Miriam Defensor-Santiago

The passing of a legend. Whether one liked her or not, one cannot deny that Miriam Defensor-Santiago was one of her kind. An empowered woman, she has received so many titles and accolades that will be mentioned again and again, especially that she has faded into the night like Batmanher own unique way of bidding goodbye.

Had she been healthy and allowed more years by the Lord, how would one of the most intelligent legislators deal with the present Senate, the present Congress? Some of her words come to mind– "morons are forever," "You know, if you shut down all the TV cameras, the proceedings will be finished in one week, but people want more than 15 [minutes] of fame."

With so many now showing the true face of the present Congress, an entertainment center, rather than a respectable legislative body, how would Miriam have responded to the malicious move to show an alleged sex video involving a female colleague in the Senate?

In her book, Stupid is Forever, Miriam writes: "There was a time when a circus did not consist of trained animal performers and acrobatic shows, but of freaks and monstrosities. One of them was called "the boneless wonder." They are now in politics."

" In any Congress, out of 100 people, 2 are honest and intelligent, 10 are criminals, and 88 are good for nothing." "The members of Congress are the people who will support the president when he is wrong."

The likes of Miriam made the legislature honorable, dignified.

Despite her cancer, a genuine public servant like her declared: "I have said it before, and I will say it again: I will never quit. I will never stop. I will never withdraw. I owe it to the Filipino people who believe in my leadership and

"Madamo gid nga salamat.")