President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

2001-2010

Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (ipinanganak bilang Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal noong Abril 5, 1947) ay ang ikalabing-apat na Pangulong Republika ng Pilipinas (Enero 20, 2001 - Hunyo 30, 2010). Siya ang ikalawang babaeng pangulo ng bansa, at anak ng dating pangulong si Diosdado Macapagal.

        Isang propesor ng ekonomiks, si Arroyo ay pumasok sa pamahalaan noong 1987, na naglingkod bilang pangalawang kalihim at undersecretary ngKagawaran ng Kalakalan at Industriya sa pag-talaga sa kanya ni Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Pagkatapos maglingkod bilang senador mula 1992 hanggang 1998, siya ay nahalal na Pangalawang Pangulo sa ilalim ni Pangulong Joseph Estrada kahit na ito ay tumakbo sa kalabang partido.

        Pagkatapos maakusahan si Estrada ng korupsyon, nagbitiw siya sa posisyon niya bilang gabinete bilang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunladat sumali sa lumalaking bilang ng mga oposisyon sa Pangulo, na humarap sa paglilitis. Si Estrada ay napaalis sa pwesto sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag ng mga tagapagtaguyod nito bilang mga mapayapang demonstrasyon sa lansangan ng EDSA, ngunit binansagan namang ng mga kritiko nito bilang pagsasabwatan ng mga elitista sa larangan ng politika, negosyo, militar at ni Obispo Jaime Kardinal Sin ngSimbahang Katoliko.

        Si Arroyo ay pinanumpa bilang Pangulo ng noon ay Punong Mahistrado na si Hilario Davide, Jr. noong Enero 20, 2001 sa gitna ng lipon ng mga tao ng EDSA II, ilang oras bago nilisan ni Estrada ang Palasyo ng Malakanyang. Siya ay nahalal upang maupo bilang pangulo sa loob ng anim na taon noong kontrobersyal na eleksyon ng Pilipinas noong Mayo 2004, at nanumpa noon Hunyo 30, 2004.

MGA PROGRAMA NI ARROYO:

·                     Ahon Bata sa Lansangan

·                     Ahon Bayan

·                     Ahon Bayan and the DSWD's Main Tasks

·                     Ahon Pamilya

·                     Quick Reaction Team Pamilya

·                     Internal Audit Service (IAS) and the External Assistance Office (EAO).

·                     Self- Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K)

·                     Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS)

·                     Early Childhood Development Project (ECD)

·                     Health Revolution

·                     Ginintuang Masaganang Ani

·                     Improving Transportation and Road System

·                     Education Reform

·                     The National SME Development Agenda

·                     Housing

·                     Land Distribution

·                     Mindanao Natin

·                     Strong Republic Nautical Highway

·                     Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya

·                     Gamot na Mura at Abot Kaya

·                     KALAHI

·                     E-Procurement

·                     National Health Insurance Program

·                     KABAYANIHAN

·                     Tindahan ni Gloria Labandera Rolling Stores

Si Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (ipinanganak bilang Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal noong Abril 5, 1947) ay ang ikalabing-apat na Pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas (Enero 20, 2001 - Hunyo 30, 2010). Siya ang ikalawang babaeng pangulo ng bansa, at anak ng dating pangulong si Diosdado Macapagal.

Isang propesor ng ekonomiks, si Arroyo ay pumasok sa pamahalaan noong 1987, na naglingkod bilang pangalawang kalihim at undersecretary ng Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at Industriya sa pag-talaga sa kanya ni Pangulong Corazon Aquino. Pagkatapos maglingkod bilang senador mula 1992 hanggang 1998, siya ay nahalal na Pangalawang Pangulo sa ilalim ni Pangulong Joseph Estrada kahit na ito ay tumakbo sa kalabang partido. Pagkatapos maakusahan si Estrada ng korupsyon, nagbitiw siya sa posisyon niya bilang gabinete bilang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kagalingang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunladat sumali sa lumalaking bilang ng mga oposisyon sa Pangulo, na humarap sa paglilitis. Si Estrada ay napaalis sa pwesto sa pamamagitan ng tinatawag ng mga tagapagtaguyod nito bilang mga mapayapang demonstrasyon sa lansangan ng EDSA, ngunit binansagan namang ng mga kritiko nito bilang pagsasabwatan ng mga elitista sa larangan ng politika, negosyo, militar at ni Obispo Jaime Kardinal Sin ng Simbahang Katoliko [1]. Si Arroyo ay pinanumpa bilang Pangulo ng noon ay Punong Mahistrado na si Hilario Davide, Jr. noong Enero 20, 2001 sa gitna ng lipon ng mga tao ng EDSA II, ilang oras bago nilisan ni Estrada ang Palasyo ng Malakanyang. Siya ay nahalal upang maupo bilang pangulo sa loob ng anim na taon noong kontrobersyal na eleksyon ng Pilipinas noong Mayo 2004, at nanumpa noon Hunyo 30, 2004.

