Macapagal-Arroyo, Gloria, << mahk uh puh GAHL ah ROY oh, GLOH ree uh >> (1947-…), was president of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. She became president of the Philippines after a scandal forced her predecessor, Joseph Estrada , from office. She had served as vice president under Estrada since 1998. She was elected to a full term as president in 2004. In 2010, she was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives. She was reelected to the House in 2013 and 2016.
Macapagal-Arroyo was born in Manila on April 5, 1947. She is the daughter of Diosdado Macapagal, who served as president of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965. She studied economics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and she earned a doctorate in economics from the University of the Philippines. From 1977 to 1987, she was a professor of economics.
From 1987 to 1989, Macapagal-Arroyo served as an assistant secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. From 1989 to 1992, she served as undersecretary of the same department. Macapagal-Arroyo was elected to the Philippine Senate in 1992 and reelected in 1995. In 1998, voters elected Macapagal-Arroyo as the country’s vice president. In the Philippines, the vice president is elected separately from the president.
See also Philippines, History of the .