Manuel Roxas (1946-1948)

                                          "First president of the Third Republic"

   -Manuel Roxas was the fifth president of the Philippines.

  -The third (and last) president under the Commonwealth.

  -And the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines.

  -He held office for only one year, 10 months, and 18 days.

                                           Contributions and Achievements:

• inaugurated as the first president of the new Republic after World War II

• reconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule began during his presidency

• under his term, the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws were accepted by Congress

• appears on the 100-peso bill 

 
In his term the country was severely tarnished by the war, the economy was struggling because of low output growth and high unemployment rates. Production became low because farms and factories were ruined. Production of rice, sugar, coconuts, abaca, coconut oil, cigars, tobacco, gold and chrome, and manganese and lumber was put to a halt because of the destruction of manufacturing facilities. Because businesses were closing, there were no more jobs available for people. Unemployment rates were rising at a fast pace. Education also severely weakened. School buildings were destroyed and instruments to teach children were obliterated. In the government sector, there were too many interference by the American government. Policies done by Roxas were highly influenced by US officials. These policies mostly benefited the welfare of their country. Because of the existing Western influences allowed by the former president, the HUKBALAHAP movement still created immense riot and commotion in the country. In short his presidency or his tern is full of struggles because of the effect of the war. People are totally affected and our country is devastated. But as a president, he do his best to save our country. They reconstruct it and they have done well. But the effect of the war will never be lost in the minds of our compatriot that experienced those kinds of devastation.

"We want to see a world where people will have enough and none will have too little."

                                                                                    - Manuel Roxas

 

                       
                                      Sergio Osmeña (1944-1946)
                                             "Fourth president of the Philippines"
 
 -Filipino statesman, founder of the Nationalist Party (PartidoNacionalista) and President of the Philippines from 1944 to1946

-Sergio Osmeña was the second president of the Commonwealth. During his presidency, the Philippines joined the International Monetary Fund.

- In 1907 he was elected delegate to the Philippine National Assembly and founded the Nationalist Party, which came to dominate Philippine political life.

        Contributions and Achievements:

• became president at 65, making him the oldest person to hold office

• first Visayan to become president

• joined with U.S. Gen. Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to begin restoration of Philippine freedom after Japanese occupation

• Philippine National Bank was rehabilitated and the country joined the International Monetary Fund during his presidency

• Bell Trade Act was approved by the U.S. Congress during his presidency

• appears on the 50-peso bill 

             Did you know that? 

                                                  Sergio Osmeña was an illegitimate child.


President Sergio Osmeña had the problems of public order, lack of community cooperation, regaining the people's trust in government to deal with during his presidency. And sometimes because of that issues, a leader will not show his skills, talents, and the love to our nation. We will not be united in one goal because of that matter. If we are united, we will be as one and we will obtain our one desire.

"The program of independence, initially written with the blood of the heroes and martyrs of our history [...] is a program definitely accepted by the Filipino people [...] So I say to every Filipino and to tell other elements in our state, that the die is cast. Our course is straight and inflexible. We are going forward to the achievement of our national aspiration."

                                                                      -  Sergio Osmeña

          
                                              JOSE P. LAUREL (1943-1945)

                         

                                                      "Puppet President"

 
-He was officially the government's caretaker during the Japanese occupation of World War II.

-born March 9, 1891, Tanauan, Luzon, Philippines

-Criticized as a traitor by some, his indictment for treason was superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948.

                                                   Contributions and Achievements:

• since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippines

• organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or Association for Service to the New Philippines), a provisional government during Japanese occupation

• declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in 1944

• with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines     

11 Reasons Why Jose P. Laurel Was A Total Badass

By  FilipiKnow

Stooge. Lackey. Collaborator. These adjectives are but part of the typical odious memories we Filipinos have of Jose P. Laurel, and it’s not hard to blame us. After all, he was the puppet president of the Japanese during World War II, right?

However, his role during those trying times has overshadowed the fact that he is probably one of the most accomplished Filipinos of all time, an intellectual giant admired by the likes of Jovito Salonga, Lorenzo Tañada, Claro M. Recto, and countless others.

1. The "P" in his name is a tribute to Jose Rizal's brother.

2. He often clashed with the American governor-general.

3. He is the only president to have served in all three branches of government.

4. He was a reluctant collaborator.

5. He survived three gunshot wounds.

6. He turned Malacanang Palace into a Filipino fortress.

7. He saved Manuel Roxas' life...twice

8. He also saved an aide from the Japanese.

9. He refused to draft a single Filipino into the military.

10. The judge trying his treason case resigned to defend him instead.

11. He ran for Senator one last time and won.


A great patriot, eminent jurist, statesman, legislator, and constitutionalist. To describe Jose P. Laurel in short. He made many contributions because of those characteristics. Even if many Filipinos said that he is a puppet president of the Japanese, his role during those trying times has overshadowed the fact that he is probably one of the most accomplished Filipinos of all time.

"A nation fights for independence and tries to achieve the maximum of safety, not only because
it is its God-given right to be independent and free from molestation but because without freedom and security, it does not have full opportunity to work out it own destiny."

 
                                                                                                   -Jose P. Laurel