KABUUAN

Si Pangulong Arroyo ay isinilang na Maria Gloria Macapagal ng pulitikong Diosdado Macapagal, at ng kanyang asawa, Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal. Siya ay kapatid ni Dr. Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal, Jr. at Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. Nanirahan siya sa Lubao, Pampanga noong unang mga taon niya kasama ang kanyang dalawang nakatatandang kapatid mula sa unang asawa ng kanyang ama.[2] Sa edad na apat, pinili niyang manirahan sa lola niya sa ina, sa Lungsod ng Iligan.[3] Nanatili siya doon ng tatlong taon, at hinati niya ang kanyang oras sa Mindanao at Maynila hanggang sa siya'y maglabing-isang taon.[3] Mahusay siya sa Wikang Ingles, Wikang Tagalog, Kastila at iba pang wika sa Pilipinas.

Noong 1961, nang si Gloria ay 14 na taon gulang pa lamang, ang kanyang ama ay nahalal na pangulo ng Pilipinas. Lumipat siya kasama ang kanyang pamilya sa Malakanyang sa Maynila. Nag-aral siya ng elementarya at sekundarya sa Assumption College at nakapagtapos na valedictorian noong 1964. Pagkatapos ay nag-aral si Gloria ng dalawang taon sa Walsh School of Foreign Service ng Georgetown University sa Washington, D.C. na kung saan ay naging kamag-aral niya noon ang magiging pangulo ng Estados Unidos na si Bill Clinton at napanatili ang pangalan nito sa talaan ng Dekano.[4] Nakuha niya ang kanyang Batsilyer sa Arte sa Ekonomiks mula sa Assumption College, na kapagtapos na magna cum laude noong 1968. Noong 1968, napangasawa ni Gloria ang isang abugado at negosyanteng si Jose Miguel Arroyo na tubong Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, na nakilala niya nang siya ay nasa kanyang kabataan pa lamang.[2] Sila ay may tatlong anak, sina Juan Miguel (1969), Evangelina Lourdes (1971), at si Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria (1974). Ipinagpatuloy ni Gloria ang kanyang pag-aaral at nakuha ang Master na degree sa Ekonomiks mula Ateneo de Manila noong 1978 at ang Doctorate na degree sa Ekonomiks mula sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas noong 1985.[5] Mula 1977 hanggang 1987, humawak siya ng mga posisyon sa pagtuturo sa iba't ibang mga paaralan, gaya ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at Ateneo de Manila.

Noong 1987, siya ay inanyayahan ni Pangulong Corazon Aquino na lahukan ang pamahalaan bilang Pangalawang Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Kalakalan at Industriya. Siya ay napromote bilang undersecretary pagkatapos ng dalawang taon.

PANGALAWANG PANGULO

Kinunsidera ni Arroyo na tumakbo bilang pangulo noong pambansang halalang 1998 subalit naimpluwensyahan ni Pangulong Fidel V. Ramos, at pinuno ng ng partido ng administrasyon Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats na imbes na pangulo ay maging pangalawang pangulo na lamang at ng kandidatong si Ispiker Jose de Venecia, Jr.[6] Nanalo si Arroyo bilang pangawalang pangulo na may malayong agwat, na nakakuha ng higit doble sa sumunod nitong katunggali, ang kandidatong pangawalang pangulo ni Estrada, si Edgardo Angara.[7]

Nagsimula ang termino ni Arroyo bilang Pangalawang Pangulo noong Hunyo 30, 1998, Siya ay tinalaga ni Estrada na maging Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Pangangalagang Panlipunan at Pagpapaunlad.[6]

Nagbitiw si Arroyo sa gabinete noong Oktubre 2000, upang ilayo ang kanyang sarili mula kay Estrada, na inakusahan ng korupsyon ng kanyang dating tagasuporta sa pulitika na si Chavit Singson, Punong lalawigan ng Ilocos Sur.[8] Noong una ay hindi pa nagsasalita si Arroyo laban kay Estrada, subalit dahil sa mga kaalyado nito, ay sumalina rin ito sa panawagang magbitiw si Estrada sa pwesto.

