Presidents have graced the stamps' vignettes since the inception of the republic. For more information on each president, read their respective biography.

Presidents

EMILIO AGUINALDO [1869-1964] President of the Malolos Republic
Stamps: A1966B06, A1969A23, A1972E29.3, A1998C24, A1998F03, A1998L15, A1998L15G, A1998L15Y, A1999B04.2
Born March 29, 1869. Became mayor (1895) of Kawit, Cavite, subsequently directed attacks against the Spanish rule. Elected (1897) president of the revolutionary assembly at Tejeros, Cavite. Exiled to Hong Kong when the insurrection faltered and returned when the Spanish-American War was extended to the Philippines. Declared (June 12, 1898) Philippine independence from Spain and became president of the first republic on Jan. 23, 1899. The American defeat of Spain was followed in 1899 by war between the previously allied Filipinos and the United States. Captured in 1901, and swore allegiance to the United States, which annexed the Philippines, and retired from public life. After World War II, charged with cooperating with the Japanese but was never tried. Died February 6.

CORAZON AQUINO [1933- ] Eleventh Philippine President (1986-1992]
Stamps: A1986E25, S1986E25, A1987C04, A1988H01.1, A1992A15, A1992F30 A2002F12,
Born January 25, 1933, the widow of Philippine opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Served as her husband's link to the outside world during his eight years of imprisonment (1972-80) for opposition to President Ferdinand Marcos and accompanied him into exile in the United States in 1980. Became the rallying point for the fragmented opposition after his assassination when he returned to the Philippines on Aug. 21, 1983. Mounted a campaign of nonviolent resistance, People Power, which forced Marcos from office after the February 7, 1986 snap elections. Assumed de facto control of the government; on March 25 assumed transitional legislative powers. Despite problems of poverty and a Communist insurgency, Aquino's popularity was evident in the results of the 1987 referendum on a new constitution that confirmed her in office until June 30, 1992. Survived several coup attempts. Read more on Cory Aquino.
Vice President: SALVADOR H. LAUREL

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO [1933- ] Fourteenth Philippine President [2001 - present]
Stamps: A2002F12, A2004B23,
Born to former President Diosdado Macapagal and Eva Macaraeg - Macapagal on April 5, 1947 in Manila. She was an outstanding student from the elementary grades to  high  school  at the Assumption  Convent where she graduated as valedictorian. She pursued her Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree and graduated magna cum laude at the same school. She then took her Masteral Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila, her Doctoral Degree in Economics at the University of the Philippines, and further studies at the Georgetown University where she was consistently in the Dean's List for academic excellence. She served as an Assistant Secretary and later Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry and was elected Senator in 1992. In 1998, she was elected Vice President and concurrently served as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development. On January 20, 2001, she was catapulted to the Presidency. At noon of that historic day, she swore to perform her duties as President of the Republic of the Philippines. President Arroyo is happily married to Attorney Jose Miguel Tuason Arroyo with whom she has three children whom they fondly call Mikey, Luli and Dato. Read more on Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA Thirteenth Philippine President [1998-2001]
Stamps: A1998K10, A2002F12,
An actor who served as mayor for decades, became a senator and then Vice President of Fidel V. Ramos. Won the presidency in 1998 by garnering votes from the masses, the common 'tao' but was impeached during the People Power 2. Read more on Joseph Estrada.

CARLOS P. GARCIA [1896-1971] Eighth Philippine President (1957-
Stamps: A1957L30, A1958G04, A1959G17, A1960L30, A1973B22, A1984F14, A2002F12,

Vice President: DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL

JOSE P. LAUREL [1891-1959] President of Second Republic (1942-1944)
Stamps: A1966K06, A1968C08.2, A1974H15, A1979K15, A1991F03,
Became president during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL Ninth Philippine President (1957-1965)
Stamps: A1957L30, A1961L30.1, A1962F15, A1963I281, A1963I282, A1964L21, C1964L21, A1965D19, A1965F12, A1965K25, A1967H07, A1972E29.2, A1972K23, A1973A221, A1974H011, A2002F12,
A champion of agrarian reform during his presidency. Instituted a 4-year Socioeconomic Program in 1963. Signed the Manila Accord (MAPHILINDO), the precursor of the ASEAN.
Vice President: EMMANUEL PELAEZ

RAMON MAGSAYSAY [1907-1957] Seventh Philippine President (1953-57)
Stamps: A1955G04, A1957H31, A1963L30, A1972I29.2, A1981H03 A2002F12,
Born August 31, 1907. A guerrilla leader during the World War II Japanese occupation and then a congressman (1946-50). Became (1950) secretary of defense in the administration of President Elpidio Quirino. In this post, Magsaysay broke the back of the major uprising (1950-53) of the Communist Hukbalahap (Huk) movement. Quit (1953) Quirino's Liberal party, charging his administration with corruption; joined the opposition Nationalist party and won the 1953 presidential election by a landslide. An advocate of land reform and peasant welfare, died (March 17, 1957) in a plane crash before he could carry out many of his policies.

