Manuel Roxas y Acuna (1946-1948) 5th President of the Philippines 3rd President of the Commonwealth 1st President of the

3rd Republic Early Life Born on 1 January 1892 to Gerardo Roxas [Sr.] and Rosario Acuna in Capiz City (renamed as Roxas City in 1949). Manuel Roxas' ancestry can be traced back to Antonio Roxas y Ureta, brother of Domingo Roxas. Antonio Roxas married Lucina Arroyo and would have a son named Juan Pablo Roxas y Arroyo, who in turn had a son named Caetano Arroyo, the father of Antonio Roxas. Antonio was the father of Gerardo Roxas. Education Manuel started his elementary education at the Capiz Elementary School but continued it in Saint Joseph's College in Hong Kong. He took his secondary education in Manila High School where he graduated with the highest honors in 1909. In 1913, he achieved his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines and placed first in the Bar examinations of the same year. Career history Before he started in government service he was a practicing lawyer and was a professor of law at the Philippine Law School and National University. In 1913, upon learning Manuel's excellent records, former Chief Justice Cayetano L. Arellano offered him to be his secretary of the Supreme Court. As a politician Manuel began his political career in 1917, when he was appointed as municipal councilor of Capiz. From just being a councilor, he was elected as Governor of the province in 1919 and served as such until 1921. After his term as governor he was elected to represent their province to the 7th, 8th, and 9th Philippine Legislature (19221934) where he was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. However, Roxas, along with Manuel Quezon and others including Jose P. Laurel, resigned in protest of American Governor-General Leonard Wood, who was rejecting bills passed by the Philippine legislature. He went with Sergio Osmea to the US in 1933 to secure passage of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Law. He was one of the delegates in the drafting of the 1935 Constitution. He also served as a member of the national Assembly from 1935 to 1938 and as Secretary of Finance under the Quezon Administration from 26 November 1938 to 28 August 1941. On 18 November 1941, he was elected as senator and later became the Senate president. During that time, he was also a reserve Major in the Philippine Army, a liaison officer and aide-to-camp to General Douglas MacArthur, then later promoted to Colonel and then Brigadier General.

During World War II, he, like Jose Laurel, was marked as collaborators even if he secretly supported the guerilla movement. After liberation, he ran for presidency where he had President Sergio Osmea (Nacionalista Party) and Hilario Moncado (Partido Modernista) as adversaries. He won and on 4 July 1946, Philippine's Independence was gained and Manuel became the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines. Presidency Manuel Roxas (3d from left), on 15 April 1948, watching an air show at Clark AB. He would die hours after this picture was taken. During his term as president, he ratified the Bell Trade Act, included the Parity Amendment in the Constitution and signed the 1947 Military Bases Agreement. It was during his term the government was damaged by graft and corruption which caused distrust from the people. Furthermore, abuse from the military and police added to the existing problems with the left-wing Huks, the members of the HukBaLaHap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon). Manuel Roxas attempted to crush these Huks but only created widespread anger among the peasants. On 15 April 1948, while giving a speech at the Clark Air Force Base, Manuel Roxas had a heart attack. He died at the age of 56. He was succeeded by his vice president, Elpidio Quirino. Cabinet and Judicial Appointments 1946-1948 The Commonwealth of the Philippines became the Republic of the Philippines on 4 July 1946. On that date, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs became the first in the order of presence among the cabinet. The roster of cabinet officials also became fixed as outlined below.

OFFICE President Vice-President Secretary of Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Interior Secretary of Finance Secretary of Justice Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce

NAME Manuel Roxas Elpidio Quirino Elpidio Quirino Jose Zulueta Miguel Cuaderno Ramon Ozaeta

TERM 19461948 19461948 19461948 19461948 19461948 19461948

Mariano Garchitorena 19461948

Secretary of Public Works and Communications Ricardo Nepumoceno 19461948 Secretary of Instruction Secretary of Labor Secretary of National Defense Secretary of Health and Public Welfare General Auditing Office Secretary to the President Resident Commissioner Manuel Gallego Pedro Magsalin Ruperto Kangleon Antonio Villarama Sotero Cabahug Jose S. Reyes Carlos P. Romulo 19461948 19461948 19461948 19461948 19451946 19451946 19451946

Personal Life Roxas was married to Doa Trinidad de Leon Roxas who was very active in the Philippine society. Their two children Ruby (married to Vicente Roxas), was involved in functions commemorating the memory of her late father and Gerry Roxas, their only son, who died several years ago, was also a former Senator. Projects: During his short presidency, Roxas achieved the ratification of the Bell Trade Act, the inclusion of the Parity Amendment in the Constitution and the signing 1947 Military Bases Agreement. The Roxas administration was riddled with graft and corruption which caused much distrust with the people. Further problems arose from the abuse of the police and military which also contributed the already existing problems of the leftwing Huks in the countryside. Roxas attempted to crush the Huks but this only created widespread disaffection amongst the peasants.

References: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Manuel_Roxas
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