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Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal (1915-1999) was the second wife of Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal and was the ninth First Lady of the Philippines, she was also known as the mother of current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

As First Lady, Mrs. Macapagal showed during their term what the word simplicity can mix with elegance gracefully. Yet, no doubt, she carved her own niche – both in the annals of history and in the hearts of her countrymen. She founded so many of the health centers and puericulture centers for the poor throughout the country. She set up the Elsie Gaches Village, a center for the underprivilege south of Manila. She financially supported the Medical Research Foundation of the Philippines. She campaigned for quality films and TV shows. She promoted the use of the patadyong kimona and the terno among women. She transformed Malacañang social events into impeccable opportunities for displaying simplicity, elegance, punctuality and cordiality.

Mrs. Eva Macapagal was known for wearing the national dress whenever she had a chance to do so. She had a number of elegant ternos as well as maria claras for very formal occasions or state functions, but preferred to wear the patadyong kimona for its simplicity and for ease of movement. Eva favored a handful of Filipino couturiers, including Pitoy Moreno, who adhered to her style of simple but elegant lines.

Among Eva’s projects as First Lady was the promotion of a locally-made, affordable and durable textile called the “Pag-asa cloth,” with prices within the reach of the daily wage earners. Eva herself and her teenage daughter Gloria wore some dresses fashioned from Pag-asa cloth to show its versatility and practical use in daily activities.

Mrs. Macapagal is credited for transforming Malacañang from a dirty and disheveled place to a clean and magnificent palace. Her training as a physician enabled her to bring about cleanliness and neatness in the rooms and appointments of the presidential residence. The Macapagals shared the view that Malacañang, being a historical structure intended for all presidents, should be sparingly remodeled and should not be tampered with for the individual convenience of temporary occupant.

Through repairs, refurnishing, repainting and redecoration, the necessary changes were effected in the palace without incurring additional expense. She frequently made inspection tours to ensure that the work was done fast, well and efficiently. She tended the grounds of the palace and the executive building as a garden, planted new trees and flowering shrubs, demolished old wooden structures, recommended that no new building be constructed in the Malacañang grounds to maintain the green spaces in the palace complex.

Mrs. Macapagal discovered that the palace was rich in beautiful woodwork made of the finest native hardwood. She also discovered handsome pieces of furniture and decorations stacked in storerooms, offices and garages in the palace complex, which she salvaged and refurbished. Long-forgotten heirloom pieces were cleaned and polished and given places in different rooms, halls and walls around the palace. President Heinrich Luebke of Germany paid her a compliment when she said that having seen virtually all the places in the world, he believed that although not as large as other palaces, Malacañang was one of the best palaces that could be found in anywhere.