The transition--in a country historically prone to coup attempts--drew praise from the governments of Japan, Thailand, Australia, Canada and the United States which, only hours later, would see the inauguration of its own new president, George W. Bush.

More than 90 major political parties in Europe, America, Asia and Africa represented by Christian democrats who hold a majority in the European Parliament also declared their support for Macapagal.

``The United States is pleased that the presidential crisis in the Philippines has been resolved without violence and in accordance with democratic and constitutional procedures,'' the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

``We have had an exceptionally strong working relationship with new President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the past and are looking forward to working with her to strengthen US-Philippine relations even further," the statement said.

The US, however, also thanked Estrada for his ``constant efforts on behalf of close US-Philippine relations,'' the statement added.

Political turmoil had gripped the Philippines since October after Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson accused Estrada of taking bribes from illegal gambling lords and tobacco tax kickbacks.

Estrada stepped down Saturday after millions of Filipinos nationwide mounted daily protests and most of the officials of his administration and the armed forces withdrew their support for him.

Vice President Macapagal was quickly sworn in after Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. declared that no one was in charge of the country and as tens of thousands of Filipinos were marching on the Presidential Palace to confront Estrada.

From Australia, Prime Minister John Howard congratulated Macapagal. "The Australian Government welcomes the apparently peaceful and constitutional resolution of the political crisis in the Philippines," Howard’s statement said.

The US was rumored to have made arrangements to spirit Estrada and his family out of the country but nothing came of it and the rumors were denied by US Embassy officials.

Japan welcomed the assumption to office by Macapagal and pledged to support and work closely with her administration.

``Japan expects the new government under President Macapagal to be launched smoothly," Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said in a statement.

``To further strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the government of Japan will continue to closely cooperate with the new government under President Macapagal," Kono said.

In Bangkok, the Thai foreign ministry said Estrada's ouster was in accordance with democratic processes in the Philippines and was in line with the will of the majority of its people.

"The Thai government is ready to work with the new administration and to maintain the cordial relationship between the two countries," it added.

Other foreign governments were also expected to react positively to the transfer of power from Estrada to Macapagal since it was done peacefully, according to outgoing Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon Jr.

``I guess seeing (the 1986) Edsa (people power revolt) repeated peacefully, without the use of force, they would welcome this peaceful change,'' Siazon told the Inquirer before he left the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday morning.

He said the presence of the papal nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco, the dean of the diplomatic corps, at Macapagal's inauguration indicated the support of the international community for the process.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Wilfred Martens, president of the Christian Democrats and People’s Parties International and head of the powerful European People Parties, told CDI vice president, former speaker Jose de Venecia, he hoped their declaration would ``help stimulate the return of foreign investments to rebuild the Philippine economy."

Martens said he believes the European initiative will be quickly followed by declarations of support from Washington, Tokyo, Beijing and the Asean capitals for the Macapagal government.

Martens and CDI Secretary General Alejandro Agag of Spain told De Venecia over the phone from Brussels that they would formalize their global support for Macapagal on Monday and back it with a formal resolution at a conference in Rome in two weeks.

Martens said CDI and EPP will call on the European Union, the European Parliament and Christian democrats in Latin America, Asia and Africa to back the new Philippine government, which was "borne on the shoulders of the Philippines’ unique democratic people power."

Filipinos working abroad also joined in the jubilation, even as they stressed that the investigation of Estrada should continue in the courts.

The Erap Resign Network-Hong Kong, representing about 190,000 Filipinos living in that territory, said, ``The distance to our motherland became inconsequential as Filipinos abroad rallied with the anti-Estrada forces back home."

``If justice will be served, Estrada and his cronies should be tried and punished for their crimes against the people,'' the ERN-HK said in a statement.

In the US, Filipino-Americans interviewed by the Inquirer said they were proud of the Philippine-style peaceful people power. They expressed disgust at Estrada's earlier refusal to step down as president.

``I'm ecstatic," said community leader Maurese Oteyza Owens. "Once again, the Filipino people have come through and shown the world what people power means. As for Estrada, he should have realized that it was time for him to go."

Ernesto M. Gange, National Filipino American Republicans coordinator for the East Coast, said, "It was time for Estrada to go. If he really loves the poor, he should have stopped the economic bleeding. I do not think the country would have benefited by his staying in power. The will of the people should be respected, and also the good of the country."

Community leader Jon Melegrito was "cautious" in the midst of the jubilation among the Fil-Ams.

Observed Melegrito: "I agree that corrupt officials should be replaced, but I hope that the Filipino people would have learned a lesson. It was disappointing to have that peaceful Edsa revolution in 1986, only to find that the same people in that Marcos regime had returned to power."

He added: "Filipinos should view things in the long-term, and advocate sustained reforms. I strongly believe that everybody involved in the corruption during President Estrada's term should be held accountable and not go scotfree."