PAGKAPANGULO

Noong Enero 20, 2001, pagkatapos ng ilang araw ng kaguluhang pulitikal at malawakang pag-aaklas, inihayag ng Kataastaasang Hukuman na bakante ang posisyon ng pagkapangulo. Ang sandatahan at ang pambansang pulisya ay una nang inalis ang suporta para kay Estrada. Noong kinahapunan din nang araw na iyon, ay nanumpa si Arroyo bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ni Punong Hukom Hilario Davide, Jr.

Matapos ang ilang linggo, nagsampa ng kaso si Estrada na naghahamon ng batayang legal ng pagkapangulo ni Arroyo at pinipilit na siya ang nananatiling pangulo ayon sa batas, ngunit dinagdag niya na hindi niya kukunin muli ang kanyang posisyon.[9]. Noong Marso 2, 2001, ang Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng Pilipinas ay nagpalabas ng desisyon na nagsasabing si Estrada ay nagbitiw sa pagkapangulo at iniwan niya ang kanyang pwesto.

PERSONAL NA IMPORMASYON

PAMILYA

·         Ipinanganak siya noong Abril 5, 1947 sa San Juan, Kalakhang Maynila. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay ang ika-siyam na Pangulo ng Pilipinas, si Diosdado Macapagal at si Dra. Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal.

·         Noong Agosto 2, 1968, ikinasal siya sa abogadong si Jose Miguel T. Arroyo na nagtapos sa Ateneo Law School noong 1972. May tatlo silang mga anak:

·         Juan Miguel (ipinanganak Abril 26, 1969) — nagtapos ng Diploma in Business Administration sa University of California, Berkeley

·         Evangelina Lourdes (ipinanganak Hunyo 5, 1971) — nagtapos ng MS in Foreign Service sa Georgetown University

·         Diosdado Ignacio (ipinanganak Setyembre 4, 1974) — nagtapos ng BS in Legal Management, sa Ateneo de Naga

EDUKASYON

Elementarya

• Assumption Convent High School (1954-1960)

Mataas na Paaralan

·         Assumption Convent High School (1960-1964) — Valedictorian

Kolehiyo

·         Georgetown University, AB Economics (1964-1966) — Dean’s Lister

·         Assumption College, AB Economics (1968) — Magna cum Laude

·         Post Graduate

·         Ateneo de Manila University, MA Economics (1978)

·         UP School of Economics, Ph.D. in Economics (1985)

http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Macapagal-Arroyo

Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga. She was the country's second female president (after Corazón Aquino), and the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal.

She was a former professor of economics at Ateneo De Manila University where Noynoy Aquino was one of her students. She entered government in 1987, serving as assistant secretary and undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry upon the invitation of President Corazón Aquino. After serving as a senator from 1992 to 1998, she was elected to the vice presidency under President Joseph Estrada, despite having run on an opposing ticket. After Estrada was accused of corruption, she resigned her cabinet position as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development and joined the growing opposition to the president, who faced impeachment. Estrada was soon forced from office by the EDSA Revolution of 2001, and Arroyo was sworn into the presidency by Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. on January 20, 2001. She was elected to a full six-year presidential term in the controversial May 2004 Philippine elections, and was sworn in on June 30, 2004. Following her presidency she was elected to the House of Representatives, making her the second 

Philippine president - after Jose P. Laurel - to pursue a lower office after their presidency.

She is currently residing at La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City.

EARLY LIFE

She was born as María Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal to politician Diosdado Macapagal and his wife, Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal. She is the sister of Dr. Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal, Jr. & Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. She spent the first years of her life in Lubao, Pampanga with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage.[1] At the age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother in Iligan City.[2] She stayed there for three years, then split her time between Mindanao and Manila until the age of 11.[2] She is fluent in English, Tagalog, Spanish and several other Philippine languages, most importantly, Kapampangan, Ilokano, and Cebuano.

