The consort of the Philippine president is, as in other countries, conventionally styled in English as the "First Lady". As Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office as the second female president, the masculine form "First Gentleman" was used for her husband, Miguel Arroyo.
Role
The position of first lady or first gentleman is not an elected position, carries no official duties, and has no personal remuneration. Nonetheless, the title holder participates in humanitarian and charitable work on behalf of the president. Furthermore, many of the holders of this post have taken an active role in campaigning for the president or have participated in public life through some other manner. Imelda Marcos was given a formal job as Governor of Metro Manila and as Minister of Human Settlements by her husband Ferdinand Marcos during his 21-year rule. She is also the first first lady to enter the world of Philippine politics by winning a seat in the Interim Batasang Pambansa in 1978. In 2001, physician Luisa Estrada became the first former first lady to win a seat in Senate.
List
Non-spouses who held the distinction
On few occasions, individuals who are not spouses of the incumbent president has perform tasks reserved for the First Lady or First Gentleman effectively rendering them as the de facto holder of the position in selected occasions; most often they are a direct relative of the President. To date, only Elpidio Quirino, Corazon Aquino, and Benigno Aquino III had no first lady or first gentleman. In the case of Quirino, his first lady was not his wife but his daughter since he was a widower. Victoria Quirino-Gonzalez was the first lady for her father, Elpidio Quirino. However Victoria is regarded as the first to be named with the role "First Lady". The spouses of the presidents, from Emilio Aguinaldo to Manuel Roxas, were not given the title during their respective husbands' terms. Corazón Aquino was married to Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., whose assassination on 21 August 1983 was a key factor in her 1986 rise to the presidency. Her eldest daughter, María Elena "Ballsy" Aquino-Cruz, served as her mother's proxy in some social functions and accompanied her on state visits. In a similar fashion to Victoria Quirino-Delgado, Aquino-Cruz was informally styled "First Lady"; her brother, Benigno III was meanwhile considered First Gentleman. During the 2015 APEC summit hosted in Manila, Benigno Aquino III's sister, Kris Aquino served as de facto first lady for the occasion. Their other sisters, Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abelleda, and Viel Aquino-Dee, also assisted the president in performing his duties. In the absence of a first lady for Aquino, the palace hired professionals to fulfill the roles usually reserved for the first lady or first gentleman, such as organizing state dinners. Prior to his inauguration, incumbent president Rodrigo Duterte officially designated his daughter Sara as First Lady despite having Cielito Avanceña as his common-law wife. He was previously married to Elizabeth Zimmerman; their marriage was annulled in 2000. Avanceña has started to participate as consort of President Duterte during the official visit of Japanese prime ministerShinzo Abe and as hostess during the 30th ASEAN Summit. However, then–mayor-elect Duterte declined the offer. Following the filing of newly-elected Davao City mayorSara Duterte of a 10-day leave of absence until June 22, there were speculations that she would assume the post of First Lady, but she neither denied or confirmed the speculation. Former Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Rafael Alunan has suggested Vice President Leni Robredo to serve as de facto first lady.
Birth
Death
Age
Living former first ladies and first gentlemen
As of, there are three living former first ladies and one living first gentleman. The most recent first lady to die was Victoria Quirino, daughter of Elpidio Quirino on November 29, 2006 and Luz Magsaysay on August 17, 2004.
