Senator Loren B. Legarda

Biography

LOREN BAUTISTA LEGARDA is the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda of San Pablo, Laguna and Manila, and the late Bessie Gella Bautista of Antique and Malabon. She is the granddaughter of one of the late pillars of Philippine journalism, Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law Manila Times.

EDUCATION. An achiever all her life, Loren completed her primary and secondary schooling at the Assumption with honors. She obtained a degree in broadcast communication, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines, the country’s premier university. While working as a journalist, Loren pursued further studies at the National Defense College of the Philippines, where she obtained a degree in national security administration and graduated at the top of her class, receiving gold medals for both Academic Excellence and Best Thesis. Loren is now a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

STATEWOMEN. Loren is the only woman in history who has topped the Senate race twice, once in 1998 with over 15 million votes and in 2007 with over 18 million votes. Loren made history when she was voted by her peers as majority leader the first woman to occupy the prestigious post.

LEGISLATOR. During her six-years term as senator, Loren authored and co-authored 291 bills and proposed 124 resolutions, which was quite a record for a non-lawyer. Thirteen of her bills were enacted into law, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, while 41 of her resolutions were adopted by the chamber.

Loren’s dedication as a legislator brought forth the passage of many laws of national significance, including the Clean Air Act, the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, the law increasing the base pay and benefits of AFP officers and enlisted personnel, the Overseas Absentee Voting Act, the Anti-Smoking Law, the Anti-Child Labor Law, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, the Anti-Domestic Violence Act, the Tropical Fabric Law, and a law declaring Eid Ul Fitre (an Islamic celebration marking the end of Ramadan) a national holiday. She was bestowed the title of Bai alibi (Honorary Muslim Princess) by the Marawi Sultanate league for her outstanding work for the cause of Muslims.

For her outstanding record as a legislator, Loren was recognized not only locally but also internationally. The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, named her as one of the Global Leaders for Tomorrow (GLTs) for the year 2000. In 2001, she was awarded by the United Nationals Environmental Program (UNEP) in Turin, Italy, for her significant contributions for the protection of the environment.

PEACEMAKER. Loren has been a crusader for national unity and social justice. She has earned praise for her tireless work as a peace broker and for her effort to bring warring factions to talk peace through formal negotiations. She played a crucial role in the safe and expeditious release of military and police officers and men who were held captive by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

CITIZEN AND CIVIC LEADER. Loren is well known for her advocacies and civic undertakings in various fields encapsulated in the initials L.O.R.E.N. The acronym stands for Law and Order, Rights of Women, Youth and Children, Education, Environment and Employment; and Nationalism.

Loren’s biggest project in the environmental field is the Luntiang Pilipinas (Greening of the Philippines) Foundation, which she has founded. In partnership with other organizations, Luntiang Pilipinas has planted over two million trees. As a UNEP laureate, Loren is part of a global network of environmentalists assisting the UN organization in caring for the Earth’s resources.

To improve access to education in the rural areas, Loren organized the Libro ni Loren Foundation, providing textbooks and other reading materials as well as scholarships to underprivileged children. She founded the Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation which helps indigent breast cancer victims.