The 1961 Philippine presidential and vice presidential elections were held on November 14, 1961. Incumbent president Carlos P. Garcia lost his opportunity for a second full term as president of the Philippines to Vice President Diosdado Macapagal. His running mate, Senator Gil J. Puyat, lost to Senator Emmanuel Pelaez. Six candidates ran for president, four of whom got nine votes nationwide together. This was the only election in Philippine electoral history in which a vice-president defeated the incumbent president.