MANILA, Philippines - Less than a year after stepping down from the highest office in the land, Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo still believes she accomplished what she had set out to do when she first became President of the Philippines in 2001.

In an interview with Freeman writer Nathalie Tomada and published in the Philippine Star, Arroyo said: "Considering that our political culture is so negative, what’s more important is that the progress that we worked for speaks for itself."

"From day 1 that’s what I tried to do – tried to have permanent change in the economy of the Philippines so that it can have our growth sustainable and move into the first world within 20 years,” Arroyo told Tomada.

In the interview, Arroyo again noted that the Philippines had an unprecedented 38 quarters of consecutive growth under her leadership despite the global financial crisis.

She also noted that when she left office, the economy had registered a 7.9 percent growth rate

"At 7.9 percent, what does it mean? 9 million new jobs, more people with healthcare and education, especially for those who didn’t have access to it before, there’s the RORO (roll on-roll off ships of the nautical highway) that connected our nation like never before, and from almost nothing, we have become a BPO (business process outsource) powerhouse, all the while we were paying our financial obligations. And then if you just look at the skyline of Manila and of Cebu, how they have changed in the past 10 years. There are more buildings, malls, small businesses.”

Asked how her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo, would think of her now if he were still alive, she said: "For my father, he thought we were the worthiest people. He was a very, very affirming father. Our choices were his choices. Before, when I was about to do something, he would advice. But after I’ve done something, his concern was if I did the right thing.”

Slimmer

Arroyo, who turns 64 on April 5, has implemented several changes since stepping down as Chief Executive.  She's lost 10 pounds and she's sporting a new hairdo.

“This just came about because of exercise and diet because I don’t have socials at night and I don’t have many breakfast meetings now. It’s still the same basic two hours of high-intensity exercise, and then I added 15 minutes for three days. I also eat only one full meal a day. Unless we’re socializing, my husband and I only have soup for dinner.”

She just bought an iPad to download books, finished reading “Game Change,” a politically-themed book on the 2008 US elections, opened a Facebook account, watches “American Idol,” and joins the carpool to send her grandchildren to school.

Arroyo’s chief-of-staff Elena Bautista-Horn said the congresswoman’s pace is still very much like her workhorse pace when she was president.

“But she’s been adjusting to her now less punishing schedule and lean staff of six, among other things,” said Horn.

Asked if she might return to her first job as teacher, whose former students included President Aquino, Arroyo said: “Maybe one day. Of course, I have many things to share now, all the economic theories that I actually applied and worked.”

A positive light

Arroyo refused to offer any criticism to her most vocal of critics. “What for? I’ve never returned the negative feelings. I’m only matapang (stern) to people accountable to me. I get mad because of what they did, not the person.”

Tomada also asked Arroyo if she felt under-appreciated and unfairly judged during her time as President.

“Well, I would have wished that there was less negativism. That’s part of what I’ve been saying about how I see the Philippines. We’re not one country but we’re like two countries with the same name. There’s the one Philippines, that’s the economy, which after many years of cumulative effort, we’re taking off. Then there’s the other Philippines, which is the political system, after many years of degeneration also, it’s becoming a hindrance to progress.”

“I tried to be philosophical about it. You know, it was a big honor to serve the Philippines, I am gratified because I was able to deliver what I wanted to do.”

Asked if she looks forward to the day when history will cast her in a more positive light, Arroyo said: “Of course I care, but most importantly, I let God take care of the rest.” With a report from the Philippine Star