Talambuhay ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Gloria Arroyo in a wheelchair attending his case hearing

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 10th president of the third Philippine Republic. She was sworn to the office by Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. in 2001 after the Supreme Court unanimously declared the position of President vacant. The second woman to be swept into the presidency by a peaceful People Revolution (EDSA II).

Arroyo was born on April 5, 1947. She is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal a descendant of Lakandula and fondly known as the "poor boy from Lubao", Pampanga and Dr. Evangeline Macaraeg of Binalonan, Pangasinan. 

Gloria upheld the high academic standards of her parents. Graduated valedictorian of her high school class in Assumption Convent. She graduated Magna cum Laude from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. She later earned a Master of Arts in Economics degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, and a Ph.D in Economics from the University of the Philippines. She was consistently on the Dean's List during her two year in college stint at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. where former U.S President Bill Clinton became her classmate.

Gloria Arroyo began her professional career as a teacher at Assumption College. She later became Assistant Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University and Senior Lecturer at the U.P School of Economics. She entered government service as an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry  during Aquino Adminstration. She became Executive Director  of the Garments and Textile Export Board steering the garments industry to become the top net dollar earner of the country. 

She was elected Senator during her first try in 1992 and re-elected in 1995 with nearly 16 million votes, the highest number of votes in Philippine history. In 1998 she was elected Vice President  with almost 13 million votes, the largest in the history of Vice Presidential elections.

Gloria Arroyo Contribution to the country

During her tenure in the Senate, she authored 55 laws on economic and social reform and was named outstanding Senator several times. When she was elected Vice-President, President Joseph Estrada appointed her as concurrent Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, a post she held until her resignation from the cabinet on October 12, 2000. She pioneered the AHON programs which are all aimed at improving the lives of the poor. 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is married to lawyer businessman Jose Miguel Tuazon Arroyo of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental the grandson of the late Senator Jose Ma. Arroyo of Iloilo. They have three children, Mikey, Luli and Dato.