Sergio Osmeña

Sergio Osmeña, PLH, better known as Sergio Osmeña, Sr. (September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961) was a Filipino politician who served as the fourthPresident of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President underManuel L. Quezon, and succeeded as President upon Quezon's sudden death in 1944, becoming the oldest officeholder at age 65. A founder of Nacionalista Party, he was also the first Visayan to become President of the Philippines.

Prior to his accession in 1944, Osmeña served as Governor of Cebu from 1906 to 1907, Member and first Speaker of the Philippine House of Representativesfrom 1907 to 1922, and Senator from the 10th Senatorial District for thirteen years, in which capacity he served as Senate President pro tempore. In 1935, he was nominated to be the running-mate of Senate President Manuel L. Quezon for the presidential election that year. The tandem was overwhelmingly re-elected in 1941.

He was patriarch of the prominent Osmeña family, which includes his son, former Senator Sergio Osmeña, Jr., and his grandsons, senators Sergio Osmeña III and John Henry Osmeña), ex-governor Lito Osmeña, and formerCebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña.