Philippine Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is the bravest person I have ever witnessed in politics. She is not afraid to speak what is in her mind even if it ends with her politically persecuted. Against all odds, she always triumph due to her intellectual brilliance, professional excellence, and the support of the millions of Filipinos.
Behind her tough public persona, Sen. Miriam is best known for the unique brand of humor and verbose rhapsodies that everyone likes. One time, she said that China invented corruption. Upon hearing this news, I laughed.
“China invented civilization in the East, but as well it invented corruption for all of human civilization,” Miriam said. Not that I agreed with Senator Miriam Santiago on this issue. I laughed because I remember what she said years ago after her name was taken off from the shortlist of candidates for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
“I am irate. I am foaming at the mouth. I’m homicidal. I’m suicidal. I’m humiliated, debased, degraded. And not only that, I feel like throwing up to be living my middle years in a country of this nature. I am nauseated. I spit in the face of Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and his cohorts in the Supreme Court.”
Then there was that time when she described less educated Filipinos as “species of lower life forms”. Such a comment angered a lot of people.
What about the famous remark she announced publicly: “I will jump headfirst from a helicopter in Luneta if Estrada gets removed from power” but later recanted and said “I lied”. Funny, isn’t it?
Senator Santiago had already established herself as an epitome of women empowerment, scholastic competence, and professionalism. The fact that Miriam is now serving her third term in the Senate, is a confirmation that she is trusted by many and Filipinos still hope for her intelligence and hardwork to manifest and, somehow, help change the not-so-good outlook of public servants.
Here are some videos of Miriam’s verbose rhapsodies.
“Huwag naman P90,000, dahil ako, ayoko ng gano’n. I’m not going to work that hard, work myself to death, which I’ve done. I’ve worked myself sick. Huwag naman P90,000 – and I will go home only with P60,000. It’s not worth my time. Magpatuka na lang ako sa ahas.”
Santiago’s long interview with ANC. Santiago on Enrile: “He should never have been Senate president.”
Some of her fellow lawmakers are clueless about the legal profession, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said.
Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago pick up lines
More pick-up lines
I love Sen. Miriam Santiago even if she sometimes (if not, oftentimes) behave like species of lower life forms. :-)
