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Even in death, Miriam commands awe
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Even in death, the “Iron Lady of Asia” commanded awe and respect – from the high and mighty in imperial Manila to the lowly and ordinary on the streets of this city where she was born.
“The best president we never had” was how a 21-year-old student from Central Philippine University described former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Santiago’s death to Stage 4 lung cancer yesterday saddened Law student Vincent Arnel Banogon. She was the “greatest Ilongga of our time,” he said.
Santiago ran for president thrice – in 1992, 1998 and 2016. In this year’s polls, she finished last among five aspirants.
Philippine flags will be flown in half-mast in this city starting today until Oct. 7. Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog issued Executive Order 48 declaring Sept. 29, 2016 a “day of mourning.”
“The Iloilo City government is one with the nation in expressing sadness and grief on the death of former senator Santiago,” read part of the order.
Mabilog said Santiago brought pride and honor to the Ilonggos “by serving in all branches of government during her lifetime” – as senator, regional trial court judge, secretary of agrarian reform and commissioner of the immigration bureau.
Santiago’s wit and charm endeared herself to the Ilonggos, including fellow senator and Ilonggo Franklin Drilon.
“There is no senator, past or present, who can match Senator Santiago’s uncommon brilliance and fiery dedication to her principles and beliefs. She was an intellectual giant and a legal luminary whose wit and words benefited this nation and its people so many times over,” said Drilon.
Santiago and Drilon were classmates in their undergraduate studies in the University of the Philippines – Iloilo College and UP College of Law, from 1961 to 1969, except for one year.
“She was my editor in the Philippine Collegian and then she appointed me as her associate editor. We would work on the Philippine Collegian every Wednesday evening. I would pick her up from the dorm at nine o’clock in the evening and work on the paper overnight,” recalled Drilon.
A “fightingest lady senator” was how West Visayas State University’s Professor Ricky Abaleña described her.
Santiago was the university’s graduation speaker twice – in 2005 and 2014.
“Thank you, Honorable Senator, for the respect you bestowed on WVSU by acknowledging it as a breeding ground of those with some of the highest IQs in this part of the world,” said Abaleña.
Twenty-two-year-old Law student Paolo Nazareno of the University of San Agustin said news of Santiago’s passing “shocked” him.
“It’s not her time yet,” Nazareno insisted. “I started thinking about the wisdom she could’ve contributed to the country, especially at this time when there are so many controversial issues.”
The Senate’s data showed Santiago having filed 1,007 bills and resolutions (as of Dec. 17, 2014 data).
She “never failed to amaze me. It is sad that an icon of good governance passed away…but her wisdom will always remain with us,” said Nazareno.
Santiago had written several law books. Among these were Constitutional Law, Volume 1 – Political Structure; Constitutional Law, Volume 2 – Bill of Rights ; International Law, With Philippine Cases and Materials and ASEAN Instruments; Rules of Court Annotated; Civil Code Annotated; Penal Code Annotated; Constitution Annotated; Corporation Code Annotated; Election Code Annotated; Insurance Code Annotated; Local Government Code Annotated; National Internal Revenue Code Annotated; and Tariff and Customs Code Annotated.
A shy 22-year-old who asked to be identified only by her first name, Charlene, told Panay News Santiago was her presidential candidate in the recent elections even if the senator had Stage 4 lung cancer.
“Deserving siya biskan may sakit siya,” she insisted.
Charlene said she campaigned for Santiago through social media.
“Nami tani kun wala siya masakit. Mas madamo pa gid ma-contribute niya sa country,” said 22-year-old Russ Justine Dalipe, a 4th Year Electrical Engineering student at the Western Institute of Technology.
Two teachers of Ateneo de Iloilo said Santiago’s death saddened them.
“She gave our country her best. She made me proud to be an Ilongga,” said Jessa Marie Estrellanes.
Co-teacher Genevieve Serilo said, “We lost a true icon.”
In Manila, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Santiago ”had a profound influence on millennials and the youth, constantly challenging preconceived notions both political and social.”
”She was a shining light in Philippine political panels for her sharp legal mind, uncompromising stand and acid humor,” Abella added./PN
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