In 1961, when Arroyo was just 14 years old, her father was elected as president. She moved with her family into Malacañang Palace in Manila. A municipality was named in her honor, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She attended Assumption Convent for her elementary and high school education, graduating valedictorian in 1964. Arroyo then studied for two years at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. where she was a classmate of future United States President Bill Clinton and achieved consistent Dean's list status.[3] She then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Assumption College, graduating magna cum laude in 1968.

In 1968, Arroyo married lawyer and businessman Jose Miguel Arroyo of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, whom she had met while still a teenager.[1] They had three children, Juan Miguel (born 1969), Evangelina Lourdes (born 1971) and Diosdado Ignacio José María (born in 1974). She pursued a Master's Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).[4] From 1977 to 1987, she held teaching positions in several schools, notably the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University. She became chairperson of the Economics Department at Assumption College.

In 1987 she was invited by President Corazón Aquino to join the government as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. She was promoted to Undersecretary two years later. In her concurrent position as Executive Director of the Garments and Textile Export Board, Arroyo oversaw the rapid growth of the garment industry in the late 1980s.

SENATOR

Arroyo entered politics in the 1992 election, running for senator. At the first general election under the 1987 Constitution, the top twelve vote-getting senatorial candidates would win a six-year term, and the next twelve candidates would win a three-year term.[5] Arroyo ranked 13th in the elections, earning a three-year term. She was re-elected in 1995, topping the senatorial elections with nearly 16 million votes.

As a legislator, Arroyo filed over 400 bills and authored or sponsored 55 laws during her tenure as senator, including the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Indigenous People's Rights Law, and the Export Development Act.[1]

The 1995 Mining Act, which allows 100% foreign ownership of Philippine mines, has come under fire from left-wing political groups.

VICE PRESIDENCY

Arroyo considered a run for the presidency in the 1998 election, but was persuaded by President Fidel V. Ramos and leaders of the administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats to instead seek the vice-presidency as the running mate of its presidential candidate, House Speaker José de Venecia, Jr.[6] Though the latter lost to popular former actor Joseph Ejército Estrada, Arroyo won the vice presidency by a large margin, garnering more than twice the votes of her closest opponent, Estrada's running mate Senator Edgardo Angara.[7]

Arroyo began her term as Vice President on June 30, 1998. Historically, she was the first and only to date female Vice President of the Philippines. She was appointed by Estrada to a concurrent position in the cabinet as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development.[6]

Arroyo resigned from the cabinet in October 2000, distancing herself from President Estrada, who was accused of corruption by a former political supporter, Chavit Singson, Governor from Ilocos Sur.[8] She had initially resisted pressure from allies to speak out against Estrada,[9] but eventually joined calls for Estrada's resignation.[8

PRESIDENCY

FIRST TERM (2001-2004)

SUCCESSION

The last quarter of 2000 up to the first week of January 2001 was a period of political and economic uncertainty for the Philippines. On January 16, 2001, the impeachment trial has also taken a new direction. Private prosecutors walked out of the trial when pro-Estrada senators prevented the opening of an evidence (a brown envelope) containing bank records allegedly owned by President Estrada. With the walk out, the impeachment trial was not completed and the Filipinos eventually took to the street to continue the clamor for President Estrada's resignation.

From January 17 to 20, 2001, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the site of the original People Power Revolution. The clamor for a change in the presidency gained momentum as various sectors of Philippine society – professionals, students, artists, politicians, leftist and rightist groups – joined what became known as EDSA II. Officials of the administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also withdrew their support for President Estrada.

Days after leaving Malacañang Palace, President Estrada's lawyers questioned the legitimacy of Arroyo's presidency before the Supreme Court. He reiterated that he did not resign as president and that at most, Arroyo was just serving in an acting capacity. The high court, however, voted unanimously in upholding the legitimacy of Arroyo's succession. As a consequence, Estrada no longer enjoys immunity from charges being filed against him.

In the last week of April 2001, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Estrada and his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, for plunder charges. A few days later, Estrada supporters protested his arrest, gathered at the EDSA Shrine, and staged what they called, EDSA III – comparing their actions to the People Power revolution of 1986 and January 2001.

Thousands of protesters demanded the release of Estrada. Eventually, they also called for the ouster of Arroyo and the reinstatement of the former. On May 1, 2001, they marched towards Malacañang to force Arroyo to give in to their demands. Violence erupted when the protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace and the military and police were forced to use their arms to drive them back. Arroyo declared a state of rebellion because of the violence and prominent political personalities affiliated with Estrada were charged and arrested. The so-called EDSA III was the first serious political challenge to the Arroyo presidency.

