BENIGNO AQUINO III

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III; born February 8, 1960, also known asNoynoy AquinoorPNoy, is aFilipinopolitician who has been the15thPresident of the Philippinessince June 2010. Aquino is a fourth-generation politician: his great-grandfather,Servillano "Mianong" Aquino, served as adelegateto theMalolos Congress; his grandfather,Benigno Aquino, Sr., served asSpeaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippinesfrom 1943 to 1944; and his parents were PresidentCorazon Aquinoand SenatorBenigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.Aquino is a member of theLiberal Party.In theLiberal Party, Aquino held various positions such as Secretary General and Vice President forLuzon. Aquino is theChairmanof the Liberal Party.

Born inManila, Aquino finished hisBachelor of Arts(major inEconomics) fromAteneo de Manila Universityin 1981 and joined his family in their exile in theUnited Statesshortly thereafter. He returned to the Philippines in 1983 shortly after theassassination of his fatherand held several positions working in the private sector. In 1998, he was elected to theHouse of Representativesas Representative of the 2nd district ofTarlacprovince. He was subsequently re-elected to the House in 2001 and 2004.In 2007, having been barred from running for re-election to the House due toterm limits, he was elected to the Senate in the14th Congress of the Philippines.

Following thedeath of his motheron August 1, 2009, many people began calling on Aquino to run for president.On September 9, 2009, Aquino officially announced he would be a candidate in the2010 presidential election, held on May 10, 2010.On June 9, 2010, theCongress of the Philippinesproclaimed Aquino the winner of the2010 presidential election.On June 30, 2010, at the Quirino GrandstandinRizal Park,Manila,Aquino wassworn into officeas thefifteenthPresident of the Philippines, succeeding Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, byAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the PhilippinesConchita Carpio-Morales.

In 2013,TIMEnamed him one of the100 Most Influential People in the World. Although the official residence of the President is theMalacaang Palace, Aquino actually resides in theBahay Pangarap(House of Dreams), located within the Palace grounds

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo(born April 5, 1947) is aFilipinopolitician who served as the14thPresident of the Philippinesfrom 2001 to 2010, as the12thVice President of the Philippinesfrom 1998 to 2001, and as member of theHouse of Representatives representing the2nd DistrictofPampangasince 2010. She was the country's second female president (afterCorazon Aquino), and the daughter of former PresidentDiosdado Macapagal. Arroyo is also the first duly elected female Vice President of the Philippines.

Arroyo was a former professor of economics atAteneo de Manila UniversitywhereBenigno Aquino IIIwas one of her students. She entered government in 1987, serving as assistant secretary and undersecretary of theDepartment of Trade and Industryupon the invitation of President Corazon Aquino. After serving as a senator from 1992 to 1998, she was elected to thevice presidencyunder PresidentJoseph Estrada, despite having run on an opposing ticket. After Estrada was accused of corruption, she resigned her cabinet position asSecretary of Social Welfare and Developmentand joined the growing opposition to the president, who faced impeachment. Estrada was soon forced from office by theEDSA Revolution of 2001, and Arroyo was sworn into the presidency by Chief JusticeHilario Davide, Jr.on January 20, 2001. She was elected to a full six-year presidential term in the controversial May 2004 Philippine elections, and was sworn in on June 30, 2004. Following her presidency she was elected to the House of Representatives, making her the second Philippine presidentafterJose P. Laurelto pursue a lower office after their presidency.

On November 18, 2011, Arroyo was arrested following the filing of criminal charges against her for electoral fraud. She was held at theVeterans Memorial Medical CenterinQuezon Cityunder charges ofelectoral sabotagebut released on bail in July 2012. She was re-arrested while in hospital on charges of misuse of $8.8 million in state lottery funds in October 2012.

Early lifeShe was born asMaria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagalto politicianDiosdado Macapagaland his wife,Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal. She is the sister of Dr. Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal, Jr. and Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. She spent the first years of her life inLubao, Pampanga, with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage.At the age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother inIligan City.She stayed there for three years, then split her time betweenMindanaoandManilauntil the age of 11.She is fluent in English,Tagalog, Spanish and several other Philippine languages, most importantly,Kapampangan, Ilokano, andCebuano.

In 1961, when Arroyo was just 14 years old, her father was elected as president. She moved with her family intoMalacaang Palacein Manila. A municipality was named in her honor,Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She attendedAssumption Conventfor her elementary and high school education, graduatingvaledictorianin 1964. JOSEPH ESTRADA

Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada(bornJose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937) is aFilipinopolitician who was the13thPresident of the Philippinesfrom 1998 to 2001. He has beenMayorof theCity of Manila, the country's capital, since 2013.Estrada was the first person in the presentFifth Republican periodto be elected both President and Vice-President.

