Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) is a politician and the current (14th) president of the Philippines. She is the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal. She was the country's first ever female vice president in 1998.

Vice-Presidency

Arroyo began her term as Vice President on June 30, 1998. Shortly after, she was appointed by Estrada to the Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, where her main duty was to oversee the government's social programs for the poor.

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June 30 - 1998

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She resigned from the Cabinet in October 2000, distancing herself from President Estrada, who was accused of corruption by a former political supporter. Arroyo joined civil society and many Filipinos in calling for the president's resignation.

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Resigned - 2000 - Civil society

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On January 20, 2001, after days of political turmoil and street protests, the Supreme Court declared the presidency vacant. The military and the national police had earlier withdrawn their allegiance to Estrada and shifted it to Arroyo. Arroyo would be sworn in the same day as the 14th president of the Philippines by Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

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January 20 - 2001 - Hilario Davide Jr

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The ousting of Estrada would later be known as EDSA II, after the EDSA Revolution of 1986 that brought down the administration of Ferdinand Marcos. EDSA is a reference to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, a highway in metropolitan Manila that was the main site of the demonstrations.

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EDSA II - EDSA Revolution - Ferdinand Marcos

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Estrada later questioned the legitimacy of the High Court's declaration when he sought to reclaim the presidency but the Supreme Court upheld the legitimacy of Arroyo's succession. Even though Estrada and his adherents never recognized Arroyo as the rightful president, she was still able to wield all the powers and privileges of the presidency. The international community also recognized Arroyo as President of the Philippines.

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