Liza Araneta Marcos
Marie Louise "Liza" Cacho Araneta Marcos is a Filipino lawyer and academic who has served as the first lady of the Philippines since 2022, as the wife of Bongbong Marcos, the 17th president of the Philippines. Born and raised in Manila, Araneta Marcos studied law and graduated from Ateneo de Manila University, and later completed postgraduate courses at New York University. Araneta-Marcos eventually met Bongbong Marcos in New York City in 1989 and married him in 1993. In addition to her law practice, she taught in various universities in the country such as Far Eastern University Institute of Law, Northwestern University, and the Mariano Marcos State University College of Law. She is also the founder of two law firms, namely MOST Law Firm and M&A Associates.
Araneta Marcos eventually became the first lady after her husband's inauguration as president on June 30, 2022, and later played and active role in her husband's presidency, where she initiated various programs that supported her husband's policies. In addition, Araneta Marcos also aimed to promote her key advocacies in promoting arts, cultural heritage, social welfare, and education, while also spearheading renovation works of various government buildings. Araneta Marcos also conducted numerous activities and meetings with various organizations throughout the country that is primarily aimed to boost the country's development. She also hosted events in the Malacañang Palace with foreign guests, ambassadors, and dignitaries, and also travelled alongside her husband during overseas trips in various countries, while also having a variety of solo trips into various countries. Despite her active role as first lady, Araneta Marcos is known to maintain a private life and avoided social media until she was forced to create her accounts after her husband's presidency.
Early life and education
Liza Araneta was born on August 21, 1959, in Manila, Philippines, to Manuel L. Araneta Jr., a Filipino basketball Olympian who was born in Iloilo City but was raised in Bago, Negros Occidental, and Milagros A. Cacho, and is the fifth child among eighth siblings. Both of her parents were of Spanish descent, and came from prominent political backgrounds, while her connection to the Araneta family is traced to her Basque roots.Araneta is also first cousins with Jeric Soriano, the father of filmmaker Paul Soriano. She, along with her husband were also the principal sponsors of Soriano's marriage with actress Toni Gonzaga. Aside from being affiliated with the Marcos family, she also has a connection with the Roxas family, as her father is the first cousin of Judith "Judy" Araneta-Roxas, the mother of politician Mar Roxas, which makes her and the former interior secretary second cousins. She also has ties with the Cojuangco family, as Milagros' youngest sister, Rosario A. Cacho, was married to Pedro Cojuangco, the eldest brother of former president Corazon Aquino.
Despite her diverse family connections, Liza grew up in a "strict" household, and later recalled her past experiences where her aunts inspect their maid’s room and check the room's cleanliness, and a "closet contest" with her siblings, where whoever sibling who has the cleanest closet is known to be rewarded. Growing up to her college life, Araneta later studied at the Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1981, and got her Bachelor of Laws at the same university in 1985. Liza also recalled her experience for being a working student during her law student years, as her mother wouldn't pay her tuition as a way to value hardwork. After graduating from the Ateneo, Liza enrolled at the New York University, where she completed her post-graduate courses in criminal procedure.
Career
Araneta began her career as a lawyer in New York City after graduating from the New York University, and became a law professor in various law colleges and universities across the country. She began her teaching career at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law in Manila from 1996 to 1998, and at the Northwestern University College of Law in 1998 to 2006. In 2006, she temporarily stopped her career as a professor to become a founding member of the MOST Law Firm. Araneta-Marcos left the firm in January 2019 to start her own law firm, named M&A Associates.Araneta-Marcos eventually returned to teaching in 2010, where she became a professor at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila from 2010 to 2014, before moving to Saint Louis University in 2014 to 2018, and lastly at the Mariano Marcos State University College of Law from 2018 to 2020. During her time as a professor in MMSU, she also served as an assistant dean within the College of Law, before she ended her teaching career for a second time, after she struggled to adopt to the shift from face-to-face classes to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her claim on her online resume of being a member of the New York State Bar Association was questioned in April 2022. In an email reply to Rappler, the NYSBA responded that she is not a member of their organization, stating that her name and variations of such name do not exist in their database. Vera Files also conducted a separate fact-checking research which ended in a similar conclusion.
