Arroyo, Gloria Macapagal (1947– )

Filipino politician, president from 2001. The daughter of former president Diosdado Macapagal, she was elected vice-president in 1988 by a record winning margin of over 7 million votes. She became president of the Philippines after the fall from power of President Joseph Estrada. Viewed as the country's most trustworthy politician, she pledged to lead by example, re-introduce privatization and liberalization reforms, launch a drive against poverty, and establish peace in the secessionist island of Mindanao.

Arroyo trained as an economist at Georgetown University, Washington, and has a doctorate from the University of the Philippines. She served as Under Secretary of Trade and Industry 1986–1992, under President Corazon Aquino, before being elected to the Senate in 1992. Although not from Estrada's ruling party, she was social welfare secretary from 1998. In October 2000, when bribery allegations surfaced against Estrada, she resigned to campaign for the president's removal.