[Trending Now] 15 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Many people knew the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago as one of the fiercest and  feistiest lawmakers in the Philippine politics. She was also known by the youth for her witty quotes and funny moments. People recall an instance when she was asked about handbags and she said that she hates handbags because “they occupy my hands. My hands always have to be ready in case I need to slap somebody.”

 She is indeed the “Iron Lady Of Asia” had a very colourful journey of her political life.

 Winning the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service and the 1985 TOYM Award or law are just few of her achievements not known for most. 

Aside from these, here are the 15 facts about the late senator readers probably did not know:

1.) A swimming champion

-People thought that the senator only excels in academics because of her different scholastic achievements and political success. Little they did know that Miriam also excelled in her extra-curricular activities which included swimming. Miriam championed a provincial swimming competition sponsored by the Red cross when she was still a high school student in Iloilo Provincial National High School. She was also known as a Spelling Bee Wizard as she championed most of its contest. She also became their school publication’s editor-in-chief until she graduated.

2.) Loves bikinis

-Because of her love of water during her swimming champion days, Miriam loves going around in bathing suits. Philippine Daily Inquirer released a photo of Miriam in bathing suit that was taken when she was an immigration commissioner.

“I love that bathing suit picture. It is the ideal tropical wear, really, then you can wear high heels.” a remarkable statement of the senator regarding the photo.

3.) Did not finish a 4-year course of BA Political Science in UP Visayas because she finished it within three and a half-years only.

 She graduated “magna cum laude” with an almost perfect grade average of 1.1. Miriam also received the Rotary Award for Most Outstanding Graduate.

4.) “Super Girl” of UP Diliman

-Miriam’s academic excellence did not stop in UP Visayas. After she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she flew to Manila to continue her study of Law in University of the Philippines, Diliman. She made numerous achievements while in the state university. One of these is being the first female editor-in-chief of the university student paper “Philippine Collegian”. She also earned the title for having the highest number of consecutive college scholarships in UP. Miriam is also the first female student to be awarded as “Best Debater” in the yearly debate competition between UP Manila and UP Diliman. In addition, Miriam also received the Vinzons Achievement Award for excellence in student leadership two times. She was also chosen as one of the UP Ten Outstanding Coeds. She is indeed a super girl.

5.) Made law history in University of Michigan

-Miriam entered the University of Michigan to pursue her master’s degree in law. She earned a very impressive grade after the first semester which happened for the first time in history of law school. She only spent one year to finish her master’s degree in law. She also finished her Doctor of the Science of Jurisprudence degree within 6 months.

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6.) Almost died in a car crash

-During her attempt to run as country’s president, Miriam was in a car accident that almost took her life. A vehicle smashed into her car in Tarlac on April 28,1991 when she was on her way to a speaking tour. Because of several injuries, she has to be taken to the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila by helicopter. This incident was speculated as an attempt to assassinate the senator.

7.) A “knowledge-vulture”

-Because of her history of excelling in academics,it cannot be denied that Miriam has an extraordinary passion for learning. Reportedly, the senator have almost 1 million books kept in her home. “Oh I studied all the time. Let’s just say I was a knowledge vulture. I loved learning things. I loved learning encyclopaedias. I had a promise to read the encyclopaedia from the beginning to end, and I finished it” Miriam said in an interview.

8.) Wanted to be a nun.

-Miriam once dreamt of being a part of a convent because it is what was popular during her time and there are nuns who taught her. However, she failed to achieve this dream as she was needed by her family to support her siblings.

9.) No guy crushes

-Only her husband made her feel those butterflies in her stomach. Miriam treats her classmates before as merely a brother which resulted her not to have crush on them. She had in an interview that she never got attracted to boys before except for his husband.

10.) Has a face that does not need make-up

-“flawless skin” and “cherry pink lips”. These are the senator’s description of her facial features which resulted her not to use any kind of make up or cosmetic products. She once shared that her secret is only washing her face in the morning.

11.) Ended up a lawyer because of her criminal relatives

-Aside from dreaming of becoming a nun, she also dreamt of becoming a writer. However, this dream did not come into full bloom as her father made her change her mind. She shared in an interview that her father asked her to become a lawyer instead saying “we have a lot of relatives who are criminals, so you should be a lawyer” .

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12.) An athletic soul

-Aside from swimming, Miriam also experienced playing basketball with her husband when she was younger. This showed how athletic Miriam is aside from being an academic genius.

13.) Almost failed the 1969 Bar Exams

-The senator who was known for her excellent academic performance also showed that she had her shortcomings. She almost flunked her bar exams with an average of only 78%. When she took the exam, she was in love and in rebellion against her father for not allowing her to go to Russia on a scholarship.

14.) Questioned God when his son died.

-Alexander Robert, Miriam’s son, committed a suicide in 2003 and it made the senator question the presence of evil and God. In an interview with Korina Sanchez, the senator said “Everything I got, I got by hardwork and by praying to God. Maybe because the prayer didn’t change the mind of God, but my mind”

15.) Idolized the “Iron Lady”

-Miriam dubbed herself as Margaret Thatcher’s protege. Thatcher is the first female Prime Minister of Britain who died in 2013. Miriam met Thatcher who was also known as the “Iron Lady” shortly after Miriam lost her presidential candidacy. According to her, Thatcher gave her “extraordinary sympathy and compassion”. While Thatcher was known to be “The Iron Lady”, Miriam was dubbed as “The Iron Lady of Asia”.

Source: TNP , Filipiknow

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