First Lady of the Philippines (2022–present)
During the 2022 Philippine elections, Araneta Marcos served as the main strategist for her husband's presidential campaign, and collaborated with Paul Soriano in making Marcos' campaign advertisements. When it comes to certain political positions, Araneta Marcos favors the legalization of divorce in the Philippines but for "cogent reasons" maintaining that marriage should not be easily be dissolvable. She is also in favor legalizing abortion for in cases of pregnancies resulting from rape and incest as well as the legalizing of same-sex relationships. Araneta-Marcos temporarily left her own law firm following her husband's victory in the 2022 elections, in order to fulfill her duties as First Lady of the Philippines. Her assumption of the role, marks the first time that the Philippines has a first lady since Loi Ejercito, the wife of President Joseph Estrada.File:Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako with Bongbong and Liza Marcos 1.jpg|thumb|The Marcos couple with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, February 9, 2023
Aside from being the First Lady, Araneta Marcos continued her teaching career in part-time. In August 2022, she chose to teach criminal law part-time at West Visayas State University in Iloilo, her father's home province. File:Buckingham Palace reception.jpg|thumb|right|The Marcos couple meets with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, London, the day before the latter's coronation, May 5, 2023On July 27, 2022, she hosted a meeting with United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and his wife, Betty Del Toro, and the United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. On August 3, 2022, Araneta Marcos hosted her first Malacañang event, as she hosted the lady ambassadors' luncheon, held at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall. On the same day, she also launched her own Facebook page. On August 4, 2022, she also held a luncheon with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and his dignitaries. On August 8, 2022, Araneta Marcos served as the guest of honor in the 78th commencement exercises at the University of Batangas.
File:P20230501CS-0672.jpg|thumb|The Marcos couple with then-U.S. President Joe Biden and then-U.S. First Lady Jill Biden at the White House during the formers' official visit to Washington, D.C., May 1, 2023
File:2025-08-05 – PBBM State Visit to India signals deeper bilateral cooperation in Indo-Pacific.jpg|thumb|The Marcos couple meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan during the formers' state visit to New Delhi, August 5, 2025
On August 9, 2022, Araneta Marcos served as the guest of honor at the graduation of the VIP Protection Course Class 128-2022 at the Presidential Security Group Headquarters in Malacañang Park. On August 15, 2022, she attended the Indian Independence Day reception at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila. In a inauguration event on November 3, 2022, Araneta Marcos was named as the National President and Chief Girl Scout of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
On 27 October 2025, she participated in the "Spouses' Programme" at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as the First Lady of Philippines.
Renovations at the Malacañang Palace
During the early days of Bongbong Marcos' presidency, Araneta Marcos spearheaded the renovation of Malacañang Palace to enhance and modernize its interiors with Filipino designs. The last major renovation occurred in 1978-1979 under Former First Lady Imelda Marcos. Key areas, including the Reception Hall, Grand Staircase, Internal House Affairs Office, Office of the Social Secretary, Protocol Office, Functional Staff Quarters, the central kitchen, Palace Gates, staff offices, and staff sleeping quarters underwent significant improvements. The renovation also introduced a new indoor garden, enhancing key areas with plants and flowers. Renovation works were also carried out in the Bahay Pangulo, the current residence of President Bongbong Marcos, which was completed on October 2024.Araneta Marcos also launched renovation projects at the Bahay Ugnayan Museum, the Teus Mansion, and the Goldenberg Mansion, which now serves as museums showcasing the country's culture and history made by Philippine Presidents. The Bahay Ugnayan Museum currently displays the incumbent President Bongbong Marcos's life through the years, while the Teus Mansion displays various memorabilia used by Former Presidents and First Ladies. Meanwhile, the Goldenberg Mansion is currently renovated into an events venue for specialized events. However, criticisms have been made over lavish events held at the said mansion.