Manuel Roxas

Who is Manuel A. Roxas?

"THE FIFTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES"

BIRTHPLACE: Capiz, Roxas City

BORN: January 1, 1892

DIED: April 15, 1948

PARENTS: Gerardo Roxas and Rosario Acuna

MARRIED TO: Doña Trinidad De Leon

CHILDREN: Gerardo "Gerry" and Ma. Rosario "Ruby" Roxas
 Education and Profession
Roxas received his early education in the public schools of Capiz.
Studied at St. Joseph’s Academy in Hong Kong at the age of
twelve (12), but due to homesickness, he went back to Capiz.
He eventually moved to Manila High School (later named Araullo
High School) and graduated there with highest honors in 1909.
Took Bachelor of Laws in the University of the Philippines.
Roxas began his law studies at a private law school established by
George Malcolm, the first dean of the University of the Philippines
College of Law.
On his second year, he enrolled at U.P., where he was elected
president of both his class and the Student Council.
In 1913, Roxas obtained his law degree, graduated class
valedictorian, and subsequently topped the first bar examinations
with a grade of 92%, and known to be the first ever bar topnotcher
of the Philippines.
 Political Career
1917 - Appointed as a member of the Capiz municipal council.

1919-1921 - He became the youngest governor of his province

1922 - Elected as congressman, he took a seat at the

Philippine House of Representatives in 1922, and was
afterward selected as a Speaker of the House and a
member of the Council of State.
1934-1935 - He was chosen as a delegate to the
Constitutional Convention.
26 November 1938 to 28 August 1941 -
Roxas became a member of the unicameral
National Assembly. Secretary of Finance
under the Quezon Administration.

Nov 18, 1941 - elected as a senator and

eventually became Senate president.

1942 - Brigadier General in the USAFFE

 Presidential
election of 1946
JULY 4, 1946 - HE
WAS DECLARED
AS THE FIRST
PRESIDENT OF
THE THIRD
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES.
 CONTRIBUTIONS:
Supported the acceptance of two important laws passed by the Congress
of the United States to the Philippines. These laws were The Philippine
Rehabilitation Act and the Philippine Trade Act (Bell trade act).
On August 5, 1946, the Treaty of General Relations was ratified between
the Philippines and the US. It recognized Philippine independence as of
July 4, 1946 and relinquished American sovereignty over the Philippine
Islands.
On March 14, 1947, the Treaty of General Relations was signed.
On September 7, 1946, Manuel Roxas granted a General Amnesty to
guerrillas who were imprisoned during World War 2.
On January 1, 1947 under the Bell Trade Act, the Parity Amendment was
introduced. It gave American citizens and corporations equal rights to
Filipinos to utilize natural resources and operate public utilities.
On March 11, 1947, it was ratified in a national plebiscite.
 CONTRIBUTIONS:
Reconstruction after the war
Agrarian Reform
Amnesty proclamation
General Amnesty, & Military
Bases Agreement was
implemented.
Parity Rights Amendment
 ISSUES
Bell Trade Act were highly criticized by people because it allowed
Americans to exploit the Philippine’s natural resources.

His administration was marred by graft and corruption; moreover, the

abuses of the provincial military police contributed to the rise of the left-
wing (Huk) movement in the countryside. His heavy-handed attempts to
crush the Huks led to widespread peasant disaffection.

The good record of Roxas administration was marred by two failures: the
failure to curb graft and corruption in the government, as evidenced by
the Surplus War Property scandal, the Chinese immigration scandal and
the School supplies scandal; and the failure to check and stop the
communist Hukbalahap movement.
 ISSUES
The night before the plebiscite, Roxas narrowly escaped assassination by
Julio Guillen, a disgruntled barber from Tondo, Manila, who hurled a
grenade at the platform on Plaza Miranda immediately after Roxas had
addressed a rally.
Although Roxas was successful in his objective to obtain rehabilitation
funds from America to repair what has been destroyed in the Philippines,
he was still criticized for his subjective decisions concerning policies
implemented in the country.
One criticism in Roxas’ administration is his camaraderie with the
Americans. He was too close to them to the point that he allowed US
military bases in the country (23 were leased for 99 years), permitted
trade restrictions for Filipinos, and gave special privileges for US property
owners and investors.
HIS DEATH

 DEATH
On the morning of April 15, 1948 Roxas delivered a speech
before the United States Thirteenth Air Force. After the
speech, he felt dizzy and was brought to the residence of Major
General E.L. Eubank at Clark Field, Pampanga. He died later
that night of a heart attack. Roxas' term as President is thus
the third shortest, lasting one year, ten months, and 18 days.
On April 17, 1948, two days after Roxas' death, Vice-President
Elpidio Quirino took the oath of office as President of the
Philippines.
In his honour, Roxas District (Project 1) in Quezon City, Roxas,
Capiz and Roxas, Isabela were named after him. Dewey
Boulevard in the City of Manila was renamed in his memory.
He is currently depicted on the 100 Philippine peso bill.