The Oct. 8 episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” pays tribute to one of the most remarkable public servants the Philippines has ever had. The Iron Lady of Asia, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, is featured on the biographical special of #MMK’s 25th anniversary series.
Born into a family of intellectual lineage with a strict mother, Miriam was expected to excel in everything. It was her father who made her feel appreciated and supported until she finished law school. When her father passed away, Miriam decided to go back to the Philippines with her husband, Narciso Santiago, Jr., to serve the Filipino people until her last breath. Known as the Mighty Miriam, she was relentless in exposing the corrupt government leading to her join the presidential race in the 1992 elections. Although she felt devastated when she lost, the pain she felt was worse when she found out that her son took his own because he did not make it to the UP School of Law, the same school of his parents’.
Tessie Tomas, Julia Clarete, Maja Salvador and Miles Ocampo are brilliant in biopic
Talented actors Tessie Tomas, Julia Clarete, Maja Salvador and Miles Ocampo do exceptionally well as Sen. Miriam in various phases of her life. With writer Arlene Tamayo and through the direction of Lino Cayetano, the biography of Sen. Miriam is one that has touched the Philippine audience immensely.
#MMKSenatorMiriam also features well-respected Filipino actors namely Tommy Abuel, Jean Garcia, Dominic Ochoa, Cris Villanueva, John Blair, Joshua Dionisio, Gloria Sevilla, Marita Zobel, Diego Malvar and Mico Palanca. Take a look at the episode’s featured photo gallery here.
Sen. Miriam Santiago helped narrate her childhood for #MMKSenMiriam episode
In the Oct. 8 episode, Sen. Miriam herself narrates how it was like growing up. While watching her life story unfold, anyone will be able to understand why Sen. Miriam is the woman she is. She has gone through a painstaking journey with a mom who was never satisfied with her accomplishments. It has been very difficult for her specially at times when would also begin to feel that she doesn’t measure up to her own standards.
As the eldest in the family, she has put a great burden upon her shoulders. She felt that as long as she was winning medals and garnering honors, her parents would be happy and that the family would always be together. However, she can only do so much.
Miriam is undoubtedly the Iron Lady of Asia
Miriam’s journey to success began from the grassroots of her provincial elementary school, winning awards in oratorical contests and becoming the class valedictorian. She then went on to becoming a lawyer at the University of the Philippines School of Law after finishing Magna Cum Laude in Political Science at the University of the Philippines Visayas. She went overseas to pursue higher education and her many alma maters also include the University of Michigan, Oxford University, Maryhill School of Theology, University of California, Harvard University, and Cambridge University.
She has gone as far as as becoming the youngest legal officer of the United Nations and a well-respected Senator of the Philippines being named laureate of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1988. That award came with a citation that says, “for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency.” Santiago was named one of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 1997 by The Australian magazine.
A Review on the Oct. 8 #MMKSenatorMiriam Maalaala Mo Kaya Episode
Being born into a family with high standards in order to be successful in life has its pros and cons. Such demands and expectations will push anyone to their limit and may also break a person’s spirit. What is respectable with the life of Sen. Miriam is that in each pressure point, she has always become a better version of herself. It is a source of comfort to have a sense of solace and comfort through her father. It is heartwarming to have him say that she shouldn’t put the world on her shoulders and asks her to always include her family name, ‘Defensor’ so that the world will know that she is his daughter always fighting for what she thinks is right. Everything she did was to keep the family together. Behind her authoritative persona, she really is soft-hearted and compassionate, specially when it comes to what matters in life the most – family.
In her own words, how she talks about her marriage pretty much sums up everything. “It is very important that you should choose the person you will marry and stay with that person. There are many people now who believe in serial love, loving one person after another. I don’t think that is good for our mental health. I think we should get it over with. Love is like measles, you know. You only get it once in your lifetime and you are immune forever. I am very happy to say that is what happened to me. I am completely immune to any temptation. All men who have passed my life after I got married might as well have been sticks of furniture.” – SMDF
From her hometown to the world,it is noble how she went beyond perceived limits through education and serious hard work. Her wit and humor, as well, will remain unmatched and quoted for many lifetimes. Anyone who has understood her story will see the importance of striving for excellence in everything and to settle for nothing less just as she did – whether in studying, in family, and in public service.
Maalaala Mo Kaya airs every Saturday at 8:15 p.m. on ABS-CBN.