First Spouse of the Philippines

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The First Spouse of the Philippines is the unofficial title^{[citation needed]} of the hostess/host of the Malacañang Palace, the nation's residence of its head of state. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife or husband of the President of the Philippines, the title is sometimes taken to apply only to the spouse of a sitting president.

Role of the First Spouse

The first spouse^{[citation needed]} is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and brings no salary. Nonetheless, she attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. The first lady also frequently participates in humanitarian and charitable work. Furthermore, many have taken an active role in campaigning for the president with whom they are associated. Imelda Marcos was given a formal job as Governor of Metro Manila and as Minister of Human settlements during the term of her husband Ferdinand Marcos during their 21-year stay in the palace. She is also the first First Lady to enter the world of Philippine politics by winning a seat in the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978, and also in 2001, Luisa Estrada became the first former First Lady to win a seat in the Senate.

The wife or husband of the Vice President of the Philippines is sometimes referred to as the Second Spouse of the Philippines, however this title is less common than First Lady.

The husband of a female president is known as the "First Gentleman".^{[citation needed]}

The First Spouses of the Philippines

#		First Lady/Gentleman	Relation to President	Government	Start	End
1		Hilaria del Rosario-Aguinaldo	first wife of Emilio Aguinaldo (officially recognized as the first President)	First Philippine Republic (1899)	January 23, 1899	April 1, 1901
2		Aurora Aragon-Quezon	wife of Manuel L. Quezon	Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935)	November 15, 1935	August 1, 1944
3		Pacencia Hidalgo-Laurel	wife of José P. Laurel	Second Philippine Republic (1943)	October 14, 1943	August 14, 1945
4		Esperanza Limjap-Osmeña	wife of Sergio Osmeña	Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935)	August 1, 1944	May 28, 1946
5		Trinidad de León-Roxas	wife of Manuel Roxas	Third Philippine Republic (1946)	May 28, 1946	April 15, 1948
6		Victoria Quirino-Delgado	daughter of widower Elpidio Quirino	Third Philippine Republic (1946)	April 17, 1948	December 30, 1953
7		Luz Banzon-Magsaysay	wife of Ramon Magsaysay	Third Philippine Republic (1946)	December 30, 1953	March 17, 1957
8		Leonila Dimataga-Garcia	wife of Carlos P. Garcia	Third Philippine Republic (1946)	March 23, 1957	December 30, 1961
9		Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal	wife of Diosdado Macapagal	Third Philippine Republic (1946)	December 30, 1961	December 30, 1965
10		Imelda Romualdez-Marcos	wife of Ferdinand E. Marcos	Third Philippine Republic (1946) Philippines under Martial Law (1972) Fourth Philippine Republic (1981)	December 30, 1965	February 25, 1986
11		Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III	son of Corazon Aquino	Fifth Philippine Republic (1986)
12		Amelita Martinez-Ramos	wife of Fidel V. Ramos	Fifth Philippine Republic (1986)	June 30, 1992	June 30, 1998
13		Luisa Pimentel-Estrada	wife of Joseph Ejercito Estrada	Fifth Philippine Republic (1986)	June 30, 1998	January 20, 2001
14		Jose Miguel Tuason Arroyo	husband of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo	Fifth Philippine Republic (1986)	January 20, 2001	incumbent

Notes

Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was assassinated in 1983 before his wife Corazon Aquino served as the first president of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines from 1986-1992.

External links

• List of Presidents of the Philippines, www.gov.ph