Manuel A. Roxas

Manuel A. Roxas, the fifth president of the Philippines, was born in Capiz (now Roxas City) on January 1, 1892. He studied law at the University of the Philippines, graduated with high honors in 1913, and topped the Bar examinations held that same year. Initially, he was employed as private secretary of then Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano and taught law in 1915-1916.

Roxas began his political career in 1917 as a member of the municipal council of Capiz. He was governor of the province in 1912-21 and was then elected to the Philippine House of Representatives in 1922, subsequently serving as Speaker of the House and a member of the Council of State.

In 1923 he and Manuel Quezon, the President of the Senate, resigned in protest from the Council of State when U.S. Governor General Leonard wood began vetoing bills passed by the Philippine Legislature. Nine years later, Roxas and Sergio Osme–a led the Philippine Independence Mission to Washington, D.C., where they influenced the passage of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act. Roxas was later opposed by Quezon, who held that the act compromised future Philippine independence and this led to the split of the Nationalista Party.

In 1934, however, Roxas was a member of the convention that drew up a constitution under the revised Philippine Independence and Commonwealth Act (Tydings-McDuffie Act). At that time he also served as secretary of finance in the Commonwealth government from 1938 up to 1940.

During World War II Roxas served in the pro-Japanese government of Jose Laurel by acquiring supplies of rice for the Japanese army. Although a court was established after the war to try collaborators, Roxas was defended by his friend Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

Roxas was elected president of the Commonwealth in 1946 as the nominee of the liberal wing of the Nacionalista Party (which later became the Liberal Party), and, when independence was declared on July 4, Roxas became the first president of the new independent Republic.

Believing that his nation's rehabilitation and defense depended on close association with the United States, he accepted terms of aid, trade, and military cooperation, including a military bases agreement where the Philippine government was forced to concede 23 military bases which were leased for 99 years. Many Filipinos, however, resented these agreements entered into by Roxas with the United States.

His administration was marred by graft and corruption; moreover, the abuses of the provincial military police contributed to the rise of the left-wing Hukbalahap (Huk) movement in the countryside. His heavy-handed attempts to crush the Huks led to widespread peasant disaffection.

Roxas was married to the former Trinidad de Leon. He died in Clark Field, Pampanga on April 15, 1948.