Estrada gained popularity as a filmactor, playing the lead role in over a hundred films in an acting career spanning some three decades. He used his popularity as an actor to make gains in politics, serving as mayor ofSan Juanfor 16 years, asSenatorfor one term, then asVice-Presidentunder PresidentFidel V. Ramos.

Estrada was elected President in 1998 with a wide margin of votes separating him from the other challengers, and was sworn into the presidency on June 30, 1998. In 2000 he declared an "all-out-war" against theMoro Islamic Liberation Frontand captured its headquarters and other camps.However, allegations ofcorruptionspawned animpeachmenttrial in the Senate, and in 2001 Estrada was ousted by "People Power 2" after the prosecution walked out of the impeachment court when the Senator-Judges voted "no" in the opening of the second envelope. TheEDSA 2protests resulted from the concerted efforts of political, business, military, and church elites who were displeased by Estrada's policies that included removal of sovereign guarantees on government contracts.In October 2000, theDaily Tribunereported about elite plans to "'constitutionally' oust President Estrada under 'Oplan Excelsis."[5]Emil Jurado of the Manila Standard reported as early as 1999 about a PR demolition work designed to embarrass Estrada "by attributing to his administration all sorts of perceived faults and scams with the end in view of covering up anomalies and scams also committed during the Ramos administration." Former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo also admitted in an interview with Nick Joaquin that he and then-Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson and certain military officials plotted plans to oust Estrada in January 2001, with the alternative "plan B" being violent "with orders to shoot. And not only in Metro Manila." In 2007, Estrada was sentenced by the special division of theSandiganbayantoreclusin perpetuafor theplunderof stealing$80 million from the government and was sentenced a lifetime in prison, but was later grantedpardonby PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He ran for president again in the2010 presidential election, but placed second behind SenatorBenigno Aquino III.

EARLY LIFE AND CAREERJoseph Ejercito Estrada was born at 8:25 PM on April 19, 1937 at Manuguit Maternity Hospital (now known as Amisola Maternity Hospital) inTondo, an urban district ofManila.His family later moved to the wealthy suburb ofSan Juan.He belonged to an upper-middle-class family, and was the eighth of ten children ofEmilio Ejercitoand his wife,Maria Marcelo.He was expelled during his primary studies at theAteneo de Manila Universityand subsequently enrolled in an engineering course at theMapa Institute of Technologyin an effort to please his father, but dropped out.

In his twenties, he began a career as a drama actor. He adopted thestage name"Joseph Estrada", as his mother objected to his chosen career and his decision to quit schooling.He also acquired the nickname "Erap" (a play on theTagalogslang "pare", meaning 'buddy') from his friend, fellow actorFernando Poe, Jr.

FIDEL V. RAMOS

Fidel Valdez RamosAFPPLHGCMG(born March 18, 1928), popularly known asFVRandEddie, was the12thPresident of the Philippinesfrom 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in thePhilippine economy.

Prior to his election as President, Ramos served in the Cabinet of PresidentCorazn Aquino, first as chief-of-staff of theArmed Forces of the Philippines(AFP), chief ofIntegrated National Police, and later on, asSecretary of National Defensefrom 1986 to 1991.

During the historic1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, Ramos was hailed as a hero by many Filipinos for his decision to breakaway from the administration of PresidentFerdinand Marcosand pledge allegiance and loyalty to the newly established government of President Aquino.

Under Ramos, the Philippines experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion, as a result of his policies and programs designed to foster national reconciliation and unity. Ramos was able to secure major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in thePhilippine economy. Ramos also aggressively pushed for the deregulation of the nation's major industries and the privatization of bad government assets. As a result of his hands-on approach to the economy, the Philippines was dubbed by various internationally asAsia's Next Economic Tiger.

However, the momentum in the economic gains made under his administration was briefly interrupted during the onset of the 1997Asian Financial Crisis. Nevertheless, during the last year of the term, the economy managed to make a rebound since it was not severely hit by the crisis as compared to other Asian economies. He also oversaw thePhilippine Centennial Independence celebrations in 1998.

Ramos has received numerous awards, and is the onlyFilipinoto have received an honorary British order, having been made aKnight Grand Crossof theOrder of St Michael and St GeorgebyQueenElizabeth II of the United Kingdomin 1995. CORAZON AQUINO

Maria Corazon "Cory" SumulongCojuangcoAquino(January 25, 1933 August 1, 2009) was a Philippine politician who served as the11thPresident of the Philippines, the first woman to hold that office, and the first female president inAsia, though not the first female Asian head of state. Aquino was the most prominent figure of the 1986People Power Revolution, which toppled the20-yearauthoritarianrule of PresidentFerdinand Marcosand restored democracy to thePhilippines. She was namedTimemagazine's "Woman of the Year" in 1986. She had not held any other elective office.

