Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz-Araneta (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈkɾus ɐɾɐˈnɛtɐ]; born September 30, 1943) is a Filipino politician, writer, director and beauty pageant winner who served as the secretary of tourism in the administration of Joseph Estrada from 1998 to 2001.
She received an "Outstanding Manileña" and a "Golden Heart" Presidential decoration from the former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal.
Araneta's paternal great-grandmother was Doña Maria Mercado, the sister of the Philippines' national hero, José Rizal.
[3] In a 2021 podcast, Araneta commented that her victory at the Miss International pageant may had been a political ploy to deflect scrutiny away from the United States amidst the then-ongoing Vietnam War.
[6] On May 16, 2005, Araneta started hosting a daily radio programme, Krus Na Daan (Filipino for "Crossroads"), on DZRJ 810 and a weekly television show, Only Gemma!