Early Life                                                                                 

Arroyo was born Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal to parents, politician Diosdado Macapagal and his wife, Evangelina Macaraeg. She was 14 years old when her father was elected as president.

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 School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. where she was a classmate of former United States President Bill Clinton. She then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Assumption College, graduating magna cum laude in 1968.

Upon returning to the Philippines, Arroyo pursued a Master's Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines.

Arroyo married Jose Miguel Arroyo in 1968. They had three children, Juan Miguel, who was born in 1969, Evangelina Lourdes, who was born 1971) and Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria, who was born in 1974.

From 1977 to 1987, Arroyo held teaching positions in different schools, notably the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo De Manila University. She also became chairperson of the Economics Department at Assumption College.

In 1987 she was invited by President Corazon 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 1980s.