Arroyo a proud laundrywoman

Arroyo a proud laundrywoman

MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, taunted by protesters for her working class roots, says
she comes from a long line of laundrywomen and is proud of it.

Arroyo declared a state of rebellion on Tuesday after
thousands of supporters of jailed former leader Joseph Estrada
tried to storm the Malacanang presidential palace.

As they gathered outside the palace, many in the crowd taunted
Arroyo with the chant in the local Tagalog language: "Gloria,
Gloria labandera", sung roughly to the tune of the U.S. battle
hymn "Glory, Glory Hallelujah".

Labandera is Tagalog for laundrywoman, one of the lowliest
occupations for a Filipino.

"I'm proud of the fact that my grandmother was in fact a
laundrywoman," said Arroyo, whose father was former president
Diosdado Macapagal.