Political History of the Philippines Post-War Presidents

He was Manuel Quezon's running mate and served as Vice President during the Commonwealth period.
In 1945, he returned to the Philippines and became the second president of the Commonwealth period after Quezon's death.
During World War II, the Philippine government operated in exile while a Japanese-sponsored Second Republic existed in the Philippines.
Osmena continued Quezon's strong executive leadership as president under the Nationalist Party.

He ran under the Liberal Party and became the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines.
The Third Republic began on July 4, 1946, after the abolition of the Commonwealth period.
Roxas served from May 28, 1946, to April 15, 1948, and died due to cardiac arrest.

As a member of the Liberal Party, he succeeded Roxas as the second president of the Third Republic.
He served from April 17, 1948, to December 30, 1953.
Quirino ran for reelection but lost to Ramon Magsaysay.

Magsaysay was appointed as the defense secretary during Quirino's administration.
He ran for president and won with significant American backing.
Magsaysay was portrayed as a president for the people, with stories of him driving a taxi.
Communist leader Luis Taruc surrendered during his presidency.
Rizal course PI10 was a notable event during his administration.
Magsaysay died in a plane crash.

Garcia, from the Nacionalista Party, became the fourth president of the Third Republic.
He served from March 1957 to December 30, 1961.
He advocated the "Filipino First" policy, emphasizing economic nationalism.
His administration was considered the "golden age" of the Philippine economy, though it also faced issues of corruption.
During his time, there were efforts to industrialize the Philippines, including attempts to produce automobiles.

Macapagal from the Liberal Party, was the fifth president of the Third Republic.
He served from December 31, 1961, to 1965.
He was the first president to be reelected.

The government structure was patterned after the American style of democracy, with executive, legislative, and judiciary branches.
The system was challenged by radical elements from the left-wing communist movement, influenced by the Cold War.
The "patron-client" model remained the dominant political model, with social contracts based on reciprocity.
The state transitioned from a strong, centralized structure to a weaker state with decentralized power, influenced by local politicians and political dynasties.
The Liberal Party rose in prominence against the Nacionalista Party.
Oligarchs, some of whom were branded as Japanese collaborators, returned to power after being granted amnesty.
A significant gap existed between the rich and the poor.
Nationalism was still an issue, with a strong American influence shaping Filipino identity.

The period was characterized by neocolonialism, which involves an alliance between the leading classes of two independent nations.
This alliance allows the dominant nation to maintain control over the weaker one through economic and cultural influence.

After World War II, the Philippines needed war rehabilitation aid.
The United States offered $620,000,000$ in aid, contingent upon accepting the conditions of the Bell Trade Act of 1946.
This act allowed Americans to control resources in the Philippines through parity rights and free trade.
Nationalist Filipinos criticized the Bell Trade Act as an unfair treaty that favored American interests, granting Americans full control over Philippine resources.
Free trade led to a flood of American products into the Philippine market.

In addition to the Bell Trade Act, there were agreements regarding American military bases, including a 99-year lease for Clark Airfield and Subic Naval Base.
American military officers were involved in the development of the Philippine military.
In 1991, during the Aquino administration, the American military bases were expelled.

The US president had power over the Philippine peso, with the currency pegged to the dollar at a rate of $2 \, \text{pesos} = 1 \, \text{dollar}$ .
This monetary control was part of the conditions for war rehabilitation.