The Iloilo City council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the erection of a statue honoring the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago in one of the city’s major plazas.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Rex Sarabia and unanimously co-sponsored by all 11 members of the council, urges Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu to recognize the ‘Iron Lady of Asia’ and honor the distinction brought to the country by the late former senator, who was born and raised in the city’s La Paz district.
‘The late senator Miriam Santiago, fondly remembered as the ‘Iron Lady of Asia,’ a proud daughter of Iloilo City, born and raised in La Paz, whose brilliance, courage, and integrity brought honor and distinction not only to her hometown but to the entire country,’ the resolution stated.
Santiago, a three-term senator and two-time presidential aspirant, passed away on September 29, 2016, two years after being diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer.
It specifically mentions Defensor-Santiago’s experience as a trial court judge, immigration commissioner, senator, and judge of the International Criminal Court.
‘[Defensor-Santiago’s] unwavering dedication to good governance, rule of law education, and public accountability continues to inspire generations of Filipinos, particularly the youth, who affectionately remember her sharp wit, wisdom, and unparalleled intellect,’ the resolution stated.
‘As an Ilongga, her life and legacy are a source of pride and inspiration for Iloilo City, especially for the people of La Paz district, where she spent her formative years, where her values of academic excellence, public service, and moral courage were deeply rooted,’ it added.
During his sponsorship speech at the city’s regular session on Wednesday, Sarabia said that it was timely to honor the senator, given the recent corruption controversies on flood control projects.
‘I think we need to draw inspiration from our very own Ilongga to fight for what is right, to fight against corruption,’ Sarabia said.
Defensor-Santiago had her early start in Iloilo, graduating as valedictorian from La Paz Elementary School and Iloilo National High School, both in La Paz.
She graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines in Iloilo (now UP Visayas) with a degree in political science and earned a law degree at the UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City.