Gloria Macapagal Arroyo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
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Arroyo in 2006
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| 14th President of the Philippines | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – June 30, 2010 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Estrada |
| Succeeded by | Benigno Aquino III |
| 10th Vice President of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Joseph Estrada |
| Preceded by | Joseph Estrada |
| Succeeded by | Teofisto Guingona Jr. |
| 21st Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines | |
| In office July 23, 2018 – June 30, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Pantaleon Alvarez |
| Succeeded by | Alan Peter Cayetano |
| Secretary of National Defense | |
| Officer in Charge November 30, 2006 – February 1, 2007 |
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| President | Herself |
| Preceded by | Avelino Cruz |
| Succeeded by | Hermogenes Ebdane |
| Acting September 1, 2003 – October 2, 2003 |
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| President | Herself |
| Preceded by | Angelo Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Eduardo Ermita |
| 21st Secretary of Social Welfare and Development | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – October 12, 2000 |
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| President | Joseph Estrada |
| Preceded by | Lilian Laigo |
| Succeeded by | Dulce Saguisag |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998 |
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| Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines | |
| In office July 25, 2022 – May 17, 2023 Serving with several others
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| House Speaker | Martin Romualdez |
| Succeeded by | Aurelio Gonzales Jr. |
| In office August 15, 2016 – March 15, 2017 Serving with several others
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| House Speaker | Pantaleon Alvarez |
| Preceded by | Roberto Puno |
| Succeeded by | Linabelle Villarica |
| Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines | |
| In office May 17, 2023 – November 7, 2023 Serving with several others
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| Preceded by | Aurelio Gonzales Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Tonypet Albano |
| Member of the House of Representatives from Pampanga's 2nd district | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Mikey Arroyo |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mikey Arroyo |
| Succeeded by | Mikey Arroyo |
| Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Projects | |
| In office November 26, 2020 – October 4, 2021 |
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| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry | |
| In office 1987–1992 |
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| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Chair of the Lakas–CMD | |
| In office 2008–2009 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Gilbert Teodoro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal
April 5, 1947 Ermita, Manila, Philippines |
| Political party | Lakas–CMD (2008–2017; 2020–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Mikey and Dato |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Politician |
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| Signature |  |
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) is a Filipino politician. She is often called PGMA or GMA. She served as the 14th president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She was the longest-serving president since Ferdinand Marcos.
Before becoming president, she was the 10th vice president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001. She was the first woman to be vice president. She was also a senator from 1992 to 1998. After her presidency, she became a representative for Pampanga's 2nd district in 2010. She also served as the Speaker of the House from 2018 to 2019. She was also a Deputy Speaker at different times.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is the first president whose father was also a president. Her father was Diosdado Macapagal, the ninth president of the Philippines. She studied economics at Georgetown University in the United States. There, she became friends with Bill Clinton, who later became a U.S. president. She then taught economics at the Ateneo de Manila University. Her future successor, Benigno Aquino III, was one of her students. She started working for the government in 1987. She worked for the Department of Trade and Industry.
After President Joseph Estrada faced serious accusations, Arroyo left her government job. She joined those who wanted the president to step down. Estrada was removed from office by a large public protest in 2001. Arroyo was then sworn in as president on January 20. She was elected for a full six-year term in the 2004 presidential election. She took her oath on June 30, 2004. She was against the death penalty and stopped it in 2006.
After her presidency, she faced legal challenges. She was arrested in 2011 but was later released on bail. In 2012, she was re-arrested for other charges. She was held in a hospital due to health issues. In 2016, the Supreme Court cleared her of these charges.
Arroyo is a member of the Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language. She supported teaching Spanish in schools during her time as president.
Early Life and Education
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was born on April 5, 1947. Her birth name was Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal. She was born in San Juan, Rizal, Philippines. Her parents were politician Diosdado Macapagal and Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal. She has a brother named Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal Jr. She also has two older half-siblings from her father's first marriage.
