Roxas y Acuña, Manuel << RAW hahs ee ah KOO nyah, mah NWEHL >> (1892-1948), served as the first president of the Philippine Republic after it received its independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. He fought the Japanese in World War II (1939-1945), first as a colonel and then as a guerrilla on the island of Mindanao. The Japanese captured him and forced him to serve as a minor official under the puppet government of José P. Laurel. Roxas used his position to shield a spy ring he formed to aid the United States.
Roxas was born on Jan. 1, 1892, in Capiz (now Roxas), on Panay Island. He studied law at the University of the Philippines and became governor of his home province. As speaker of the House of Representatives, he became well known as a supporter of independence. Roxas died on April 15, 1948.