OAKWOOD MUTINY

The Oakwood mutiny occurred in the Philippines on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"[10] led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV of the Philippine Navy took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment tower in Makati City to show the Filipino people the alleged corruption of the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs suggesting that the President was going to declare martial law.

2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Article VII Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution explicitly states that the president of the Philippines can only serve for one term. However, the same provision also implicitly states that a president's successor who has not served for more than four years can still seek a full term for the presidency. Although Arroyo falls under this category, she initially announced on December 30, 2002 that she will no longer seek the presidency. She emphasized that she will devote her remaining months in office to serving the people and improving the economy of the Philippines.

In October 2003, Arroyo changed her mind and announced that she will run for the May 2004 presidential elections and seek a direct mandate from the people. She explained that, "there is a higher cause to change society...in a way that nourishes our future". With her decision, the initial criticisms hurled against Arroyo centered on her lack of word of honor.

As predicted by SWS exit polls, Arroyo won the election by a margin of over one million votes against Poe. However, the congressional canvassing was quite contentious as opposition lawmakers in the National Board of Canvassers argued that there were many discrepancies in the election returns and that insinuations of cheating were raised. On June 23, 2004, Congress proclaimed Arroyo and Noli de Castro as president and vice president, respectively.

SECOND TERM (2004-2010)

2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RIGGING ALLEGATIONS

On June 30, 2004, in a break with tradition, Arroyo first delivered her inaugural speech at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. She then departed for Cebu City for her oath taking, the first time that a Philippine president took the oath of office outside of Luzon.

Allegations of cheating against Arroyo gained momentum one year after the May 2004 elections. In a press conference held on June 10, 2005, Samuel Ong, former deputy director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) claimed to have audio recordings of wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and an official of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Virgilio Garcillano, a former COMELEC commissioner, would later be identified as the official talking to Arroyo. According to Ong, the recordings allegedly proved that Arroyo ordered the rigging of the national elections for her to win by around one million votes against Poe.

The recordings of Ong became known as the Hello Garci controversy and triggered massive protests against Arroyo. Key members of her cabinet resigned from their respective posts and urged Arroyo to do the same. On June 27, 2005, Arroyo admitted to inappropriately speaking to a COMELEC official, claiming it was a "lapse in judgement". She, however, denied influencing the outcome of the elections and declared that she won the elections fairly. Arroyo did not resign despite the pressures coming from various sectors of society.

The Hello Garci controversy became the basis of the impeachment case filed against Arroyo in 2005. Attempts to impeach Arroyo failed later that year. Another impeachment case was filed against Arroyo in 2006 but was also defeated at the House of representatives.

In October 2007, lawyer Alan Paguia filed an impeachment complaint against Arroyo in connection with the issue of bribery. Paguia's complaint was based on the revelation of Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio that various governors received half a million pesos from Malacañang. The impeachment case, as of the middle of October 2007, has already been referred to the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

On February 24, 2006, a plot to take over the government was uncovered by authorities, allegedly headed by Gen. Danilo Lim and other rightist military adventurists. General Lim and some of his men were arrested. To face the threat posed by enemies of the state, Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation 1017 (PP 1017) and used it as basis in declaring a state of emergency throughout the Philippines. According to Arroyo, this declaration was done to quell the military rebellion, stop lawless violence, and promote peace and stability. PP 1017 also empowered the government to enforce warrantless arrests and take over strategic private utilities companies.

On February 25, 2006, the police raided the office of the Daily Tribune, a newspaper known as a critic of the Arroyo administration. The government then issued a journalism guidelines to address the threat posed by critics in the media. Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor said that the guidelines were necessary in order to cope with the emergency situation.

The state of emergency existed for about one week with the purpose of curbing further violence, illegal rallies, and public disturbance throughout the Philippines. The police and the military dispersed demonstrators and protesters, especially those along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Aside from General Lim, prominent personalities were also arrested in connection with their alleged participation in the attempt to overthrow the government. Among those arrested were:

Col. Ariel Querubín - leader of a group of Philippine Marines who engaged the government in a political stand-off at Fort Bonifacio on February 25, 2005

Randy David - led a protest rally without securing the necessary permit

Crispin Beltran - party-list representative of Anakpawis charged with inciting to sedition and rebellion

Batasan Five - party-list representatives charged with rebellion and were placed under the custody of the House of Representatives; Bayan Muna's Teodoro Casiño, Satur Ocampo, and Joel Virador; Gabriela's Liza Maza, and Anakpawis' Rafael Mariano

PP 1017 was lifted on March 3, 2006 but members of the opposition, private lawyers, and concerned citizens challenged its constitutionality before the Supreme Court. On May 4, the high court declared the proclamation constitutional. However, it also said that it was illegal for the government to implement warrantless arrests and seize private institutions and companies.

