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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remembering Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of Philippines' brilliant, indomitable leaders

Remembering Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of Philippines' brilliant, indomitable leaders

Published Jun 15, 2026 01:21 pm

The late Miriam Defensor-Santiago—the indomitable senator whom most Filipinos have branded as “the President we never had”—would have turned 81 today, June 15, 2026.

She was a popular Filipino politician and lawyer known for her fiery demeanor and endearing wit. She served all three branches of government—judicial, executive and legislative and was known for being a long-serving senator of the Philippines.

The Senate hailed Defensor-Santiago as one of the most intellectually brilliant leaders of the country has ever seen, having earned the degrees Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude; and Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines.

She went abroad and earned the graduate degrees of Master of Laws, and Doctor of Juridical Science, from the University of Michigan, one of the top three law schools in the United States. She finished the academic requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Religious Studies, at the Maryhill School of Theology.

She brought the Philippines to global fame as the first Filipino and the first Asian from a developing country to be elected in the United Nations as judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which hears cases against heads of state.

Unfortunately, she was forced to waive the privilege of being an ICC judge due to illness.

She suffered chronic fatigue syndrome for two years, and then was diagnosed in June 2014 with lung cancer, stage 4 (the last stage).

She fought her illness with her signature humor and bravery saying her cancer has regressed.

Defensor-Santiago was also chosen as laureate of the Magsaysay Award for Government Service—the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

She was also named one of “The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World” by The Australian magazine.

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