Ranking the greatest Philippine Presidents: What criteria to use?

JoeAm

February 29

Analysis and Opinion

By Joe America

A new ranking of American presidents is out based on a survey led by two US political science professors. Here's an article about it: NEW SURVEY OF SCHOLARS FINDS LINCOLN REMAINS AMERICA'S GREATEST PRESIDENT

This excerpt considers recent presidents:

"The survey shows that while presidential scholars continue to consider Abraham Lincoln the nation's greatest president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt has passed George Washington as the second-greatest president. President Biden enters the rankings at #14, behind recent Democrats Barack Obama (#7) and Bill Clinton (#12), but ahead of recent Republicans Ronald Reagan (#16), George H.W. Bush (#19), George W. Bush (#32) and Donald Trump (#45)."

So how would we rank Philippine presidents since Aguinaldo? I'm no historian and Joe Jr. knows more about the presidents than I do, MLQIII having gifted us with some fine historical books which Junior has read and I have not. I'd Put President Noynoy Aquino at the top of my list, with Duterte at the bottom and Marcos Senior right above him. Aguinaldo would be lower end. Osmeña and Quezon upper end. Magsaysay the Rebel very high. But these are more impressions than meaningful because, well, what are the criteria? And who were these presidents?

Here are the Philippine presidents in order of service (source Studocu):

Emilio Aguinaldo (January 23, 1899 – March 23, 1901)
Manuel L. Quezon (1935-1944)
Jose P. Laurel (October 14, 1943 –August 17, 1945)
Sergio Osmeña Sr. (August 1, 1944 – May 28, 1946)
Manuel A. Roxas (May 28, 1946 –April 15, 1948)
Elpidio R. Quirino (April 17, 1948 – December 30, 1953)
Ramon Magsaysay Sr. (December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957)
Carlos P. Garcia (March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961)
Diosdado P. Macapagal (December 30, 1961 – December 30, 1965)
Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. (December 30, 1965 – February 25, 1986)
Corazon C.Aquino (February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992)
Fidel V. Ramos (June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998)
Joseph E. Estrada (June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001)
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010)
Benigno Aquino III (June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016)
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022)
Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr. (June 30, 2022 – Present)

What criteria can be used? Competency of staff. Government killings. Military accomplishments. Economic growth. infrastructure development. Social enlightenment. Corruption. International relations. Any number of points to be weighted and scored.

Or a forced ranking shaped by argument until we have general concurrence on a list.

Let's debate this, eh? Maybe we can get to a definitive Society of Honor Presidential Ranking, seat-of-the-pants methodology. And we can learn about the presidents we do not know.

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Cover photo by Bing from the prompt "Representation of democracy in the Philippines in terms of the office of the president".