Manuel Roxas

Manuel Acuña Roxas was born on January 1, 1892 in Capiz (now Roxas City), Capiz Province. He was the fifth President of the Philippines, the last of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, and the first of the sovereign Third Philippine Republic. He ruled as President from the Philippines' independence from the United States of America on July 4, 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948.

Roxas did not finish his full four-year term. On the morning of April 15, 1948, he 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 (age 56) later that night of a heart attack. Roxas' term as President is thus the third shortest, lasting one year, ten months, and 18 days.