First Lady or First Gentleman of the Philippines
| First Lady or First Gentleman of the Philippines Unang Ginang o Ginoó ng Pilipinas | |
|---|---|
|
Incumbent Vacant[note 1] | |
| Residence | Malacañang Palace |
| Inaugural holder | Hilaria del Rosario-Aguinaldo[note 2] |
| Formation | 23 January 1899 |
The First Lady or First Gentleman of the Philippines (Filipino: Unang Ginang/Ginoó ng Pilipinas) is the unofficial, customary title of the host or hostess of Malacañang Palace, the residence of the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The title is traditionally held by the consort of the President of the Philippines, and as such is used to interchangeably refer to the spouse of the incumbent.
Terminology
The consort of the Philippine President is, as in other countries, conventionally styled in English as the "First Lady" (Filipino: Unang Ginang). As Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office as the second female President, the masculine form "First Gentleman" (abbreviated FG; Filipino: Unang Ginoó) was used for her husband, Miguel Arroyo.
Role
The position of First Lady or First Gentleman is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and has no personal remuneration. Nonetheless, the title holder participates in humanitarian and charitable work on behalf of the President. Furthermore, many of the holders of this post have taken an active role in campaigning for the President or have participated in public life through some other manner.
Imelda Marcos was given a formal job as Governor of Metro Manila and as Minister of Human Settlements by her husband Ferdinand Marcos during his 21-year rule. 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.
In 2001, physician Luisa Estrada became the first former First Lady to win a seat in Senate.
The wife or husband of the Vice President of the Philippines is sometimes referred to as the Second Lady or Second Gentleman of the Philippines; actual usage of this title, however, is rare.
List
| Succession | Portrait | First Lady/Gentleman | Relation to President | Government | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Hilaria Reyes del Rosario de Aguinaldo (17 February 1877 – 6 March 1921) (Lived: 44 years, 17 days) (16087 days) |
first wife of Emilio Aguinaldo (husband, officially recognized as the first President) |
First Philippine Republic (1899–1901) | January 23, 1899 | April 1, 1901 |
| 2 |  |
Aurora Antonia Aragón y Molina, viuda de Quezón (19 Feb 1888– 28 Apr 1949) (Lived: 61 years, 68 days) (22348 days) |
wife of Manuel L. Quezon | Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1946) | November 15, 1935 | August 1, 1944 |
| 3 |  |
Pacencia Hidalgo Valencia, viuda de Laurel (30 Apr 1889–1 Jan 1960) (Lived: 70 years, 246 days) (25812 days) |
wife of José P. Laurel | Second Philippine Republic (1943–1945) | October 14, 1943 | August 14, 1945 |
| 4 | .jpg) |
Esperanza Escolar Limjap-Osmeña (18 Dec 1894–4 Apr 1978) (Lived: 83 years, 107 days) (30422 days) |
wife of Sergio Osmeña | Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935–1946) | August 1, 1944 | May 28, 1946 |
| 5 |  |
Trinidad Roura de León-Roxas (4 Oct 1900–20 Jun 1995) (lived: 95 years, 259 days) (34957 days) |
wife of Manuel Roxas | Third Philippine Republic (1946–1972) | May 28, 1946 | April 15, 1948 |
| 6 | .jpg) |
Victoria Syquia Quirino (18 May 1931–29 Nov 2006) (Lived: 75 years, 195 days) 27589 days) |
daughter of widower Elpidio Quirino | April 15, 1948 | December 30, 1953 | |
| 7 | .jpg) |
Luz Rosauro Banzon-Magsaysay (25 June 1914–17 Aug 2004) (Lived: 90 years, 53 days) (32926 days) |
wife of Ramon Magsaysay | December 30, 1953 | March 17, 1957 | |
| 8 |  |
Leonila De la Serna Dimataga-Garcia (17 Jul 1906–17 May 1994) (Lived: 87 years, 304 days) (32081 days) |
wife of Carlos P. Garcia | March 17, 1957 | December 30, 1961 | |
| 9 |  |
Evangelina de la Cruz Macaraeg-Macapagal (1 Nov 1915–16 May 1999) (Lived: 83 years, 196 days) (30512 days) |
wife of Diosdado Macapagal | December 30, 1961 | December 30, 1965 | |
| 10 |  |
Imelda Remedios Trinidad Romuáldez-Marcos (born 2 Jul 1929) (Living: 89 years, 102 days) (32609 days) |
wife of Ferdinand E. Marcos | December 30, 1965 | February 25, 1986 | |
| Philippines under Martial Law (1972–1981) | ||||||
| Fourth Philippine Republic (1981–1987) | ||||||
| Vacant; Corazon C. Aquino was a widow. Her husband, Benigno Aquino Jr., was assassinated in 1983. | February 25, 1986 | June 30, 1992 | ||||
| Fifth Philippine Republic (1987–present) | ||||||
| 11 |  |
Amelita Jara Martinez-Ramos (born 29 Jan 1926) (Living: 92 years, 256 days) (33859 days) |
wife of Fidel V. Ramos | June 30, 1992 | June 30, 1998 | |
| 12 | .jpg) |
Luisa Fernandez Pimentel-Ejercito Estrada (born 2 Jun 1931) (Living: 87 years, 132 days) (31909 days) |
wife of Joseph Ejercito Estrada | June 30, 1998 | January 20, 2001 | |
| 13 |  |
José Miguel Tuason Arroyo (born 27 Jun 1945) (Living: 73 years, 107 days) (26770 days) |
husband of Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo | January 20, 2001 | June 30, 2010 | |
| Vacant; Benigno S. Aquino III was unmarried | June 30, 2010 | June 30, 2016 | ||||
| Vacant; Rodrigo Duterte is unmarried[note 1] | June 30, 2016 | Incumbent | ||||
Non-spouses who held the distinction
On few occasions, individuals who are not spouses of the incumbent president has perform tasks reserved for the First Lady or First Gentleman effectively rendering them as the de facto holder of the position in selected occasions; most often they are a direct relative of the President. To date, only Elpidio Quirino, Corazon Aquino, and Benigno Aquino III had no First Lady or First Gentleman.[4] In the case of Quirino, his First Lady was not his wife but his daughter since he was a widower.
