Philippine Presidents and Related Concepts

A 50-card vocabulary set covering Philippine presidents, their policies, and related historical concepts.

Emilio Aguinaldo

Youngest Philippine president (age 23); led the Revolutionary Government and served as the sole president of the First Republic.

Manuel L. Quezon

First president of the Commonwealth; called the “Father of the National Language”; died of tuberculosis; championed Social Justice.

Jose P. Laurel

Only president of the Second Republic during Japanese occupation; dubbed the “Puppet President”; founded Lyceum of the Philippines.

Sergio Osmeña

Second Commonwealth president, first Visayan president, acknowledged wartime leader while in the U.S.

Manuel Roxas

First president of the Third Republic; granted amnesty to Filipinos who collaborated with Japan and signed the Treaty of General Relations.

Elpidio Quirino

Second Third-Republic president; created the Integrity Board; launched hydro-electric power projects; first Ilocano president; oversaw Philippine Trade Act parity rights.

Ramon Magsaysay

Third Third-Republic president; nicknamed “Man of the Masses”; remembered for clean governance and fatal plane crash; hailed from Zambales.

Carlos P. Garcia

Fourth Third-Republic president; initiated the Filipino First Policy and Austerity Program; first president buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Diosdado Macapagal

Fifth Third-Republic president; pushed land reform (Tenancy Act, CARE); moved Independence Day from 4 July to 12 June; promoted zero-corruption ethos.

Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Fourth-Republic president noted for massive infrastructure (SLEX, NLEX, PGH, PICC), Green Revolution’s Miracle Rice, and the slogan “I will make this country great again.”

Corazon Aquino

First female president; inaugurated the Fifth Republic; restored democracy, crafted the 1987 Constitution, known as the “Mother of Democracy.”

Fidel V. Ramos

Second Fifth-Republic president; advanced “Philippines 2000,” military professionalization, and economic liberalization.

Joseph Estrada

Third Fifth-Republic president; nicknamed “Erap” and “Ama ng Masa”; formed the Presidential Commission on Educational Reform.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Fourth Fifth-Republic president; introduced Holiday Economics and strong GDP growth; enacted the E-VAT law.

Benigno Aquino III

Fifth Fifth-Republic president; launched K-12, “No Wang-wang” policy, and the governance slogan “Tuwid na Daan.”

Rodrigo Duterte

Sixth Fifth-Republic president; first Mindanaoan to hold office; promoted Build Build Build program and advocated federalism.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Seventeenth Philippine president, elected with 31 million votes under the campaign slogan “UNITY.”

First Republic of the Philippines

Revolutionary government (1899–1901) led solely by Emilio Aguinaldo.

Second Republic of the Philippines

Japanese-sponsored state (1943–1945) headed only by Jose P. Laurel.

Third Republic of the Philippines

Post-war republic (1946–1972) with five presidents: Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal.

Commonwealth of the Philippines

Transitional government (1935–1946) with presidents Quezon and Osmeña under U.S. sovereignty.

Fourth Republic of the Philippines

Era of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. under the 1973 Constitution (1972–1986).

Fifth Republic of the Philippines

Current governmental era beginning 1986, starting with Corazon Aquino and continuing to present.

Father of National Language

Honorific title of Manuel L. Quezon for instituting a Filipino national language.

Filipino First Policy

Economic doctrine of Carlos P. Garcia prioritizing Filipino businesses over foreign interests.

Austerity Program

Garcia’s policy urging thrift in trade and industry to stabilize post-war economy.

Tenancy Act

Macapagal-era law granting land to tenant farmers, part of early agrarian reform.

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act (CARP)

Legislation initiated under Macapagal to distribute land equitably to farmers.

Veterans Bank

State bank created to serve World War II veterans, initiated by Macapagal.

Land Bank of the Philippines

Government bank established during Macapagal’s term to finance land acquisition for farmers.

Miracle Rice

High-yield rice variety promoted during Marcos Sr.’s Green Revolution, aiding food self-sufficiency.

Treaty of General Relations

1946 agreement signed by Roxas ending U.S. sovereignty and recognizing full Philippine independence.

Parity Rights

Provision of the Philippine Trade Act allowing U.S. citizens equal access to Philippine natural resources, extended under Quirino.

Independence Day Shift (June 12)

Macapagal’s 1962 proclamation moving national independence celebrations from July 4 to June 12.

1987 Constitution

Charter drafted under Corazon Aquino establishing democratic institutions after martial law.

Philippines 2000

Ramos’s socio-economic roadmap aiming to elevate the Philippines to NIC status by year 2000.

Presidential Commission on Educational Reform (PCER)

Estrada-era body tasked to review and improve Philippine education.

Holiday Economics

Arroyo’s policy of moving holidays to Mondays to boost domestic tourism and productivity.

K-12 Program

Aquino III reform adding Kindergarten and two Senior High School years to basic education.

No Wang-wang Policy

Aquino III directive banning unauthorized use of sirens, symbolizing equality before the law.

Tuwid na Daan

Aquino III’s governance slogan meaning “Straight Path,” emphasizing anti-corruption and transparency.

Build Build Build

Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure program targeting roads, bridges, airports, and railways.

Federalism (Duterte)

Proposed shift from unitary to federal government structure championed by President Duterte.

UNITY (Marcos Jr. Slogan)

Campaign message of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasizing national reconciliation and collective progress.

Libingan ng mga Bayani

Philippine national cemetery where Carlos P. Garcia was the first president interred.

Amnesty for Collaborators

Roxas’s clemency granted to Filipinos accused of aiding Japanese forces during World War II.

Integrity Board

Quirino-created anti-graft body to investigate corruption in government.

Hydro-Electric Power Projects (Quirino)

Quirino’s initiative to expand electricity through large hydroelectric plants.

Infrastructure Man

Nickname for Ferdinand Marcos Sr. due to extensive public-works projects nationwide.

Zero-Corruption Image

Clean-government reputation projected by Diosdado Macapagal during his presidency.