She grew up mostly in Lubao, Pampanga. During summer, she stayed with her grandmother in Iligan City. She is a polyglot, meaning she speaks many languages. She is fluent in English, Filipino, Spanish, and French. She also speaks several Philippine languages. These include Kapampangan, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Bicolano, and Pangasinense.
Her family moved to Malacañang Palace in Manila. This is the official residence of the Philippine president. A town in Oriental Mindoro was named after her, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She went to Assumption College San Lorenzo for elementary and high school. She graduated as the top student (valedictorian) in 1964.
Arroyo then studied for two years at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She was a classmate of Bill Clinton, who later became a U.S. president. In 1968, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from Assumption College San Lorenzo.
Personal and Professional Life
In 1968, Gloria Macapagal married Jose Miguel Arroyo. He was a lawyer and businessman. They have three children. These include Juan Miguel and Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria.
She continued her studies and earned a master's degree in economics. This was from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1978. She later received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1985.
From 1977 to 1987, she taught in several schools. These included the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University. She became the head of the Economics Department at Assumption College.
In 1987, President Corazon Aquino invited her to join the government. She became an assistant secretary in the Department of Trade and Industry. Two years later, she was promoted to undersecretary. She also helped the garment industry grow quickly in the late 1980s.
Senator (1992–1998)
Arroyo entered politics in the 1992 election. She ran for senator. In this election, the top twelve candidates won a six-year term. The next twelve won a three-year term. Arroyo ranked 13th, so she served for three years. She was re-elected in 1995. She received the most votes among all senatorial candidates.
As a senator, she was openly against the death penalty. She believed in helping criminals get better instead.
Vice Presidency (1998–2001)
Arroyo thought about running for president in the 1998 election. However, President Fidel V. Ramos convinced her to run for vice president instead. She ran with Jose de Venecia Jr.. Even though he lost, Arroyo won the vice presidency by a large number of votes. She became the first woman to hold this position.
She started her term as vice president on June 30, 1998. President Estrada also appointed her as the secretary of social welfare and development.
In October 2000, Arroyo resigned from her cabinet position. This was because President Estrada faced accusations of corruption. She joined the calls for President Estrada to step down.
Presidency (2001–2010)
Becoming President in 2001
The end of 2000 and early 2001 was a time of political uncertainty in the Philippines. On January 16, 2001, a legal process against President Joseph Estrada faced issues. People then gathered in large numbers on EDSA. This was the same place as the first People Power Revolution.
From January 17 to 20, 2001, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos protested. This event became known as EDSA II. Many government officials and military leaders withdrew their support for President Estrada.
After President Estrada left the Malacañang Palace, his lawyers questioned if Arroyo's presidency was legal. They said he had not resigned. However, the Supreme Court decided that Arroyo's presidency was legal.
In April 2001, President Estrada was ordered arrested. His supporters protested his arrest. They gathered at the EDSA Shrine, calling their protest EDSA III. They demanded Estrada's release and Arroyo's removal from office. On May 1, 2001, violence broke out as protesters tried to enter the presidential palace. Arroyo declared a state of rebellion. This protest was the first big challenge to her presidency.
Challenges During Her First Term
On July 27, 2003, a group of soldiers protested. They called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros." They took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati. They wanted to show the public about alleged corruption in the government. This event was called the Oakwood Mutiny.
The 2004 Presidential Election
| Presidential styles of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo |
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| Reference style | Her Excellency |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Alternative style | Madam President |
The Philippine Constitution says a president can only serve one term. However, it also allows a successor who served less than four years to seek a full term. Arroyo fit this rule. On December 30, 2002, she first said she would not run in 2004. She wanted to focus on serving the people and improving the economy.
But in October 2003, Arroyo changed her mind. She announced she would run in the May 2004 elections. She explained that there was a "higher cause to change society."
Arroyo won the election by over one million votes. On June 23, 2004, Congress announced her and Noli de Castro as president and vice president.
Second Term (2004–2010)
On June 30, 2004, Arroyo gave her inaugural speech in Manila. Then, she went to Cebu City to take her oath of office. This was the first time a Philippine president took the oath outside of Luzon.