CHARTER CHANGE

Arroyo currently spearheads a controversial plan for an overhaul of the constitution to transform the present unitary and presidential republic with a bicameral legislature into a federal parliamentary government with a unicameral legislature.[11]

ECONOMY

Arroyo, who earned a master's degree and doctorate in economics, made the Philippine economy the focus of her presidency. Annual economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the Arroyo administration, expanding every quarter of her presidency.[12] This is higher than in the administrations of her three immediate predecessors, Corazon Aquino (3.8%), Fidel Ramos (3.7%), and Joseph Estrada (3.7%).[13] The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades in 2007, with real GDP growth exceeding 7%.[14] The economy was one of the few to avoid contraction during the 2008 global financial crisis, faring better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four-to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a growing business process outsourcing industry.[12] Arroyo's handling of the economy has earned praise from former US President Bill Clinton, who cited her "tough decisions" that put the Philippine economy back in shape.[15] Despite this growth, the poverty rate remained stagnant due to a high population growth rate and uneven distribution of income.

A controversial expanded value added tax (e-VAT) law, considered the centerpiece of the Arroyo administration's economic reform agenda, was implemented in November 2005, aiming to complement revenue-raising efforts that could plug the country's large budget deficit.[16] Her administration originally set a target to balance the national budget by 2010, t. The tax measure boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and helped to strengthen the Philippine peso, making it East Asia's best performing currency in 2005-06.[17] The peso strengthened by nearly 20% in 2007, making it by far Asia's best performing currency for the year, a fact attributed to a combination of increased remittances from overseas Filipino workers and a strong domestic economy.[18]

Early in her presidency, Arroyo implemented a controversial policy of holiday economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families.[19]

PUBLIC PERCEPTION

The Social Weather Stations public opinion group has conducted quarterly surveys tracking the net satisfaction rating ("satisfied" rating minus "dissatisfied" rating") of President Arroyo. She began her presidency in the first quarter of 2001 with a net satisfaction rating of +24. Her rating first dipped into the negative in the first quarter of 2003, making Arroyo the only president to achieve a negative net satisfaction rating in SWS opinion polling. Her rating rebounded well into the positive in 2004, in time for the presidential election where she won election to a new six-year term. However, net satisfaction sunk back into negative territory in the fourth quarter of 2004, and has remained negative since, dipping as low as -38 in the second quarter of 2008. Her net satisfaction rating in the first quarter of 2009 was -32.[20]

POST-PRESIDENCY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In November 2009, Arroyo formally declared her intention to run for a seat in the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga, making her the second Philippine President - after Jose P. Laurel - to pursue a lower office after the expiration of their presidency.[21] A petition seeking to disqualify Arroyo from the race was dismissed by the Comelec for lack of merit, a decision which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court.[22] With little serious competition, she was elected to congress in May 2010 with a landslide victory.[23] After receiving final military honors at the inauguration ceremony of incoming President Benigno Aquino III, she headed straight to Pampanga for her own oath-taking as congresswoman.[24]

Despite being considered the strongest contender for Speaker of the House, Arroyo declined to seek the position, hoping instead to take on a role similar to Sonia Gandhi, who was influential as merely the head of her party.[25] On her first day as a lawmaker, Arroyo and her son Dato filed a resolution calling for Congress to call a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the existing constitution.[26]

SCOUTING

Arroyo is the Chief Girl Scout of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.[27]

HEALTH

On July 3, 2009, it was announced that Arroyo had undergone a biopsy to examine lumps discovered in her breast and groin.[28][29] Press Secretary Cerge Remonde stated that the results of the biopsy were negative.[28][29] Remonde also denied reports published in the July 3, 2009 editions of the Manila Bulletin and the Philippine Star that Arroyo had undergone surgery for the removal or repair of breast silicone implants.[28][29][30]

Honours And Awards

Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Macapagal-Arroyo