Vice President Sara Duterte wants Filipinos to remember the “colorful” late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago as someone who embodied “bravery” and “conviction” in her pursuit for genuine public service.
(From right) Vice President Sara Duterte and former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (Photos from Senate PRIB/Department of Education)
In a speech during the ceremonies that renamed Agham Road and BIR Road into Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue in Quezon City on Saturday, Nov. 11, the official paid tribute to the late senator. She described her as one of the country’s “most distinguished and admired national leaders.”
While she did not meet the feisty lawmaker, who died in 2016 due to cancer, Duterte said her legacy should inspire future generations.
“This (renaming) is a tribute to her incredible achievements and a reminder of her unwavering dedication and love of country . . . May this road serve as a reminder of her lasting legacy and motivate us to follow in her footsteps,” she told the audience.
“As we stroll along this newly dedicated road, let us all take a moment to remember Senator Miriam's bravery and conviction. She fought tirelessly to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos, and her legacy will continue to inspire us to do the same,” she added.
Citing Santiago’s “humble beginnings,” the Vice President remembered the former senator’s journey from Iloilo province to become the first Filipino to be elected a judge of the Hague-based International Criminal Court in 2011.
However, Santiago was no longer able to serve in the international tribunal, and begged off from the position in 2014, citing chronic fatigue.
Santiago was also the first Filipino commissioner for the International Development Organization, and received the Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1988.
The former senator served in the three branches of government, and ran for president in the 2016 elections with President Marcos as her vice presidential running mate.
“Her achievements are a testament to the power of hard work and perseverance in adversity,” Duterte said.
“May this road serve as an expression of our gratitude for a remarkable and unforgettable and colorful Filipina who fought for truth and upheld legal brilliance while fighting against corruption in the government,” she added.
To show gratitude to Santiago’s “remarkable contributions” to the country, the Vice President called on Filipino youth specifically to have a “deep sense of nationalism.”
The new Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue spans North Avenue to Quezon Avenue to East Avenue.
Also in attendance during the event were Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde, Santiago's widower Narciso Santiago, and her sister Linnea Evangelista.