One year after the 2004 elections, there were claims of cheating. In June 2005, a former official claimed to have recordings. These recordings allegedly showed Arroyo talking to an election official. The recordings were known as the Hello Garci controversy. This led to many protests against Arroyo.
On June 27, 2005, Arroyo admitted to speaking with an election official. She called it a "lapse in judgment." However, she denied influencing the election results. She stated she won fairly. Despite pressure, Arroyo did not resign.
The Hello Garci controversy led to attempts to remove Arroyo from office. These attempts failed in 2005 and 2006.
State of Emergency in 2006
On February 24, 2006, authorities found a plan to take over the government. Arroyo declared a state of emergency across the Philippines. This was to stop the rebellion and violence. During this time, the government could make arrests without warrants. They could also take control of important private companies.
The state of emergency lasted about one week. Its goal was to stop violence and illegal protests. Police and military broke up demonstrations. Several people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the plot.
The Supreme Court later said the declaration was constitutional. However, it ruled that warrantless arrests and taking over private companies were illegal.
Economy During Her Presidency
Arroyo has degrees in economics. She made the Philippine economy a main focus of her presidency. The economy grew by an average of 4.5% each year during her time. This was higher than the growth under the three presidents before her. In 2007, the economy grew at its fastest rate in three decades.
The Philippine economy avoided shrinking during the 2008 global financial crisis. This was because it was not heavily involved in risky international investments. It also relied less on exports. Money sent home by Filipinos working abroad helped a lot. The growing business process outsourcing industry also played a role.
Arroyo's handling of the economy was praised by former U.S. President Bill Clinton. He said she made "tough decisions" that helped the economy. However, despite this growth, the number of people living in poverty did not change much. This was due to a fast-growing population and unequal income distribution.
In 2005, her administration put in place a new tax law called the expanded value added tax (e-VAT). This law aimed to help the government collect more money. It also helped strengthen the Philippine peso. The peso became one of Asia's best-performing currencies in 2005–06.
Arroyo also started a policy called "holiday economics." This meant moving holidays to create longer weekends. The goal was to encourage local tourism and give families more time together.
Public Opinion
The Social Weather Stations group tracked public opinion about President Arroyo. She started her presidency with a positive approval rating. However, her rating dropped to negative in 2003. She was the only president to have a negative rating in these surveys. Her rating improved in 2004, helping her win re-election. But it went back to negative later in 2004 and stayed that way. It reached its lowest point in 2008.
After the Presidency (2010–present)
Member of the House of Representatives (2010–2019)
In November 2009, Arroyo announced she would run for a seat in the House of Representatives. She ran for the 2nd district of Pampanga. This made her the second Philippine president to seek a lower office after their presidency. She won the election by a large margin in May 2010.
On her first day as a lawmaker, Arroyo and her son proposed a plan. They wanted to call a meeting to suggest changes to the constitution.
While she was under hospital arrest, Arroyo was re-elected as congresswoman in 2013. She won again in 2016 without any opponents.
Health and Legal Challenges
In early 2011, Arroyo was diagnosed with a spine condition. She had several surgeries in July and August 2011.
On November 18, 2011, Arroyo was arrested. This was after a court issued a warrant for electoral sabotage. She was confined in a hospital. She was later transferred to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City. She was released on bail in July 2012.
In October 2012, she faced new charges. These were about the alleged misuse of state lottery funds. She was held in the hospital due to her health. On July 19, 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed these charges. They ordered her release from the hospital.
In 2015, a human rights group from the United Nations said her hospital detention was unfair. They said the charges against her were politically motivated.
Speaker of the House (2018–2019)
Arroyo was elected as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives. This happened on July 23, 2018. In August 2018, Arroyo stated she would retire from politics after the May 2019 elections.
In January 2019, her leadership passed a bill. It lowered the age of criminal responsibility to twelve years old. Her approval rating as Speaker dropped significantly.
Return to Politics (2022–present)
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Arroyo came out of retirement to run for the House of Representatives again in 2022. She ran unopposed for Pampanga's 2nd district. She supported Bongbong Marcos for president and Sara Duterte for vice president.
