‘Miriam deserved love, praise when she was still alive’
Filipinos trooped to the wake of the late former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to pay their last respects to the “Iron Lady of Asia,” who will be laid to rest tomorrow.
Santiago’s remains were brought to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City Thursday night. She passed away in the morning after a bout with lung cancer and complications.
Former and current government officials along with students and other supporters shared their thoughts about Santiago and the life she lived when they visited her wake.
But the tributes and kind words should have been spoken when she was alive, said her husband, Narciso Santiago Jr., a former undersecretary at the Department of the Interior and Local
Government.
Narciso apologized for being emotional, saying his late wife’s life “was devoted to serving the country and the people.”
When she was alive, Narciso lamented she was not given the same praises and outpouring of love.
The lady senator is set to be buried beside her son Alexander at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina this Sunday, her former chief-of-staff Rissa Ofilada said. Alexander passed away in 2003.
Ofilada said arrangements for the interment of Santiago were being finalized as she would receive honor rites before her burial. Santiago’s funeral dress was changed to her favorite blue Filipiniana ensemble for the second day of the wake, from a red outfit on the first day.
Ofilada, Santiago’s friend of 20 years, said the late senator would like to be remembered as a person who truly loved her country and gave her entire life for it.
Ofilada said the Senate was expected to have their own necrological service without Santiago’s remains. Santiago served as senator from 1995 to 2001, 2004 to 2010 and then 2010 to 2016.
Santiago’s runningmate in the last elections, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., visited her wake on Thursday night along with another ex-senator and now Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano and Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
Last night, other visitors who arrived at the wake were Vice President Leni Robredo, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguiire, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, former first lady Imelda Marcos, former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former vice president Noli de Castro, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, and former senator Teofisto Guingona.
Marcos recalled fond moments with Santiago when they were together in the Senate and during the campaign.
Marcos said that the lady senator was always giving good advice, even on his poll protest for the vice-presidential post.
He described her as someone who would never retreat or surrender from battles. Marcos said he was greatly honored when he was chosen by Santiago to be her runningmate.
“She did not dwell ( on the past). She always looked forward, that is the most important quality that Miriam can teach us,” he said.
Colorful language
President Duterte, who arrived in Davao City yesterday dawn from Hanoi, Vietnam where he had a working visit, said he would condole with the family of Santiago at the wake.
“I express my deepest condolences. I grieve with the family, with Narciso the husband, with Benjie (Santiago’s brother), who used to be a general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and to the children. I feel your grief,” Duterte said during an interview with reporters at the Davao International Airport.
“We have lost a leader, the colorful language and, above all,
‘yung utak niya (her brains). We have lost one good guy in our government,” Duterte said.
Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe, former vice president Jejomar Binay and ex-interior secretary Manuel Roxas II all paid tribute to their fallen rival in the last presidential elections.
Santiago’s brother said his sister held no grudges against her opponents, even if she had publicly berated them.
Defensor said in a television interview that Santiago had made her peace, even with former president Fidel Ramos.
Ramos narrowly beat Santiago in the 1992 presidential elections. She ran for president again in 1998 and for the third time last May but lost to Duterte.
“When Miriam fires away at you at a Senate hearing or in her speeches, it is only at that level. After that, it’s nothing. That’s her temperament,” Defensor said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also saluted Santiago for the inspiration and service to the country.