The 10 best Philippine Senate presidents

There have already been 33 Senate presidents, from Manuel Quezon effective October 16, 1916 up to Alan Peter Cayetano on May 11, 2026, or for a period of almost 110 years. It’s time to name the 10 best among them. This is my own list based on fair and reasonable criteria. I’m sure you have your own.

The following were elected Senate presidents: Manuel Quezon, Manuel Roxas, Jose Avelino, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Quintin Paredes, Camilo Osias, Eulogio Rodriguez, Camilo Osias again, Jose Zulueta, Eulogio Rodriguez again, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Arturo Tolentino, Gil Puyat, Those 13 occupied that post from 1916 to 1973 when the Senate was abolished by Marcos upon the declaration of martial law. From 1973, to 1987 or for a period of 14 years, we didn’t have any Senate at all.

After the adoption of the 1987 Constitution, we elected 20 SP’s, namely Jovito Salonga, Neptali Gonzales, Edgardo Angara, then Neptali Gonzales again, followed by Ernesto Maceda, and Neptali Gonzales once more, and Marcelo Fernan, Blas Ople, Franklin Drilon, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., then Frank Drilon again, Manny Villar, Juan Ponce Enrile, Frank Drilon once more, Aquilino Pimentel III, Tito Sotto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Escudero, Tito Sotto again and finally, Alan Peter Cayetano.

Based on competence, integrity, performance, charisma, leadership, and the ability to create consensus among divergent political persuasions, my list includes Manuel Quezon, Jovito Salonga, Manuel Roxas, Neptali Gonzales, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, Blas Ople, Marcelo Fernan, Frank Drilon, Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Arturo Tolentino. I selected these fine gentlemen because they weren’t only competent, they were honest. All of them were lawyers, except Blas Ople who was a brilliant college dropout, yet, a global icon as luminary in humanities.

The longest stint as SP was that of Manuel Quezon who was elected seven times from 1916 to 1934 when he ran and won as the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth. Quezon served as SP for 19 years and 30 days. He was followed by Eulogio Rodriguez who was elected for seven terms also and served a total of 10 years and 113 days. The third placer in terms of length of service was Frank Drilon who was elected four times for a total years of eight years and 104 days.

Gil Puyat served as SP for four terms and in five years and 241 days. Tito Sotto for three terms and four years and 285 days, Juan Ponce Enrile for two terms and four years and 200 days. Jovito Salonga served only for one term in four years and 175 days. Mariano Jesus Cuenco was elected three times but only for a total of two years and 312 days. Jose Avelino was elected twice and served for two years and 269 days. Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was elected twice and served for two years and 289 days. Then he ran in 1965 for president and defeated former LP partymate Diosdado Macapagal.

The shortest stint was that of Quintin Paredes who was elected only once and served only for 43 days. Next was Camilo Osias who was elected twice and served a total of 46 days. Jose Zulueta was elected once and served as SP only for 146 days. Nene Pimentel served only one term for 229 days. Marcelo Fernan's term was cut short only for 336 days. Blas Ople served only for 352 days, Manuel Roxas for 353 days and Arturo Tolentino for only one year and nine days.

Three former SP’s became Presidents, namely Quezon, Roxas, and Marcos. The three were all Bar topnotchers, Roxas and Marcos got the first place in their respective Bar Exams. Quezon was number four. The following ran for presidents and lost: Avelino, Tolentino, Salonga, Pimentel, and Manny Villar. Some ran for vice president like Marcelo Fernan and also lost.

SP Alan Peter Cayetano wasn’t a Bar topnotcher, unlike Aquilino Pimentel or Koko who got first place and Frank Drilon who got third place. Salonga was first placer. Cebu had only two SP’s, Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Marcelo Fernan. They are both in my list of 10 most outstanding SPs. The only father and son who were elected SP were Nene Pimentel and Koko Pimentel.

I think Alan Peter Cayetano may not make it among the list of 10 outstanding SPs. But he may yet make a record in Philippine history by breaking the record of Quintin Paredes. That is the deepest hope and most fervent prayer of millions of Filipinos.