Osmena, Sergio (1878-1961), a Filipino statesman, was president of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. In 1907, he founded the Partido Nacionalista (National Party), which became the country’s most influential political party. He led the party until 1921.
Osmena was born on Sept. 9, 1878, in Cebu City, on the central Philippine island of Cebu. In 1903, he graduated in law from the University of Santo Tomas, in Manila. He became a well-known nationalist leader editing El Nuevo Dia (The New Day), a Spanish language newspaper in Cebu City. He served as governor of Cebu from 1904 to 1907. In 1907, Osmena was elected as a representative in the first Philippine National Assembly. In 1935, Osmena became vice president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. After the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941, Osmena went to the United States. On President Manuel L. Quezon’s death in 1944, Osmena became president and returned to the Philippines. In the 1946 presidential elections, Osmena was defeated by Manuel Roxas. Osmena died on Oct. 19, 1961.
