GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
The President of the Philippines, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, holds many records. Elected as Senator during her
first try in politics in 1992, she was re-elected Senator in 1995 with
nearly 16 million votes, the highest number of votes in Philippine
history. She was elected Vice President of the Philippines in 1998 with
almost 13 million votes, the largest mandate in the history of
presidential or vice presidential elections. She was sworn in as the 14th
President of the Philippines on 20 January 2001 by Chief Justice
Hilario Davide Jr. after the Supreme Court unanimously declared the
position of President vacant, the second woman to be swept into the
Presidency by a peaceful People Power revolution (EDSA II).
The President is the daughter of the late
President and Mrs. Diosdado Macapagal, who were well known for their
integrity and simple but dignified lifestyle. During the Presidency of
Diosdado Macapagal, the Philippines was second only to Japan in
economic progress in Asia.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, born in
April 5, 1947, was valedictorian of her high school class at Assumption
Convent, was consistently on the Dean’s List in Georgetown University
in Washington DC, and graduated magna cum laude at Assumption College.
She obtained a Master’s Degree in Economic from Ateneo de Manila
University and a doctorate degree in Economic from the University of
the Philippines.
Macapagal-Arroyo joined the Philippine
government in 1986 during the administration of President Corazon
Aquino, who appointed her undersecretary of Trade and Industry. 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 the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a post she held
until her resignation from the Cabinet on 12 October 2000.
Reference: Office of the President Website
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