FERDINAND EDRALIN MARCOS Tenth Philippine President (1965-1986)
Stamps: A1966F12, A1966J24, A1967L30, A1969F13, A1969L30, A1973I21, A1973K15, C1973K15, A1977I11, A1981F30, S1981F30, A1981L03, A1982C25, A1982I11, S1982I11, A1982J21, A1982K28, A1982L18, S1982L18, A1983F20, A1983K10, A1984B20.1 S1985F08 A2002F12,
Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte on September 11, 1917, Elected (1949) to Congress and served as minority leader until 1959, when he was elected to the Senate. Defeated (1965) Diosdado Macapagal for the presidency. Became (1969) the first Philippine president to win a second term. Imposed (1972) martial law to combat student unrest and Communist and Muslim insurgencies. He served as both prime minister and president until 1981, when he lifted martial law and won direct presidential elections under an amended constitution giving him the right to rule by decree. His party won legislative elections in 1978, 1981, and 1984. Ousted on February 25 by People Power, the highlight of the mounting opposition, fueled by a deteriorating economy, corruption, and outrage over the 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Left the presidential palace for U.S. exile. Died in Hawaii on September 28, 1989. Read more on Ferdinand Marcos.

SERGIO OSMENA [1878-1961]
Second President of the Philippine Commonwealth
Stamps: A1957J16, A1963L10.1, A1970F12, A1978I08, A1980K30, A1994I15, S1995L27S1
Succeeded (1944) Quezon. Headed the First Philipiine Assembly.

MANUEL LUIS QUEZON [1878-1944] Second Philippine President (1934-1944)
Stamps: A1947C23, A1947E01, A1947H19, A1947K28, O1948E01, A1953K30, O1953K30, A1954I06, A1958H19, A1959H19.1, B1960H19, A1960K15, A1962A23, A1963I23.1, A1967K15, A1978H19, A1992L07, A1995H18, A1997H19
Born August 19, 1878. Paved the way for Philippine independence during the final period of U.S. colonial rule. Fought (1901) insurrection against U.S. rule, but after its failure he cooperated with the U.S. territorial government. Became (1907) majority leader of the first Philippine assembly under U.S. rule and served (1909-1916) as Filipino resident commissioner in Washington. subsequently, president of the senate in the bicameral Philippine national legislature. Led the successful protest against the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act (passed by the U.S. Congress in 1933), because, although it promised independence, it also allowed U.S. military bases to remain in the Philippines after independence. After the act was rejected by the Filipinos, worked for passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934, which pledged complete Filipino independence on July 4, 1946. Elected president of the resulting new Philippine Commonwealth, and displayed an increasing tendency toward authoritarian rule. Governed (1941) in exile after Japanese occupation of the country until his death on August 4, 1944. Read more on Manuel L. Quezon.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO [1890-1955] Sixth Philippine President (1948-53)
Stamps: A1950G04, A1953J05, A1965B28, A1968C08.1, A1972K13, A1990F01 A2002F12,
Born November 16, 1890, was the second president (1948-53) of the Republic of the Philippines. In 1946, following Philippine independence, Quirino, who had been elected on the ticket of Manuel Roxas y Acuna, became his country's first vice-president. Succeeded (1948) to the presidency at the death of Roxas. Elected (1949) to the office. Broke with the Roxas policy of crushing the insurgent Communist Hukbalahaps (Huks), and persuaded the Huk leader, Luis Taruc, to accept an amnesty. A renewed Huk uprising in August 1948, however, forced Quirino's defense minister, Ramon Magsaysay, to put down the rebellion. Magsaysay ran against and defeated Quirino in the 1953 presidential election. Died on February 29, 1956.

FIDEL VIDAL RAMOS [1928- ] Twelfth Philippine President (1992-1998)
Stamps: A1992F30, A1992H30.1, A1994K12, S1995A02, S1995A04, S1995K29, A1992H30.1 K1998F03 A2002F12, S2004A15,
Born in 1928. A 1950 graduate of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point. He was chief of the Philippine constabulary that helped Ferdinand Marcos impose martial law (1972-81). Supported (1956) the uprising that forced Marcos from office. As armed forces chief of staff (from 1986) and minister of defense (from 1988), foiled several later attempts by dissident officers to overthrow President Corazon Aquino.

MANUEL ACUÑA ROXAS [1892-1948] Fifth Philippine President
Stamps: A1947G04, D1948G15, A1961H19, A1963G04, A1972K13, A1972L21, A1992F01 A2002F12,
Born on January 1, 1892, was the first president of the Philippine republic. A member (1921-33) of the House of Representatives. A rival of Manuel Quezon, the leading nationalist of the 1930s, who had him ousted as Speaker of the House. During Japan's World War II occupation of the Philippines, Roxas cooperated with the pro-Japanese government, but he was subsequently cleared of charges of collaborating after Gen. Douglas MacArthur testified in his behalf. Elected (1945) president of the Senate when the Philippine Congress was reconvened. Roxas became (1946) the first president of an independent Philippines. He died in office 2 years later on April 15, 1948.

President's Wife

EVANGELINA MACAPAGAL First Lady of Diosdado Macapagal
Stamps: A1965F12, A1965G04.1, A1972E29.2, A1973D23.1,

IMELDA R. MARCOS First Lady of Ferdinand Marcos
Stamps: A1966F12, A1966J24, A1968A09, A1969F13, A1969L30, A1973J31, A1973K15, C1973K15, A1975G02, A1980K21, A1981A02, A1982L18, S1982L18S
Allowed (1991) to return to the Philippines to face charges that she and Marcos had robbed the Philippine treasury of billions of dollars. Ran (1992) unsuccessfully for president and was elected (1995) to the legislature. Read more on Imelda Marcos.