A self-proclaimed "plainhousewife",she was married toSenatorBenigno Aquino, Jr., the staunchest critic of President Marcos. She emerged as leader of the opposition after her husbandwas assassinatedon August 21, 1983 upon returning to the Philippines from exile in theUnited States. In late 1985, Marcos called forsnap elections, and Aquino ran for president with former senatorSalvador Laurelas herVice-President. After theelectionswere held on February 7, 1986, theBatasang Pambansaproclaimed Marcos and his running mate,Arturo Tolentino, as the winners amidst allegations ofelectoral fraud, with Aquino calling for massivecivil disobedienceactions. Defections from theArmed Forcesand the support of thelocal Catholic Churchled to the People Power Revolution that ousted Marcos and secured Aquino's accession on February 25, 1986.

As President, Aquino oversaw the promulgation of the1987 Constitution, which limited the powers of the Presidency and re-established thebicameralCongress. Her administration gave strong emphasis and concern forcivil libertiesandhuman rights, and on peace talks to resolve the ongoingCommunist insurgencyandIslamist secession movements. Her economic policies centred on restoring economic health and confidence and focused on creating a market-oriented and socially responsible economy.

Aquino facedseveral coup attemptsagainst her government and various natural calamities until the end of her term in 1992. She was succeeded as President byFidel V. Ramos, and returned to civilian life while remaining public about her opinions on political issues.

In 2008, Aquino was diagnosed withcolon cancerfrom which she died on August 1, 2009. Her son,Benigno Aquino III, has been President of the Philippines since June 30, 2010. Throughout her life, Aquino was known to be a devout Roman Catholic, and was fluent inFrenchandEnglishbesides her nativeTagalogandKapampangan.

FERDINAND MARCOS

Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr.(September 11, 1917 September 28, 1989) was aFilipinolawyer and politician who served asPresident of the Philippinesfrom 1965 to 1986. He ruled undermartial lawfrom 1972 until 1981. Public outrage led to thesnap elections of 1986and to the making ofPeople Power Revolutionin February 1986. Prior to the presidency, he served as a member of thePhilippine House of Representativesfrom 1949 to 1959 and of thePhilippine Senatefrom 1959 to 1965, where he wasSenate Presidentfrom 1963 to 1965.

His wife wasImelda Marcos, who became famous in her own right, and who is still active in Philippine politics along with two of his three children,Imee MarcosandFerdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.

EARLY LIFEFerdinand Edralin Marcos was born 11 September 1917, in the town ofSarrat, Ilocos Norte, toMariano Marcosand Josefa Edralin. He was baptized into thePhilippine Independent Church,but he was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church at the age of three.

In December 1938, Ferdinand was prosecuted for the murder ofJulio Nalundasanalong with his father, Mariano, his brother, Pio, and his brother-in-law Quirino Lizardo; Nalundasan one of the elder Marcos' political rivals. Nalundasan had been shot and killed in his house inBatacon 20 September 1935the day after he had defeated Mariano Marcos a second time for a seat in theNational Assembly. According to two witnesses, the four had conspired to assassinate Nalundasan, with Ferdinand Marcos eventually pulling the trigger. In late January 1939, they were denied bail[5]and in the fallof 1939 they were convicted. Ferdinand and Lizardo received thedeath penaltyfor premeditated murder, while Mariano and Pio were found guilty ofcontempt of court. The Marcos family took their appeal to theSupreme Court of the Philippines, which overturned the lower court's decision on 22 October 1940, acquitting them of all charges except contempt. Marcos studied law at theUniversity of the Philippines, attending the prestigiousCollege of Law. He excelled in both curricular and extra-curricular activities, becoming a valuable member of the university's swimming, boxing, and wrestling teams. He was also an accomplished and prolificorator, debater, and writer for the student newspaper. He also became a member of the University of the PhilippinesROTCUnit (UP Vanguard Fraternity) where he met his future cabinet members andArmed ForcesChiefs of Staff. He sat for the 1939 Bar Examinations, receiving a near-perfect score and graduatingcum laudedespite the fact that he was incarcerated while reviewing; had he not been in jail for 27 days, he would have graduatedmagna cum laude. He was elected to thePi Gamma Muand thePhi Kappa Phiinternationalhonour societies, the latter giving him its Most Distinguished Member Award 37 years later. He claimed to have led a 9,000-man guerrilla force calledAngMahrlika(Tagalog, "The Noble") in northernLuzonduring theWorld War II, although his account of events was later cast into doubt after a United States military investigation exposed many of his claims as either false or inaccurate.