The Magic of Miriam Defensor Santiago
An orator, author, lawyer, and judge among other things, the late Dr. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was best known as one of the most seasoned politicians in the government. Her prowess was not limited only to the Philippines, but was recognized internationally, as well — in addition to her service as a legal officer in the UN, she also became the first Asian from a developing country to become a judge in the International Criminal Court. She was also the recipient of a number of awards, among them were the Laureate of Ramon Magsaysay, the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit in Spain, and was also named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World by The Australian.
Honor and excellence
The late senator graduated as the valedictorian of Iloilo Provincial National High School and went on to complete her undergraduate studies in University of the Philippines Visayas, where she graduated as Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree. She pursued a career in law and went on to the UP College of Law, where she became the first female editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian, and graduated as cum laude with a Bachelor of Laws.
Her education did not stop there — on a fellowship to the United States, she earned her Master of Law degree and later her Doctor of Juridical Science, and continued to attend law-related seminars, lectures, and courses around the world.
‘I eat death threats for breakfast.’
To pair with her academic excellence, the “Iron Lady of Asia” was also known for her no-nonsense policies and fierce countenance — she was appointed as a judge in Metro Manila in the 70s (the youngest one at that time), and implemented a no postponement policy that trashed the former segmented case hearings that led to cases taking years, and ended up tackling ten to fifteen cases a day. She became a special assistant to the Secretary of Justice and later worked in Switzerland with the UN.
After her return from Europe, she became the Immigration Commissioner, which was notorious in Southeast Asia as one of the most corrupt departments in existence. This was the department responsible for deportation, as the Philippines was then “the fake passport capital of the world.” She carried out operations against foreign drug syndicates, pedophiles, and other criminals — the deportation rate rose 300% in her first year. Additionally, she became the Secretary of Agrarian Reform in former President Cory Aquino’s cabinet, where she fought land reform and sought to veto cheat laws that allowed landowners’ allocation of lands for farmers.
Miriam and politics
Over four decades in service to the Filipino people was not put to waste: in her two Senate terms, she has topped the list of number of bills authored. Over 5,000 bills and resolutions are under her name, including the Climate Change Act of 2009, the Magna Carta for Women, and the Cybercrime Act of 2012.
She had also vetted for the presidential seat thrice. Her first loss was in 1992 at a small margin against former Cabinet President Fidel V. Ramos (who was later revealed to have illegally accepted a P5 million donation from Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi). At her request for a recount, the country suffered from a nationwide blackout which rendered the Comelec unable to fulfill the request. Again in 1998, she ran against former actor and Vice President Joseph Estrada, who was later impeached and convicted for plunder. Her last attempt was in 2016, where she lost to the anti-drug champion and tough-talking mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte.
In real life
Miriam was the wife of Narciso Santiago Jr. and also the mother of two boys. She was the eldest among her seven siblings, and was eager to make her parents proud. Her mother Dimpna is the lady she credits her success to — all seven Defensor children went on to be successful in their respective fields, among them army generals and chief commissioners. Despite her famed dragon-like temperament, she was known to be the typical malambing Ilongga to her family, particularly her sons and grandchildren. She and her husband had also adopted four children.
Miriam Defensor-Santiago passed away on September 29, 2016 at 8:52am after a long and well-fought battle with lung cancer. She is survived by her husband, Narciso Jr. “Jun”, her son Archie, her brother Gen. Benjamin, her sister Nenalyn, and her siblings in the United States. She has been laid to rest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina, next to the tomb of her youngest son Alexander. Even in death, she is remembered as one of the wisest and wittiest legislators to have been part of the senate. Currently, Congress is deliberating awarding her the Quezon Service Award, the highest civil award that may be given to a citizen.
Writer: Hazel Gil, Assortedge Features Beat Editor
