Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947) is the 14th President of the Philippines. She is the second female president of the Philippines, after President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino; and the first female vice-president of the country.Prior to her ascendancy as president in 2001, Arroyo served in government as vice president, senator, and a Cabinet secretary, undersecretary, and assistant secretary. An economist by training, she was also a professor of economics in leading Philippine tertiary educational institutions.
Arroyo's political standing since 2001 has been marked by triumphs, setbacks, and controversies. She was seen as the unifying figure in the Philippines after EDSA II and the one given credit for the country's modest economic growth from 2001 onwards. Internationally, she has been a consistent choice in Forbes Magazine's list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women, ranking number 4 and 45 in 2005 and 2006, respectively. However, President Arroyo has also been continuously hounded by questions regarding her political legitimacy, threats of impeachment, military adventurism, and a fragile peace and order situation.