Victoria Quirino-Gonzalez was the First Lady for her father, Elpidio Quirino. However Victoria is regarded as the first to be named with the role "First Lady". The spouses of the presidents, from Emilio Aguinaldo to Manuel Roxas, were not given the title during their respective husbands' terms.[1]
Corazón Aquino was married to Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., whose assassination on 21 August 1983 was a key factor in her 1986 rise to the presidency. Her eldest daughter, María Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz, served as her mother's proxy in some social functions and accompanied her on state visits. In a similar fashion to Victoria Quirino-Delgado, Aquino-Cruz was informally styled "First Lady"; her brother, Benigno III (later President) was meanwhile considered First Gentleman.
During the 2015 APEC summit hosted in Manila, Benigno Aquino III's sister, Kris Aquino served as de facto First Lady for the occasion. Their other sisters, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abelleda, and Viel Aquino-Dee, also assisted the president in performing his duties.[5][6][7][8] In the absence of a First Lady for Aquino, the Palace hired professionals to fulfill the roles usually reserved for the First Lady or First Gentleman, such as organizing state dinners.[4]
Prior to his inauguration, incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte officially designated his daughter Sara as First Lady despite having Cielito Avanceña as his common-law wife. He was previously married to Elizabeth Zimmerman; [9] their marriage was annulled in 2000. Ms. Avanceña has started to participate as consort of President Duterte during the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and as hostess during the 30th ASEAN Summit.
However, then Mayor-elect Duterte declined the offer.[3][10] Following the filing of newly-elected Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte of a 10-day leave of absence until June 22, there were speculations that she would assume the post of First Lady, but she neither denied or confirmed the speculation.[11][12] Former Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan has suggested Vice President Leni Robredo to serve as de facto First Lady.[13]
| Succession | Portrait | First Lady | Relation to President | Government | Term of President | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | |||||
| 6 | |
Victoria Quirino–Gonzalez | Daughter of widower Elpidio Quirino | Third Philippine Republic (1946–1972) | April 17, 1948 | December 30, 1953 |
| N/A | Ballsy Aquino–Cruz | Daughter of widow Corazon Aquino | Fifth Philippine Republic (1986–present) | February 25, 1986 | June 30, 1992 | |
 |
Kris Aquino | Sister of unmarried Benigno Aquino III | June 30, 2010 | June 30, 2016 | ||
Living former First Ladies or First Gentlemen
As of October 2018, there are four living former First Ladies or First Gentlemen. The most recent First Lady to die was Victoria Quirino (1948–1953) Daughter of Elpidio Quirino on November 29, 2006 and Luz Magsaysay (1953–1957) on August 17, 2004.
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
Notes
- 1 2 Currently, there is no individual holding this customary title. Cielito Avanceña is the common-law spouse of current President Rodrigo Duterte, who had initially offered the title to his daughter, Sara. The latter declined, citing her duties as Mayor of Davao City.
- ↑ The term "First Lady" was first used for Victoria Quirino-González, who was the daughter of President Elpidio Quirino.[1]
References
- 1 2 Lo, Ricky (15 May 2016). "The Fabulous First Ladies, 1897-2001". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ Updated daily according to UTC.
- 1 2 Alconaba, Nico (11 May 2016). "Mayor Sara turns down first lady job". Inquirer Mindanao. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
The country’s next President still has no first lady after Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte, turned down the offer.
- 1 2 San Juan, Thelma Sioson (27 July 2014). "President who has no first lady: It is what it is". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/11/09/15/watch-kris-to-host-lunch-for-apec-first-ladies
- ↑ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/11/19/15/look-kris-sisters-all-set-to-host-luncheon-for-apec-first-ladies
- ↑ http://m.manila.coconuts.co/2015/11/10/there-are-10-first-ladies-who-confirmed-kris-aquinos-lunch
- ↑ Montesa, Jon (11 November 2015). "Kris as APEC 2015 First Lady". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ Vanzi, Sol (26 June 2016). "Duterte's women". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2 July 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
Although Duterte has announced that his official First Lady...
- ↑ "Duterte's families arrive separately in Malacañang". GMA News. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
During the campaigns, Duterte had said that he was planning to name Inday Sara as his First Lady, but she begged off citing her responsibilities in Davao City.
- ↑ Carillo, Carmencita (2 July 2016). "Davao mayor takes a leave on first day of office". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ↑ Carillo, Lovely (13 July 2016). "Pulong denies Sara resigning". The Mindanao Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ↑ Macabalang, Ali (4 July 2016). "Leni pushed as Duterte's 'de facto First Lady' in official functions". Manila Bulletin.