On May 10, 2022, Arroyo was announced as the representative for Pampanga's 2nd district. She took her oath of office on May 26 and June 13. She said she would help pass laws for the new administration. She also wanted to continue projects for the Pampanga Megalopolis program.
On July 25, 2022, Arroyo became the Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Arroyo has joined President Bongbong Marcos on several international trips. These include visits to Thailand, Belgium, China, Switzerland, Japan, the United States, and Indonesia. President Marcos has called her his "secret weapon."
Her daughter, Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, became the country's ambassador to Austria in December 2022. Arroyo defended her daughter's appointment, citing her qualifications.
On May 17, 2023, she was moved from Senior Deputy Speaker to a regular Deputy Speaker. This was to lessen her workload. Later, on November 7, 2023, she was removed from her Deputy House Speaker position. This happened after she did not support a resolution to uphold the House's "dignity, integrity and independence."
Arroyo is running unopposed for re-election as Pampanga's 2nd district representative in 2025.
Scouting
Arroyo was the second chief girl scout of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Approval Ratings
In July 2008, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that Arroyo had a net satisfaction rating of minus 38. This made her the most unpopular president since democracy was restored in 1986.
| Date | Rating |
|---|---|
| Mar 2001 | +24 |
| Apr 2001 | +17 |
| May 2001 | +18 |
| Jul 2001 | +16 |
| Sep 2001 | +15 |
| Nov 2001 | +27 |
| Mar 2002 | +16 |
| May 2002 | +4 |
| Aug 2002 | +28 |
| Sep 2002 | +18 |
| Nov 2002 | +6 |
| Mar 2003 | −14 |
| Jun 2003 | +14 |
| Sep 2003 | +2 |
| Nov 2003 | −3 |
| Jan 2004 | +8 |
| Feb 2004 | +15 |
| Mar 2004 | +30 |
| Jun 2004 | +26 |
| Aug 2004 | +12 |
| Oct 2004 | −6 |
| Dec 2004 | −5 |
| Mar 2005 | −12 |
| May 2005 | −33 |
| Aug 2005 | −23 |
| Dec 2005 | −30 |
| Mar 2006 | −25 |
| Jun 2006 | −13 |
| Sep 2006 | −11 |
| Nov 2006 | −13 |
| Feb 2007 | −4 |
| Jun 2007 | −3 |
| Sep 2007 | −11 |
| Dec 2007 | −16 |
| Mar 2008 | −26 |
| Jun 2008 | −38 |
| Jul 2008 | −50 |
| Sep 2008 | −27 |
| Dec 2008 | −24 |
| Feb 2009 | −32 |
| Jun 2009 | −34 |
| Sep 2009 | −38 |
| Dec 2009 | −38 |
| Mar 2010 | −53 |
| Jun 2010 | −17 |
| Average | −7 |
Honors and Awards
International Honors
Brunei:
Member of the Family Order of Laila Utama
Dominican Republic:
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella
Equatorial Guinea:
Grand Cross of the Order of Independence
Holy See:
Recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Japan:
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
Romania:
Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania
Spain:
Dame of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
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Special Degrees
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from La Trobe University in Australia (2000)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan (2002)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Old Dominion University in Virginia, United States (2003)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Fordham University (2003)
- Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from University of San Francisco in California, United States (2004)
- Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, Philippines (2004)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Kyungsung University in Pusan, South Korea (2005)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand
Recognitions and Awards
- Time magazine's "People Who Mattered" list for 2005
- Forbes magazine's 100 Most Powerful Woman in the World (from 2004 to 2009) – she ranked 4th in the 2005 list
- Member, Council of Women World Leaders
- Don Quijote International Award (category: mejor labor institucional – Best institutional work) from Spain's King Juan Carlos (April 15, 2010)
- Teodora Alonzo Award by the Philippine Order of the Knights of Rizal
- Fourth Patron of the Royal Institution Singapore, an unaccredited institution of higher learning
Images for kids
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Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's signature
See also
In Spanish: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo para niños
