Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal on April 5, 1947) is a Filipina politician. She is the fourteenth and current president of the Philippines. Arroyo is the country's second female president, and the daughter of late former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal. She is a direct descendant of the Lakandula rulers of the ancient Luzon Empire.[1]

A professor of economics, Arroyo entered government in 1987, serving as assistant secretary and undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry upon the invitation of President Corazon Aquino. After serving as a senator from 1992 to 1998, she was elected to the vice presidency under President Joseph Estrada, despite having run on an opposing ticket. After Estrada was accused of corruption, she resigned her cabinet position as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development and joined the growing opposition to the president, who faced impeachment. Estrada was soon forced from office by peaceful street demonstrations, and Arroyo was subsequently sworn into the presidency on January 20, 2001. She was elected to a full six-year presidential term in her own right and was sworn in June 30, 2004.
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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
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Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2001
Vice President Teofisto Guingona
Noli de Castro
Preceded by Joseph E. Estrada
Vice President of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001
President Joseph E. Estrada
Preceded by Joseph E. Estrada
Succeeded by Teofisto Guingona
Born April 5, 1947 (1947-04-05) (age 61)
San Juan, Rizal, Philippines
Political party LDP (1992 – 1998)
Lakas-CMD (1998 – present)
KAMPI (1997 – present)
Spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo
Occupation Economist
Religion Roman Catholic
Signature Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's signature
Website Official website

Early life

She was born as Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal to politician Diosdado Macapagal and his wife, Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal. She is the sister of Dr. Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal, Jr. & Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. She spent the first years of her life in Lubao, Pampanga with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage.[2] At the age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother in Iligan City.[3] She stayed there for three years, then split her time between Mindanao and Manila until the age of 11.[3] She is fluent in English, Tagalog, Spanish and several other Philippine languages.

In 1961, when Arroyo was just 14 years' old, her father was elected as president. She moved with her family into Malacañang Palace in Manila. A municipality was named in her honor, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She attended Assumption Convent for her elementary and high school education, graduating valedictorian in 1964. Arroyo then studied for two years at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. where she was a classmate of future United States President Bill Clinton and achieved consistent Dean's list status.[4] She then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Assumption College, graduating magna cum laude in 1968.

In 1968, Arroyo married lawyer and businessman Jose Miguel Arroyo of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, whom she had met while still a teenager.[2] They had three children, Juan Miguel (born 1969), Evangelina Lourdes (born 1971) and Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria (born in 1974). She pursued a Master's Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).[5] From 1977 to 1987, she held teaching positions in different schools, notably the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University. She became chairperson of the Economics Department at Assumption College.

In 1987 she was invited by President Corazon Aquino to join the government as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. She was promoted to Undersecretary two years later. In her concurrent position as Executive Director of the Garments and Textile Export Board, Arroyo oversaw the rapid growth of the garment industry in the late 1980s.
The young Gloria Macapagal (far right) and her family; when this picture was taken, her father Diosdado was the President of the Philippines.
The young Gloria Macapagal (far right) and her family; when this picture was taken, her father Diosdado was the President of the Philippines.

Senator

Arroyo entered politics in the 1992 election, running for senator. At the first general election under the 1987 Constitution, the top twelve vote-getting senatorial candidates would win a six-year term, and the next twelve candidates would win a three-year term.[6] Arroyo ranked 13th in the elections, earning a three-year term. She was re-elected in 1995, topping the senatorial elections with nearly 16 million votes.

As a legislator, Arroyo filed over 400 bills and authored or sponsored 55 laws during her tenure as senator, including the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Indigenous People's Rights Law, and the Export Development Act.[2]

The 1995 Mining Act, which allows 100% foreign ownership of Philippine mines, has come under fire from left-wing political groups.