To Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

I asked my daughter before this year's elections who she would vote for. She gave me her answer without hesitation: Miriam. I told her, 'Anak, she is going to lose, you know that right?' And her answer was like a slap across my face: 'I will not waste my vote on someone I do not believe in, Mom. Even if she is going to lose. It is my vote.' So this Mom knew better then than to influence her daughter's choice.

I wanted her book, 'Stupid Is Forever', and two people dear to my heart, bought them for me. It was a good read. It had her quips and one-liners and jokes, oozing with sarcasm, one would have a nosebleed trying to get the point and laugh. Although, there were also some easy ones in the book, those which I understood straight away.

Senator Miriam has my admiration, the kind which made me really sad when I learned of her passing. She was a feisty woman, she would not back down from any fight, even with cancer. She was not only intelligent, she was witty, and despite her fiery demeanor, I found her charming. Somewhere in there, in her being, she still had heart. The collage her daughter-in-law made and posted on social media of the Senator with her grandchildren showed that side of her unseen by  many. The glow on her face, the loveliness in her smile, grandkids on her lap, priceless.

I loved the way she put forth questions during the Senate hearing for SAF 44, that horrible incident which killed 44 Filipino soldiers, in line of their duty. One could see she knew the answers to her own questions, she just wanted to hear it from those who were responsible for what happened. In between gasps for breath, she fired away, with the witness struggling to give the proper replies. When she filed for candidacy, I was not excited, however, because she already disclosed to the public she was battling stage 4 cancer. Teary-eyed, she told the media she was sick, but she was excited to fight the disease. Now anyone who would feel excited about engaging a match with the big C is extraordinary.

That she was. Extraordinary. Thank you, Senator Miriam. You taught my daughter to stand firm by her principles. You showed two million of our young who voted for you the meaning of strength and honor. Your brilliance will shine through all of them, I am certain.