to one six-year term and restricted the president’s powers to overrule Congress and impose the martial law. This constitution was Mrs. Aquino’s biggest accomplishment. President Aquino did not only create a new constitution, but was also the best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution. She made her way onto TIME magazine’s Women Of The Year.Fidel Ramos
The next president was elected in 1992 renewing the international confidence in the Philippine economy. Fidel Ramos was elected as the twelfth president. He created policies and programs to foster national unity and secured major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents, and military rebels. Ramos was in power for six years and a major play in the economy.Joseph Estrada
Not all Philippine presidents were good. In 1998 Joseph Estrada was elected President of the Philippines. He started a war against Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Estrada was faced with extreme economic problems, but tried passing a comprehensive package of social and governmental reforms. His hope was to improve tax collection, ending pork-barrel legislation, and making the government more effective. Joseph Estrada may have had good intentions, but he wasn’t the best. In 2001 Estrada was impeached, and charged for plunder and perjury.Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo
In 2001 Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo became the second Philippine president. She implemented a comprehensive blueprint for reviving the moribund economy, reducing unemployment, and attacking poverty. She also tried to fight terrorism that was taking over the world. Arroyo brought back communication with America after a decade. Then in the 2004 election with the help of others, Gloria rigged the election and fell out of power.